The Jacksonville History Center held its 3rd Annual History Fair on Saturday, June 14, 2025, with two dozen displays by history-focused organizations in Northeast Florida, from Amelia Island to St. Augustine. Visitors were given the opportunity to attend any of nine presentations by participating organizations, enter raffles for items such as memberships, tours, t-shirts, coffee mugs, gift baskets, gift cards, and hotel stays, and purchase a bag of books for $15. On the lawn, the First Coast Model A Car Club displayed four antique automobiles, a food vendor offered a variety of items, and visitors enjoyed wandering in and out of the new space.
The expansion of the event space, moving the event to the weekend, and extending the hours of the fair created a more accessible and comfortable experience for participants and visitors. Although there were fewer attendees than in previous years, members of the participating organizations were able to meet and talk with each other, building and developing connections, and planning future collaborations.
“As a first-time attendee of JHC’s history fair and a representative from one of Jacksonville’s historic districts, I am so grateful for the opportunity to have connected with other members of the Jacksonville history community. I left having learned more about our shared city and having gained new friends and collaborators. It was an honor to be in the room.” – Elaine Slayton Akin, Archivist, Riverside Avondale Preservation
Exhibits included the Amelia Island Museum of History; Archaeology Institute of America-Jacksonville Society; National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Florida; Durkeeville Historical Society; First Coast Region Model A Club; Historical Society of Orange Park; Historic Eastside Community Development; Historic Springfield Society (formerly Springfield Improvement Association and Archives); Historical Recovery Association of Northeast Florida; Jacksonville History Center Baseball History; Jacksonville History Center Medical History; James E. Merrill House Museum; Mandarin Museum and Historical Society; Mayport Lighthouse Association; Historical Society of Orange Park; Norman Studios; North Florida Genealogical Society; Riverside Avondale Preservation; St. Augustine Historical Society; St. John’s Cathedral Bookstore & Giftshop; The Ritz Theatre and Museum; Jacksonville Naval Museum, U.S.S. Orleck; Veterans Museum, and the West Nassau Historical Society.
The History Fair was the first public event since the renovation of the former Florida Casket Company building was completed May 5, 2025. Built in 1920, the three-story brick building employed carpenters and their families to construct caskets on the first floor, finish them with linings, hinges and other decorations on the second floor, and then store them on the third floor. After the property was sold in 1966, the building was primarily used for warehousing until purchased in 1975 by a nonprofit called Old St. Luke’s Restoration Inc., which focused on restoring Old St. Luke’s Hospital on the same property. The former hospital building and former casket factory were purchased in 1985 by the Florida Chapter of the National Arthritis Foundation, which used it for workshop space.
In 2012, the property was sold to the Jacksonville Historical Society, with the intention of renovating the building for the archives collection. Thanks to a $2.577 million appropriations grant from the City of Jacksonville, and private philanthropic support, the renovation project was completed in just over 12 months. The next phase of the project includes design and installation of museum exhibits, state-of-the-art equipment in the archives, landscaping and hardscaping of the property.
We are already planning for next year’s history fair. If you are interested in participating, visiting, or volunteering with us next year, please email the Head Archivist, Erin Mustard, at [email protected].
Kate A. Hallock | Chief of Staff / Communications Director
Erin Mustard | Head Archivist
