Taking an overnight road trip to Jacksonville Florida? Make your stay as relaxing and fun as possible by checking out these must-see attractions. Jacksonville is home to the famous Jazz Festival, which takes place over Memorial Day weekend and includes a Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. In the 1960s, the Jacksonville pop-rock scene was dominated by Classics IV. By 1969, the Allman Brothers Band were defining Southern Rock. After that, the city's talent in music reached cult status with the rise of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band that inspired Blackfoot. While the 1980s saw an overall decline in artistic talent in the city, it was still a decade of musical excellence.
In the 1920s, Jacksonville became the center of the Florida land rush. Until then, the city was a bustling port for shipping goods. In the early twentieth century, Jacksonville was a winter resort for moviemakers from New York and the northeast. As railroads increased, more movie studios started to sprout up. By the end of the decade, more than 30 companies, including Metro Pictures (later MGM) and Edison Studios (later Majestic Films), opened in Jacksonville. In the 1930s, another economic boom boosted Jacksonville's growth, and three U.S. Marines were stationed in Jacksonville during World War II. This became the third largest military complex in the country, after the New York-based Naval Station and Miami-based Fort Lauderdale.
Despite the early influx of immigrants, the city's history is rich in historical significance. The area was founded in 1832 by U.S. settlers and was incorporated into a town government on February 9, 1832. The town was named after its most prominent founder, Isaiah D. Hart, and is commemorated by a bridge over the St. Johns River. It was a great day for the city and is still a must-see for anyone visiting Jacksonville.
The Old City Cemetery in Jacksonville was opened in 1852 by steamboat captain Charles Willey. This cemetery includes sections for confederate soldiers, Jewish people, Masons, and Catholics. The area also contains many graves of early African-American families. The mausoleum of African Princess Laura Adorkor Kofey was also constructed in the city's Old City Cemetery. The African Princess' tomb is situated near a football stadium.
In the 1960s, the city suffered from urban sprawl. After this, voters consolidated the city's government with the government of Duval County. In 1968, Hans Tanzler became the first mayor of the consolidated government. This made Jacksonville the largest city in Florida and the thirteenth largest in the United States. Its land area is greater than any other American city, except Alaska. Its population continues to grow and thrive. Jacksonville's history is a testament to its people's determination to make this a better place to live.
After the war, Jacksonville was a hub of the insurance and banking industries. Major banks in the city included Barnett Bank, Atlantic National Bank, and Florida National Bank. The city was captured four times by Union troops. During this time, the city's population grew in the presence of runaway slaves and freed slaves. It remains a bustling economic center and exciting destination for visitors. And with such diversity and vitality, Jacksonville is home to some of the most cosmopolitan people in the world.