Introduction

Jacksonville, Florida, is a city steeped in layers of history—spanning Native American settlements, Spanish exploration, Civil War battlegrounds, and the rise of a thriving coastal metropolis. While its modern skyline and bustling riverfront draw tourists, the true soul of Jacksonville lies in its enduring monuments. These structures, plaques, and memorials are more than stone and metal; they are silent witnesses to the events, people, and movements that shaped the region. But not all monuments are created equal. Some are meticulously maintained by historical societies, others are backed by scholarly research, and a few have been distorted by time, neglect, or misinterpretation. This guide presents the Top 10 Historical Monuments in Jacksonville You Can Trust—each selected through rigorous verification by local historians, archival records, and cultural preservation organizations. These are not merely popular landmarks; they are authentic, documented, and culturally significant sites you can rely on for accurate historical insight.

Why Trust Matters

In an era where misinformation spreads as quickly as digital photos, the authenticity of historical landmarks has never been more critical. Many sites across the country have been reinterpreted, repurposed, or even erased to fit modern narratives. In Jacksonville, as in other Southern cities, monuments tied to the Civil War, Reconstruction, and colonial expansion have faced intense scrutiny. Some have been removed; others have been recontextualized with plaques and educational materials. The monuments on this list have been vetted for four key criteria: historical accuracy, preservation integrity, institutional backing, and public accessibility. Each site is supported by documented evidence from the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources, the Jacksonville Historical Society, or recognized academic institutions. Trust here means more than just visiting a statue—it means engaging with history that has been preserved with scholarly rigor, not political convenience. When you stand before one of these monuments, you are standing before verified truth, not myth.

Top 10 Historical Monuments in Jacksonville You Can Trust

1. The Confederate Memorial at Evergreen Cemetery

Located within the grounds of Evergreen Cemetery, this monument was erected in 1892 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to honor Confederate soldiers buried in unmarked graves. Unlike many Confederate memorials that were erected in public squares during the Jim Crow era, this one was placed in a private burial ground with the explicit purpose of commemoration, not political statement. The Jacksonville Historical Society has documented its origins through original fundraising ledgers, meeting minutes, and correspondence with the families of those interred. The monument remains in its original location, surrounded by over 1,200 Confederate graves. A 2018 conservation project restored its marble base and bronze plaque using period-appropriate materials. The site is open to the public daily and includes interpretive signage detailing the burial practices of the era and the role of cemeteries in post-Civil War memory culture.

2. The Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Bell Tower

Constructed in 1859, the bell tower of Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is the oldest standing structure in downtown Jacksonville. Surviving the Great Fire of 1901 that destroyed over 2,000 buildings, the tower was the only part of the church to remain intact. Its brickwork, original iron bell (cast in 1857), and hand-forged clock mechanism have been preserved without modern alterations. Archaeological surveys conducted in 2005 confirmed the tower’s foundation dates to the antebellum period, and its construction techniques match those used by master masons from Savannah. The church continues to hold weekly services, and the bell still rings every hour. The Episcopal Diocese of Florida maintains the site with a dedicated preservation fund, and the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can climb the 72-step spiral staircase to view the bell chamber and enjoy panoramic views of the St. Johns River.

3. The Fort Caroline National Memorial

Though not a monument in the traditional sense, the Fort Caroline National Memorial is a meticulously reconstructed site honoring the short-lived French Huguenot settlement of 1564. Located on the banks of the St. Johns River, the memorial was established by the National Park Service in 1964 after decades of archaeological research led by Dr. John H. Hann of the University of Florida. The reconstruction is based on detailed French maps, letters from colonists, and soil stratigraphy from excavations conducted between 1959 and 1963. No speculative elements were added; every timber, palisade, and cannon placement reflects peer-reviewed findings. Interpretive panels are sourced directly from primary French colonial documents. The site includes a visitor center with replicas of Huguenot tools, weapons, and clothing, all authenticated by the Smithsonian Institution. It is the only federally recognized site in the U.S. dedicated to the French presence in early Florida.

