Jacksonville, Florida
The Walt Disney World Resort officially opened on this date in 1971, including Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. William Windsor, Jr. was the very first guest. Approximately 10,000 visitors showed up on opening day. Read More …
Saturday marks the 62nd anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday, a racially motivated attack that took place in Hemming Park in Jacksonville, Florida, on August 27, 1960. On that day, a group of white men attacked African Americans who were engaging in peaceful sit-in protests opposing Read More …
A historic marker will be unveiled today on Amelia Island to honor the 2 million Africans who died and the 500,000 who survived being shipped as slaves in what was known as the Middle Passage. Amelia Island is one of 52 documented arrival locations of Read More …
The “Old Stanton” High School is poised to get a new life thanks to an infusion of funding from the state. Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, Rep. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, and Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, sponsored the $2.5 million in state funding to renovate the historic building. The Read More …
Student archaeologists at the University of North Florida have possibly uncovered something big — both in size and in historical importance. UNF Archeology Lab Director Keith Ashley says students found evidence of a large indigenous building during a dig at Big Talbot Island State Park. It could Read More …
With the Shands Fishing Pier’s demolition set to begin Thursday, Clay County is inviting residents to share memories and pictures of the pier, which Hurricane Matthew damaged beyond repair in 2016. Send photos and remembrances to socialmedia@claycountygov.com. Officials will post their favorites on social media. Read More …
With three major military installations, and thousands of active-duty service members, veterans, and civilian employees, there is no doubt that Jacksonville is a military town. That was further cemented this morning as Mayor Lenny Curry and members of the Veterans Council of Duval County as Read More …
Old 16mm vacation films were recently discovered at a garage sale in San Jose, CA by Tim Peddy and converted to digital courtesy of The California Pioneers of Santa Clara County. It depicts a train ride from California to Florida via New York City, ultimately Read More …
JACKSONVILLE’S EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION RETURNS TO JAMES WELDON JOHNSON PARK Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman, James Weldon Johnson Park and the City of Jacksonville are excited to announce the return of Jacksonville Emancipation Celebration following last year’s successful event. The festival will take place on Saturday, May 21, Read More …
The popular storytelling performance series Untold Stories returns for its third iteration with a lineup of locals spinning transformative narratives on stage at the Florida Theatre. With a diverse range of voices, tonight’s lineup includes poet Yvette Angelique, artist and activist Hope McMath and entrepreneur Yhang Quintaro, Read More …
Today, 121 years ago, around noon, Jacksonville caught fire. In 1901, Jacksonville was a city which consisted mainly of wooden buildings with wood shingled roofs. The city itself had been suffering under a prolonged drought, leaving the building exteriors across the city dry and fire-prone. Read More …
Join The Jacksonville Historical Society on Saturday, May 7th, 2022 in downtown Jacksonville for the Jacksonville Bicentennial Great Fire Run 5km. This race follows the outline of the Great Fire boundary of May 3rd, 1901. The Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901 was the largest metropolitan Read More …
Jacksonville Beach’s volunteer lifeguards are suing the city for cutting longstanding ties with them this month. The Volunteer Life Saving Corps, which worked with the city for more than 110 years, says Jax Beach violated its agreement by taking over all lifeguarding operations at the beach and Read More …
Mayor Lenny Curry along with Dr. Alan Bliss, CEO of the Jacksonville Historical Society, and Dave Chauncey, chair of the Jacksonville Historical Society Board, announced the bicentennial events set for June 11. “As we celebrate this milestone birthday, I encourage everyone to look around and Read More …
This weekend, Riverside Avondale Preservation’s annual Home Tour returns after a two-year hiatus. The 10 properties on the tour include Riverside’s oldest home, built in 1857, two churches and a renovated Spanish Mission-style bungalow. Tickets are $25 (get them here) and are good for both Read More …
Jacksonville officials are moving forward on a plan for a heritage trail in the historically African American community of LaVilla — a cultural hub once known as the Harlem of the South. The path would include historical markers at the Richmond Hotel, Old Stanton High School, Read More …
Vietnam Veterans of America chapters from Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties invite the public to join in Northeast Florida’s only Vietnam War Veterans Day recognition event, Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at the TAPS Monument, at 915 Walnut St. in Green Cove Springs. The monument Read More …
Viola Muse, a Jacksonville hair salon owner and writer with the Negro Writers’ Division of the Florida Federal Writers Project conducted interviews in the Jacksonville Black Community during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Her interviews detailed the lives of children, former slaves and everyday people in Read More …