Calendar

JHS is proud to present this beloved holiday tradition from
November 29 – December 28, 2018

Benefiting the educational programs and archival repository of the Jacksonville Historical Society

Visitors enjoy gigantic, creative gingerbread creations built by chefs, bakers, architects, engineers, culinary school students, families, young people and other individuals. These tasty creations are placed on display at the Jacksonville Historical Society’s Old St. Andrews, immediately across the street from the Veteran’s Memorial Arena.

The Gingerbread Extravaganza showcases some of the most creative art exhibited during the year in Jacksonville. The 2018 Gingerbread and confection creation theme encompasses Jacksonville Historic landmarks and the wonderful, whimsical spirit of the holidays. Hundreds of hours are required for the construction of these edible structures in order to make amazing sights to behold! Children love to play the scavenger hunt and find items throughout the display.

Joining the Extravaganza each year are Junior League of Jacksonville Sustainers, who create beautifully themed trees that are showcased throughout Old St. Andrews.

General Times
Monday through Friday 11:00am – 5:00pm
Saturdays 10:00am – 4:00pm
Closed Sundays

* Special Times *
Dec 09, 11:00am – 4:00pm (Sunday) New
Dec 13, Gingerbread by Candlelight 6:00pm – 8:00pm (special evening event)
Dec 17, 11:00am – 8:00pm New
Dec 24 & 25 Closed
Dec 26 & 27, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Dec 28, 10:00am – 2:00pm

Jacksonville Historical Society’s Old St. Andrews
317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(across the street from Veterans Memorial Arena)
* JHS’s free parking lot is behind the church, and there’s also ample street parking.

Entry Fee:
$10.00 Adults
$3.00 Children 3 and up
* This includes admission to the Merrill House Museum Tour during running tour hours.

For more information regarding this event please see the Gingerbread Extravaganza page.

JHS is proud to present this beloved holiday tradition from
November 29 – December 28, 2018

Benefiting the educational programs and archival repository of the Jacksonville Historical Society

Take a tour of the James E. Merrill House Museum as it is decorated for the holidays! The 19th century Queen Anne – Eastlake Victorian home is furnished as the Merrill’s and other middle class Jacksonville families lived in 1903. The house exemplifies the Queen Ann style of architecture with a square tower on the southwest corner and an elaborate Merrill House 1900vergeboard in the north gable. The porch posts, brackets, and spindles reflect the Eastlake style. The Merrill residence is the largest and most architecturally interesting of the nineteenth-century houses remaining in East Jacksonville.

James E. Merrill started a small iron work business in Jacksonville in about 1875. Known as the Merrill-Stevens Engineering Co. by the late 1880s, the iron work became one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the South. Victorian era lifestyle is showcased in this elaborately decorated family home that also highlights a lifestyle of limited electricity and plumbing. The Merrill House was saved from demolition in 2000 by the Jacksonville Historical Society and City of Jacksonville.

The tour should last any where from 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the group.

If you would like to schedule a group tour, you may contact our office. During the Gingerbread Extravaganza our return contact time may vary.

General Times For The Holiday Merrill House Museum
Monday through Saturday 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Closed Sundays

* Special Times For The Holiday Merrill House Museum*
Dec 24 & 25 Closed
Dec 26 & 27, 1:00pm – 3:00pm New
Dec 28, Closed

Jacksonville Historical Society’s Merrill House Museum
319 A. Philip Randolph Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(across the street from Veterans Memorial Arena)
* JHS’s free parking lot is behind the church, and there’s also ample street parking.

Gingerbread Extravaganza Entry Fee:
$10.00 Adults
$3.00 Children 3 and up
* Admission to the Holiday Merrill House Museum is included in the Gingerbread Extravaganza admission during running tour hours.

For more information regarding this event please see the Gingerbread Extravaganza page.

JHS is proud to present this beloved holiday tradition from
November 29 – December 28, 2018

Benefiting the educational programs and archival repository of the Jacksonville Historical Society

Visitors enjoy gigantic, creative gingerbread creations built by chefs, bakers, architects, engineers, culinary school students, families, young people and other individuals. These tasty creations are placed on display at the Jacksonville Historical Society’s Old St. Andrews, immediately across the street from the Veteran’s Memorial Arena.

The Gingerbread Extravaganza showcases some of the most creative art exhibited during the year in Jacksonville. The 2018 Gingerbread and confection creation theme encompasses Jacksonville Historic landmarks and the wonderful, whimsical spirit of the holidays. Hundreds of hours are required for the construction of these edible structures in order to make amazing sights to behold! Children love to play the scavenger hunt and find items throughout the display.

Joining the Extravaganza each year are Junior League of Jacksonville Sustainers, who create beautifully themed trees that are showcased throughout Old St. Andrews.

General Times
Monday through Friday 11:00am – 5:00pm
Saturdays 10:00am – 4:00pm
Closed Sundays

* Special Times *
Dec 09, 11:00am – 4:00pm (Sunday) New
Dec 13, Gingerbread by Candlelight 6:00pm – 8:00pm (special evening event)
Dec 17, 11:00am – 8:00pm New
Dec 24 & 25 Closed
Dec 26 & 27, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Dec 28, 10:00am – 2:00pm

Jacksonville Historical Society’s Old St. Andrews
317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(across the street from Veterans Memorial Arena)
* JHS’s free parking lot is behind the church, and there’s also ample street parking.

