Features exploring Jacksonville’s past — historic neighborhoods, key figures, and events that shaped the city and region.
Featured image for “Cummer Museum receives one of its biggest gifts ever”
The entrance to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, which just received a $3.5 million bequest from the estate of the late Betsy Lovett. | Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
14 hours ago

Cummer Museum receives one of its biggest gifts ever

The estate of philanthropist Betsy Lovett has bequested $3.5 million to the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Fairfield: You’ve probably driven through it but never knew”
Fairfield saw the demolition of entire blocks of homes for construction of expressways and the Matthews Bridge.
3 days ago

THE JAXSON | Fairfield: You’ve probably driven through it but never knew

Tucked along the eastern bank of the St. Johns River, just north of Downtown Jacksonville, the neighborhood of Fairfield holds…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 Jacksonville parks that don’t exist anymore”
Fairfield Park was eventually replaced by the football stadium.
December 9, 2025

THE JAXSON | 5 Jacksonville parks that don’t exist anymore

Here is a trip down memory lane, highlighting five early 20th century Jacksonville parks that don’t exist anymore.…

Featured image for “New owner plans to rehab historic Drew Mansion”
Drew Mansion was built in 1909 by Dr. Horace Drew, a renowned physicist and grandson of Jacksonville pioneer Columbus Drew. | News4Jax
December 8, 2025

New owner plans to rehab historic Drew Mansion

New owners plan to restore long-vacant Drew Mansion in Springfield, creating community space on the first floor.…

Featured image for “Gingerbread extravaganza takes its artistry to new home”
Gingerbread creations like a snow-covered White House are part of the 23rd annual Gingerbread Extravaganza at the Jacksonville History Center. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
December 5, 2025

Gingerbread extravaganza takes its artistry to new home

The Jacksonville Historical Society’s 23rd annual extravaganza features 41 gingerbread creations.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 Historic North Riverside Photographs”
North Riverside's West Lewisville Elementary School was replaced by Forest Park Elementary in 1954.
December 3, 2025

THE JAXSON | 6 Historic North Riverside Photographs

A photographic journey into the history of North Riverside, a neighborhood significantly affected by heavy industry and expressway construction.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville’s first Mormon temple sets groundbreaking”
A private groundbreaking is set for January for Jacksonville's first Latter-day Saints temple in Mandarin. | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
November 11, 2025

Jacksonville’s first Mormon temple sets groundbreaking

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will break ground for the temple on Jan. 24.…

Featured image for “Donations sought to restore Peg Leg Pete in Fernandina”
Peg Leg Pete now stands now outside the Amelia Island Museum of History. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
November 10, 2025

Donations sought to restore Peg Leg Pete in Fernandina

A fundraiser aims to raise $23,000 to repair the Peg Leg Pete statue and return it to the waterfront.…

Featured image for “The next step on the riverfront: Shipyards West Park”
The latest design of the Shipyards West Park is 90% complete. It shows a new two-story event pavilion, a flex lawn, a Playscape, Riverwalk, sports/pickleball courts and trees, all planned to be bult by 2028. | City of Jacksonville
November 7, 2025

The next step on the riverfront: Shipyards West Park

Groundbreaking is planned next year on Shipyards West, one of many areas under development on the Northbank.…

Featured image for “JAXLORE | ‘Legend tripping’ on the First Coast”
The Neff House, connected to Jacksonville folk legend the Betz Sphere, is now part of the Timucuan Preserve.
October 29, 2025

JAXLORE | ‘Legend tripping’ on the First Coast

From Fernandina’s Wiccademous grave to Brooklyn’s famous Devil’s School, here’s a dive into four of the most famous local places…

Featured image for “Historic Riverside church gets answer to renovation prayer”
The Rev. Adam Gray stands inside the sanctuary of his historic church in Riverside. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today
October 22, 2025

Historic Riverside church gets answer to renovation prayer

Riverside Church at Park and King received a $359,534 national grant to rehabilitate its 99-year-old sanctuary.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The architecture and legacy of J. Burnie Caine”
October 21, 2025

THE JAXSON | The architecture and legacy of J. Burnie Caine

In Jacksonville’s modern architecture story, John Burnie Caine is a living legend. I had the privilege of meeting Caine as…

