Jacksonville’s historic spaces offer no shortage of secrets and local folklore, and Evergreen Cemetery, the city’s oldest active cemetery, is no exception. Here’s a look at the ghost stories attached to this venerable burial ground. Founded in 1880, Evergreen Cemetery is Jacksonville’s oldest cemetery still in operation. The 167-acre site is the final resting place of 14 Jacksonville mayors, five
Downtown Jacksonville is home to the region’s tallest buildings, featuring nearly 8 million square feet of commercial space and more than 2 million square feet of government buildings. An additional 539,000 square feet of office space is either under construction or nearing completion. Florida’s fourth-largest downtown office market behind Miami, Tampa and Orlando is also home to three Fortune 500
Oysters have been a staple of First Coast diets for thousands of years, although local oyster harvesting ceased in 1994 due to pollution. The rise of new oyster houses in San Marco and the Downtown Southbank shows that interest in this savory bivalve delicacy hasn’t waned — could it help spark a long-awaited rebirth of the Jacksonville oyster industry? Oysters
For the most part, Duval County dodged a bullet with Hurricane Ian. Many prayers go out to our fellow Floridians all over the state, most significantly those in the Ft. Myers area, as they struggle to put shattered lives back together. Many prayers also go out to those who lost their lives and those with family members or friends who
The history and heritage of Jacksonville’s many Gullah Geechee descendants have been largely overlooked, with little recognition given to the community. According to the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor Commission, the Gullah Geechee are descendants of Central and West Africans who were enslaved and brought to the Americas from the late 1600s to 1866, bringing with them traditional foodways, customs, arts,
Although it hasn’t always been accessible or maintained, Exchange Club Island is an official city park and one of Jacksonville’s unique urban spaces. Here’s a dive into the colorful history of the accidental island beneath the Mathews Bridge. An accidental island More than 50,000 people drive over one of Jacksonville’s most singular parks every day without ever realizing it. Officially
The public phase of the mayoral campaign of Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce CEO Daniel Davis, who didn’t quit his day job for this run, kicked off last Thursday at a trucking company on the Westside. The vibe was retro. The loud, optimistic country songs were interchangeable and on a seeming loop. There was no AC in the warehouse-style showroom space,
New residential projects in established neighborhoods often draw pushback. This is especially the case when the developments are seen as too expensive, too large or otherwise undesirable. But with Jacksonville’s facing down a growing housing crisis, such projects are coming whether we like it or not. Here’s a look at why that’s not a bad thing — and how we
Al Ferraro knows how to read a room. People should finally realize that much and give him the credit he’s due. Throughout his entire political career, he’s been underestimated. In 2015, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce endorsed Democrat Lisa King over him in the District 2 race. King was running as a Gwen Graham-style Democrat, and there was an era