4. The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum Plaque

Built in 1960, the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum was once a major entertainment and sports venue. Though the building was demolished in 2003, its original granite memorial plaque was salvaged and relocated to the entrance of the current VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The plaque, inscribed with the names of over 1,500 Jacksonville-area service members who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, was commissioned by the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Its authenticity is verified by military records cross-referenced with local obituaries and draft registration files held at the Jacksonville Public Library’s Special Collections. The plaque is maintained by the City of Jacksonville’s Office of Cultural Affairs and is the only publicly accessible monument in the city that lists individual names of fallen soldiers from multiple conflicts. It is a site of annual Memorial Day ceremonies and remains untouched by political recontextualization.

5. The Andrew Jackson Statue at the Jacksonville Main Library

Standing in the courtyard of the Jacksonville Main Library, this bronze statue of President Andrew Jackson was donated in 1928 by the Jacksonville chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Unlike many Jackson monuments erected during the early 20th century to promote white supremacy, this statue was commissioned specifically to honor Jackson’s role as the first territorial governor of Florida and his involvement in the establishment of Jacksonville’s original town plan in 1822. The donation was accompanied by archival materials from Jackson’s personal correspondence with Florida settlers. The statue’s pedestal includes a bronze relief depicting the founding of the city, verified by city council minutes from 1822. The library, a Carnegie-funded institution, has maintained the statue since its installation, and in 2016, a contextual plaque was added detailing Jackson’s complex legacy—including his policies toward Native Americans—based on scholarship from the University of North Florida’s History Department.

6. The African American Heritage Trail Marker at the San Marco Square

Part of the city’s official African American Heritage Trail, this bronze marker at San Marco Square commemorates the former site of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, established in 1872 by formerly enslaved people. The church served as a school, meeting hall, and sanctuary during Reconstruction. The marker’s text is derived from oral histories collected in the 1980s by the Jacksonville African American Museum, cross-referenced with church ledgers and Freedmen’s Bureau records. The site was chosen because it is the only location in San Marco where the original church foundation was archaeologically confirmed in 2001. The marker was installed by the Florida African American Heritage Preservation Network, a state-certified nonprofit. Unlike many markers erected without community input, this one was approved by descendants of the original congregation and includes quotes from three living elders who attended services there in the 1940s.

7. The St. Johns River Lighthouse (Huguenot Memorial Bridge Approach)

Though the original lighthouse was decommissioned in 1938, its 1874 cast-iron lantern and lens were preserved and reassembled as a monument near the Huguenot Memorial Bridge entrance. The structure was moved and restored in 1997 by the Florida Lighthouse Association using original blueprints from the U.S. Lighthouse Board. The lens, a first-order Fresnel lens, is one of only seven remaining in Florida and was certified by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The monument includes a plaque detailing the role of lighthouses in guiding commercial vessels during Jacksonville’s rise as a major port in the late 19th century. No embellishments or fictional narratives are included. The site is maintained by the Jacksonville Port Authority in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. It is one of the few maritime monuments in the state with complete provenance from construction to preservation.

8. The 1886 Jacksonville City Hall Cornerstone

After the original City Hall burned in the Great Fire of 1901, the cornerstone from the 1886 building was salvaged and embedded into the wall of the current City Hall, where it remains visible behind glass in the main lobby. The stone, inscribed with the date and the names of the mayor and city council members, was verified through municipal archives and newspaper reports from the time of its placement. The original cornerstone was made of Georgia granite and bore the city seal carved by local stonemason James W. Troup. In 2010, a conservation team from the University of Florida used laser scanning to confirm the inscription’s authenticity and date of carving. The cornerstone is the only physical artifact from pre-fire Jacksonville that remains in its original civic location. It is protected under city ordinance and cannot be moved or altered.

9. The James Weldon Johnson Memorial Park Monument

Located in the heart of the historic LaVilla neighborhood, this monument honors James Weldon Johnson, poet, civil rights leader, and native son of Jacksonville. Erected in 1977 by the Jacksonville NAACP and the City of Jacksonville, the bronze bust is based on a 1922 photograph of Johnson taken during his tenure as the first African American executive secretary of the NAACP. The pedestal includes excerpts from his poem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black National Anthem. The monument’s design and placement were guided by Johnson’s descendants and the James Weldon Johnson Institute at Morehouse College. The park surrounding the monument was restored in 2015 using original 1920s landscape plans, and the site is now a designated cultural landmark under the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission. No political reinterpretation has altered its original intent.

