The year that could be considered the beginning of Jacksonville’s history is 1822, when Isaiah Hart tied a rope around a bay tree and laid out the city’s first streets on what is now known as the Northbank.
The year that is generally considered the beginning of North Florida’s history is 1562, when a group of French Huguenots, led by Rene de Laudonniere, sailed into the mouth of what would eventually be called the St. Johns River.
That year could also be considered the beginning of North Florida’s maritime history, but Jacksonville Maritime Heritage Center Director Catherine Krueger said it actually goes back much farther than that.
Trade routes and fishing in North Florida’s waters can be traced to prehistoric times, even before the Timucua Indians inhabited the region.
“People have always come to Jacksonville because the river was here,” she said.
The mission of the Jacksonville Maritime Heritage Center is to preserve the area’s water-based history from the earliest French explorers to the present.
The organization recently moved from its site at the south end of the Main Street Bridge to a much larger space at the Landing near The Toy Factory.
“We have more than five times the space here. Now we’re able to display things in the collection that have never been seen before by the public,” said Krueger.
The collection includes dozens of scale models, including the early sailing ships that explored the New World and U.S. Navy vessels that have called North Florida their home port.
There’s also an exhibit about the more than 80 Liberty Ships that were built in Jacksonville in the 1940s to serve during World War II.
Having more space also has led to the creation of a multipurpose audio-visual area that’s used for educational presentations. It’s available for corporate and private events, said Krueger.
Upcoming exhibits include the restoration of the Maple Leaf diorama, a depiction of a Civil War-era shipwreck on loan from the Jacksonville Historical Society, and an exhibit about Jacksonville’s connection to the
Titanic.
Center Curator Paul Ghiotto said historical records indicate that three people who were on the Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage and survived the sinking were bound for Jacksonville and arrived at their destination.
“They’re buried in Evergreen Cemetery,” he said.
The center is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Krueger said the organization is always seeking volunteers to assist with center operations and guided tours.
For more information, call 355-1101 or visit www.jacksonvillemaritimeheritagecenter.org.
356-2466