3 Fascinating Historical Attractions in Driving Distance of Jacksonville, FL

Founded in 1564, the city of Jacksonville, FL, has a long history. Nowadays, this metropolis features plenty of historical attractions that allow visitors to learn about the area’s interesting past. If you are planning a road trip around Florida in your 2023 Mazda CX-30, here are three spots you should check out in Jacksonville.

3 Fascinating Historical Attractions in Driving Distance of Jacksonville, FL

1. Fort Caroline National Memorial

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, Fort Caroline National Memorial is located at 12713 Fort Caroline Road in the eastern part of Jacksonville and is one of the most interesting historical landmarks in the region. This site was established as an attempted French settlement in 1564 but was taken over by Spanish troops a little over one year later in 1565.

Welcoming about 145,000 visitors every year and managed by the National Park Service, Fort Caroline National Memorial can be reached in about 20 minutes by car from the Jacksonville city center via route FL-115, Arlington Expressway, and Fort Caroline Road. Open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, this place showcases a series of ruins and monuments.

2. Fort Clinch State Park

Another historical fort located within driving distance from Jacksonville, Fort Clinch State Park covers an area of about 1,100 acres and features not only the ruins of an ancient masonry fortification but also plenty of open nature areas, sand dunes, tidal marshes, and plains. Welcoming about 170,000 visitors every year, this place is managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

As the name indicates, the main attraction at this state park is Fort Clinch, which was constructed between 1847 and 1869 and was seized by Confederate forces during the first year of the American Civil War. The fort was also used during the Spanish-American War of 1898, after which it was largely abandoned. The restauration of this fort was carried out by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

3. Main Street Bridge

If you want to check out an important historical attraction without leaving the city center, Jacksonville’s Main Street Bridge is a great option. Constructed in the early 1940s, this steel vertical lift bridge across the St. John’s River is one of the city’s most iconic structures. A comprehensive project in 2014 restored the bridge’s structure and upgraded its metal barriers and sidewalks.

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