Featured image for “Honoring the 7 who died on Sapelo Island gangway”
The collapsed gangway at the Sapelo Island Visitors center is shown just after seven people died there. | Lewis M. Levine, AP
October 20, 2025

Honoring the 7 who died on Sapelo Island gangway

Four Jacksonville residents were among those killed during a Gullah Geechee celebration at Sapelo Island one year ago.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 404 N. Julia St., a century later”
October 14, 2025

THE JAXSON | 404 N. Julia St., a century later

The Jaxson takes a brief look at the rise, fall and pending rebirth of Downtown’s Central National Bank Building at…

Featured image for “WWII pilot, missing since 1944, comes home for Hastings burial”
WWII pilot J.G. Ralph Cornelius Dupont was finally identified after 81 years of missing in action. | Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
October 10, 2025

WWII pilot, missing since 1944, comes home for Hastings burial

The remains of pilot J.G. Ralph Cornelius DuPont were finally identified after he was missing in action for 81 years.…

Featured image for “Peg Leg Pete moves to new home and uncertain future”
City crews and volunteers move the deteriorated Peg Leg Pete statue early Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, to the Amelia Island Museum of History. | City of Fernandina Beach
October 9, 2025

Peg Leg Pete moves to new home and uncertain future

The deteriorated Peg Leg Pete statue was moved from the Fernandina waterfront to the Amelia Island history museum.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Andrew Patterson: LaVilla’s forgotten Civil Rights crusader”
A streetcar on West Monroe Street in the early 20th century. | Ritz Theater & Museum
October 8, 2025

THE JAXSON | Andrew Patterson: LaVilla’s forgotten Civil Rights crusader

Before Montgomery was the Civil Rights epicenter, a pastor on Ashley Street sat down on a Jacksonville streetcar, refused bail,…

Featured image for “State funding proposed to preserve Springfield mansion”
The Horace Drew Mansion in Springfield. | The Jaxson
October 6, 2025

State funding proposed to preserve Springfield mansion

Rep. Wyman Duggan of Jacksonville submitted a proposal to preserve the Horace Drew Mansion.…

Featured image for “Treasure hunters recover $1M in coins from shipwreck”
A diver shows coins recovered off the Treasure Coast. | 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC via AP
October 6, 2025

Treasure hunters recover $1M in coins from shipwreck

Divers uncovered a load of centuries-old Spanish coins on a shipwreck off the Treasure Coast.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The Legacy of the Boylan-Haven School ”
In April 1886, the Methodist Episcopal Church established the Boylan Industrial School and Home for Negro Girls in LaVilla.
October 1, 2025

THE JAXSON | The Legacy of the Boylan-Haven School 

A brief history and look at the legacy of the historic Eastside’s Boylan-Haven School.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The Maceo Elks Lodge No. 8: LaVilla’s Jewish and Black history link”
The Maceo Elks Lodge No. 8 at 712 W. Duval St.
September 23, 2025

THE JAXSON | The Maceo Elks Lodge No. 8: LaVilla’s Jewish and Black history link

The Maceo Elks Lodge No. 8 is the last surviving institution in LaVilla connected to Jacksonville’s early Jewish community.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Viva Jax: Jacksonville’s Hispanic heritage”
José Huau’s cigar store at the corner of Bay and Pine ( now Main) street in Jacksonville
September 16, 2025

THE JAXSON | Viva Jax: Jacksonville’s Hispanic heritage

Though less well known than those in South Florida or Tampa Bay, Jacksonville’s Hispanic community has roots that are hundreds…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Black Jacksonville Collective debuts oral ‘Front Porch History’ project at Ritz ”
September 3, 2025

THE JAXSON | Black Jacksonville Collective debuts oral ‘Front Porch History’ project at Ritz 

Front Porch History: Mapping Undiscovered Stories of Black Jacksonville, launching Sept. 4 at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, is an…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 historical facts about Fernandina Beach”
August 13, 2025

THE JAXSON | 5 historical facts about Fernandina Beach

Located about 25 miles northeast of Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach is a historic city of 13,000 residents that spans the northern…