Jacksonville History - More Historic Pictures
Dixieland Park on the Southbank of the St. Johns River in the early 1900's. The park boasted many rides and attractions for Jacksonville visiting tourists. This areas now has been replaced by Hilton Hotel.
The Duval Hotel in Downtown Jacksonville. This is from the late 1800's.
Front entrance of Furchgott's department store in Downtown Jacksonville. This picture was taken in 1949. Furchgott's is no longer in business, however, the building still stands in Downtown Jacksonville. At the entrance, notice the stripes on the sidewalk, along with a fanciful "F" (inside a circle). The stripes and the "F" are still visible today and that the marble still surrounds the entranceway. The doors in the alcove lead to other businesses, though. Through the left entrance is the Zodiac Grill, while through a door to the right is De Real Ting Caribbean Restaurant. The Zodiac Grill occupies the former area for jewelry, silverware, cosmetics, hosiery, and "specials." De Real Ting is where handbags and lingerie used to be purchased.
A 1901 picture of the Ostrich Farm in Jacksonville. During the late 1800s & early 1900s, ostrich farms dotted Florida, and Jacksonville boasted its share. Attracting both locals & tourists, the parks featured ostriches that were ridden like racehorses. The big birds also pulled small wagons & carriages. They were harnessed singly or occasionally in pairs.
Tollbooths used to be common to Jacksonville drivers. They were used to help finance the local expressway system, which was begun during the 1950s. In 1988, Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Hazouri spearheaded a campaign to eliminate toll collection at the city’s bridges. This led to a change to a half-cent sales tax as a revenue source for the JTA (Jacksonville Transit Authority). Funds from the tax are spent on local road & bridge construction and on bus system improvements. The tollbooths throughout Jacksonville were all removed.
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Source: the Florida State Archives and Jacksonville History.com.