Entry Fee:
$10.00 Adults
$3.00 Children 3 and up
* This includes admission to the Merrill House Museum Tour during running tour hours.

For more information regarding this event please see the Gingerbread Extravaganza page.

Attention Gingerbread Builders

The time has come for the 2018 Gingerbread Extravaganza to come to an end and your Gingerbread Creations do not have to go home but they cannot stay here. They will be available for pick up after 2:00pm on Friday, December 28, 2018 at the Old St. Andrews Church. If your creations have not been picked up before 5:00pm they will be kindly disposed of.

If you have any questions you can reach us at (904) 665-0064 or (904) 910-8657.

Pick Up Location: Old St. Andrews Church
317 A Philip Randolph Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32202, USA
Pick Up Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm

Architectural historian Richard Shieldhouse will speak at the JHS on Thursday evening, January 17, on his new book from the University of Florida Press about Jacksonville architect William Morgan.

Description
Please note – this event is being held at St. John’s Cathedral, Taliaferro Hall, 256 East Church Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

6:00pm Reception

6:30pm JHS Annual Meeting

6:45pm JHS Announcement of 2019 Endangered Historic Sites

7:00pm Jacksonville: Florida’s Tourist Mecca and Its Grand Hotels – 1869 to 1926

Following the Civil War, Jacksonville became the most attractive winter vacation destination on the nation’s east coast. Throughout America, Jacksonville was known as “The Winter City in a Summer Land.” During the season, the town was filled to capacity with its population doubling. Along with the tourists came great hotels, which were remarkable for their architecture and amenities. Mild winter evenings were filled with orchestra music pouring from the windows of these grand hotels, wafting through streets as visitors promenaded in moonlight.

Well-known historian, civic advocate and JHS board member, Dr. Wayne Wood, will take us on a trip back through time to revisit this amazing era in Jacksonville’s history. Dr. Wood is known for his entertaining insights into Jacksonville’s architecture and history. His program will be heavily illustrated with rarely seen images of the era when our city reigned supreme as the nation’s winter playground. The presentation will also include stories of the large downtown hotels built after the Fire of 1901, such as the Mayflower, George Washington, and Seminole, which still existed until recent decades.

JHS members receive free admissions. Suggested donation of $10 for non-members. Become a JHS member here.

The JHS Speakers Series is underwritten through the generous support of Retina Associates, Fred H. Lambrou, M.D. and H. Alexander Leder, M.D.

Join us for this important discussion on our endangered historic properties. Now, more than ever, Jacksonville must chose wisely to protect historic treasures for generations to come.

Dr. Alan Bliss, Executive Director of JHS, will give an in depth evaluation of JHS’s 2019 Endangered Historic Properties and the state of historic preservation in Jacksonville with several experts in this field. DEADLINE TO PURCHASE LUNCH TICKETS IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12.

• Joel McEachin, former City of Jacksonville Senior Planner of the Community Planning Division, Historic Preservation Section. Mr. McEachin’s career highlights.
• Harry Reagan, JHS Board Member, JHS Historic Sites Committee member, career investigative reporter with WJXT, Friends of JaxLibrary leader, and
• Jim McCarthy, President of North Florida Land Trust since 2014, and long-time community advocate. NFLT is the steward of the newly restored Old Brewster Hospital.

The discussion will encompass properties at risk, recent successes, adaptive reuse and best practices in endeavors to preserve our historic treasurers. RESERVATIONS AND TIDBITS LUNCH ORDERS REQUIRED BY Wednesday, June 12.

WHEN: Friday, June 14, 11:30am
WHERE: Old St. Andrews Church, 317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
PARKING: Behind church.

DEEP ROOTS, MANY BRANCHES: THE ROOTS OF BLUES IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2019  6:30pm    Old St. Andrews Church

Join us as Mitch Hemann, musician, singer-songwriter and JHS Archivist unleashes his vocal chords and creativity to pay tribute to the legacy of blues in Northeast Florida. From field hollers to the birth of Southern Rock, Jacksonville has played a pivotal role in the formation of Blues music. Mitch Hemann will be your guide on a musical journey that twists and turns its way through more than 100 years of music history, tracing the origins and the evolution of this truly American art form. This unique presentation will feature a combination of speaking and live musical performance.

Join us as Jacksonville Historical Society and Durkeeville Historical Society share the legacy of the Jax Red Caps and the Negro Baseball League.  Saturday, July 13.
5:00pm – Historical presentation at Old St. Andrews.
6:30pm – Jumbo Shrimp Salute to the Red Caps Game.
Seats reserved in Section 110 along the first baseline. Parking is included in ticket price, and is located in the lots behind Old St. Andrews Church.

Salute to the Jax Red Caps

More than thirty years ago, Jacksonville’s NFL team existed only in the hopes and dreams of its citizens. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, a changing cast of determined leaders pursued an NFL franchise. The story of that effort, and of the rebuilding of the old Gator Bowl Stadium to NFL standards, will be the topic on August 27, when Preston Haskell speaks at the Jacksonville Historical Society. This Lunch & Learn program covers the runup to the long-awaited day when our Jacksonville Jaguars began major-league play in the River City.

RESERVATIONS FULL.  $15 Member,  $20 Non-member  Tidbits lunch.

Parking is available in the lot behind Old St. Andrews Church.