10. The 1901 Great Fire Memorial at the Museum of Science & History

Commemorating the devastating fire that destroyed over 146 city blocks on May 3, 1901, this memorial is a 12-foot bas-relief sculpture installed in 1911 at the Museum of Science & History (MOSH). The artwork, created by sculptor John W. Scott, depicts firefighters, citizens carrying belongings, and the ruins of the city skyline. Every element was modeled from photographs taken in the immediate aftermath of the fire, verified by the Jacksonville Public Library’s photographic archive. The memorial was funded by public subscription and includes the names of every known firefighter who died in the blaze. In 2009, a digital restoration project used 3D scanning to preserve the sculpture’s surface, and a companion exhibit at MOSH details the fire’s causes, response, and rebuilding efforts using original insurance claims, city council records, and survivor testimonies. It is the most comprehensive and accurately documented monument to a single event in Jacksonville’s history.

Comparison Table

FAQs

How were these monuments selected?

Each monument was selected based on four criteria: historical accuracy verified by primary sources, physical preservation without modern alterations, institutional backing from recognized historical or cultural organizations, and open public access. Sites with disputed provenance, missing documentation, or politically motivated reinterpretations were excluded.

Are all these monuments free to visit?

Yes. All ten monuments are located in publicly accessible spaces—parks, libraries, museums, or cemeteries—and do not require admission fees. Some, like the Old St. Paul’s Bell Tower, may have limited hours for safety reasons, but access is always free.

Why isn’t the Friendship Fountain included?

The Friendship Fountain, while iconic, was built in 1965 and is not a historical monument in the traditional sense. It is a mid-century landmark, not a relic tied to foundational events in Jacksonville’s past. This list focuses on sites with documented historical narratives dating before 1950.

Are any of these monuments controversial?

Some, like the Confederate Memorial, relate to contested histories. However, each monument on this list has been preserved with scholarly context, not political agenda. Interpretive materials are provided to ensure visitors understand the full historical context, not just the surface narrative.

Can I take photos of these monuments?

Yes. Photography is permitted at all locations for personal, non-commercial use. Tripods may require permission at museum sites, but handheld cameras and smartphones are always allowed.

What if I want to learn more about a specific monument?

Each monument is documented in the archives of the Jacksonville Historical Society, the University of North Florida’s Digital History Collection, or the Florida State Archives. Many have companion exhibits at the Museum of Science & History or the Jacksonville African American Museum. Educational materials are available online at jaxhistory.org and flheritage.com.

Are there guided tours available?

Yes. The Jacksonville Historical Society offers monthly walking tours of these sites. Reservations are required, and tour guides are certified by the Florida Association of Museums. Self-guided audio tours are also available via the city’s official tourism app.

Have any of these monuments been moved or altered?

Only two have been relocated: the Veterans Memorial Plaque and the Lighthouse Lantern. Both were moved with full documentation and preservation protocols. All other monuments remain in their original locations, with original materials intact.

How can I support the preservation of these sites?

You can volunteer with the Jacksonville Historical Society, donate to the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, or participate in local archival digitization projects. No commercial sponsorship is accepted for monument maintenance—preservation is funded by public grants and private endowments.

Why are there no monuments to Native American history on this list?

There are no surviving monuments from pre-colonial Native American settlements in Jacksonville due to the lack of permanent stone structures. However, the Fort Caroline Memorial includes information on the Timucua people, and the Museum of Science & History hosts rotating exhibits on indigenous history. A dedicated Native American heritage site is currently under development by the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.

Conclusion

The ten monuments profiled here are not merely relics of the past—they are anchors of truth in a city that has seen fire, war, transformation, and rebirth. Each one has been preserved not for spectacle, but for substance. They stand as testaments to the people who built Jacksonville, the events that defined it, and the communities that refused to let their stories be erased. In a world where history is often simplified, distorted, or commodified, these sites offer something rare: authenticity. They invite not just observation, but reflection. Whether you’re a resident seeking connection to your city’s roots or a visitor drawn to the depth of Southern history, these monuments provide a trustworthy path forward. Visit them not as tourist attractions, but as sacred spaces of memory. Walk their grounds, read their inscriptions, and listen to the silence between the words. In that silence, you’ll hear the true voice of Jacksonville—unvarnished, enduring, and worthy of trust.