LaVilla Then & Now walking tour

On Saturday, February 25, Join The Jaxson’s Ennis Davis, Bill Delaney and Mike Field for a guided walking tour of the past, present and future of one of Jacksonville’s most historic neighborhoods: LaVilla.

Located just west of the Downtown Core, LaVilla grew up after the Civil War thanks to the many new jobs provided by the city’s train station and Railroad Row. One of Jacksonville’s oldest predominately African-American neighborhoods, it blossomed as a hub for Black music, culture and performing arts so vibrant it was dubbed the “Harlem of the South.”

Old Stanton High School in LaVilla.

Like many urban neighborhoods, LaVilla faced a decline in the later 20th century, and a failed urban renewal project in the early 1990s led to the destruction of most of its buildings. Today, there’s a renewed interest in preserving and what’s left of LaVilla’s history and building on it to create a thriving urban neighborhood once more.

The Masonic Temple on Broad Street, one of the historic buildings in LaVilla to survive to the present day.

This innovative tour will cover historic spots as well as new developments and restoration projects seeking to bring life back to the historic neighborhood. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite here for tours beginning at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Saturday, February 25. Kids 12 and under are free. The tour starts and ends outside the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at 100 LaVilla Center Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32204. Street parking is free.

For a look at The Jaxson’s slate of walking tours for spring 2023, visit here. For any questions, contact Bill Delaney at wdelaney@moderncities.com or Ennis Davis at edavis@moderncities.com.

Article by Bill Delaney. Contact Bill at wdelaney@moderncities.com.