Every citizen of Jacksonville has the opportunity to contribute to a lasting marker commemorating Jacksonville’s Bicentennial. Don’t be left out!
Special Bicentennial Membership Available
This year marks Jacksonville’s Bicentennial. Membership at the Jacksonville Historical Society is open to everyone with an interest in our city’s history. The Society welcomes members from near and far to join its community of people who care about Jacksonville, and offers several membership categories to invite your engagement. We’ve created a category for young […]
Triumph Over Hardships
One of Jacksonville’s earliest ethnic migrations can be traced to pioneer Philip Dzialynski, who arrived in the city in 1850 at the age of 17 and was its first Jewish entrepreneur. This was the first step of Jewish families relocating and later being involved in city commerce and affecting the local community. In fact, before the 1930s, Jacksonville’s Jewish population was the largest in Florida.
From Wallphone to Smartphone
As we celebrate the Jacksonville Bicentennial June 11, 2022, it can be hard to imagine what Jacksonville was like in 1822. So many inventions have been developed during those two centuries to help us live an easier and more convenient way of life. One of those conveniences that changed the world was definitely the telephone.
What’s in 200 Years?
The Great Fire of 1901 led to a wholesale reinvention of Jacksonville, fostered by an influx of talented, innovative architects and builders eager to make their mark on what the fire had left as a blank urban canvas.
Jacksonville’s Great Fire Redefined the City
At 200 years old this year, Jacksonville retains very little of the built environment as it existed in 1822. For much of Jacksonville’s first 79 years of existence, development took place using timber construction. Consequently, the devastation of the Great Fire of 1901 created a clean slate on which to design and build a new downtown.
