By: Ben Strickland, Fall Advertising and marketing Intern
Downtown Jacksonville has a wealthy, highly effective historical past stuffed with highlights that surpass the Financial institution of America Tower and low-lights deeper than the St. Johns River. The group has grown robust and proud by music, sport, and civil justice. I’ve taken on the mission of studying Jacksonville’s historical past so I can higher respect town that I reside in.
Downtown Jacksonville stands tall alongside the financial institution of the St. John’s River and is just a few miles away from the Atlantic Ocean. The various bridges alongside the financial institution fortify the connections between town and its individuals. After centuries of historical past, Downtown reveals hints of its origins for those who look laborious sufficient.
Earlier than Jacksonville was named after President Andrew Jackson, it was a pure crossing level close to the financial institution of the St. Johns River, the place Native People would use it when herding cattle. When the British found the world, it was named “Cow Ford.” This web site, close to what’s now Market Road, was later used as the beginning of Duval County in 1822.
In 1919, development began for the St. Johns River Bridge, now known as the Acosta Bridge. It’s the first bridge constructed for cars in Jacksonville to cross the St. Johns River. St. Elmo “Stylish” Acosta created the thought of offering types of crossing the river outdoors of ferries. It was the primary vertical bridge in Florida, which was infamous for getting caught within the up place, incomes the nickname “Yellow Monster.”
James Weldon Johnson Park was established in 1866, making it town’s first and oldest park. It’s been identified below a number of names through the years and was the middle of a number of cultural and political occasions, together with many civil rights demonstrations, comparable to a number of sit ins and Ax Deal with Saturday, which adopted these demonstrations. The park is called after an influential trainer, musician, author, lawyer, and civil rights activist, James Weldon Johnson.
The Historic Federal Reserve constructing on Hogan Road was designed by Georgia and Jacksonville’s first feminine architect. Henrietta Dozier used aliases comparable to “H.C.” or “Harry” Dozier to cover the truth that she was a lady. She additionally had a hand in different Prairie-style buildings in North Florida and Georgia, together with the St. Philips Episcopal Church on Pearl and Union and 2215 River Boulevard. the place Deas Legislation Agency resides.
As one among Florida’s first and Jacksonville’s oldest high-rise buildings, the Bisbee Constructing was in-built 1908 as a race in opposition to two different skyscraper buildings within the state Florida to be the tallest on the time. It’s a part of the Laura Trio together with the Outdated Florida Nationwide Financial institution and Florida Life constructing. These three buildings have been important as a part of the renovations after the Nice Hearth of 1901, showcasing the Prairie-style structure climbing in reputation within the 1900s-1910s.
That is solely the inspiration of what makes Downtown Jacksonville so particular to the many individuals that go to and reside in DTJax. We have a good time and we construct one another up regardless of the obstacles. Comply with together with me on this journey to deepen our appreciation for this place we name dwelling!