May 19, 2022

Jacksonville, FL, is a beautiful city with a fascinating history and heritage. If you like history, you’ll enjoy the tour of remaining Civil War sites, 19th-century architectural designs, and learning more about the disastrous fire in 1901 that caused the renovation of Downtown architecture. Here are our top historical attractions in Jacksonville.

Take Your Mazda and Visit These 4 Historical Attractions Near Jacksonville, FL

Kingsley Plantation

You can take a trip to the 19th century at the Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island, a few miles from the city. It features a grand pre-Civil War Southern mansion and a way of life that died with the Confederacy. The Kingsley Plantation consists of a kitchen house, a bar, a mansion, a barn, and the remains of 25 slave quarters. The Kingsley Plantation is Florida’s last remaining plantation house, and there are guided tours available from morning to evening.

Riverside Avondale Preservation Society

Take a stroll through the Riverside Avondale neighborhood, one of the largest on the National Register of Historic Places in the South. The society also works to preserve the neighborhood’s rich historic character and serves as the neighborhood’s primary advocate and facilitator. A walking tour of the neighborhood will reveal many architectural treasures, such as colonial mansions and exotic bungalows. You will also see historic parks, commercial districts, and the people’s unique culture. You can also rent a bike from the local shop.

Black Heritage Trail

The Black Heritage Trail allows you to learn about Jacksonville’s rich African American history. Begin your tour at the Catherine Fire Station, built-in 1902 to replace one destroyed in the Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901. For many years, African American firefighters worked at the station. In 1993, the station was decommissioned and relocated to Metropolitan Park in downtown Jacksonville. The structure is now the city’s fire museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Continue your tour of the Black Heritage Trail to Clara White Mission, founded by a formerly enslaved person and has been in operation for over a decade. The Clara White Mission, located on Ashley Street in Jacksonville, is a living memorial to Clara White and her daughter Eartha White. A visit to the museum will educate you about their lives and their numerous humanitarian works in service of the African Americans in Jacksonville. The museum also serves as a community development training facility.

Camp Milton Historic Preserve

If you’re interested in Civil War history, drive your stylish and comfortable Mazda CX-5 to Helsema Road in Jacksonville and tour Florida’s last remaining Civil War site. Camp Milton was the location of Confederate works and is a lovely preserve that offers a vivid glimpse into history. The preserve has picnic tables, a bike trail, an equestrian trail, and a hiking trail.

Jacksonville, as shown above, has a plethora of historical sites. As you plan your trip, make sure you have a dependable mode of transportation. Contact Tom Bush Mazda today to schedule a test drive in a new or used vehicle.