Mandarin Museum & Historical Society - Jacksonville, FL
N 30° 09.918 W 081° 38.778
17R E 437768 N 3337278
Quick Description: The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is located at the Walter Jones Historical Park in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 1/1/2008 12:42:47 PM
Waymark Code: WM2WRZ
Views: 85
Long Description:The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is a private,
non-profit educational and research institution founded in 1991 to
preserve buildings, artifacts, and sites related to the history of
Mandarin and its residents.
Major William Webb purchased 31.2 acres on the St. Johns River
in Mandarin in 1873. He built a home, barn and 1,000-foot dock
extending into the St. Johns River. Major Webb cultivated oranges,
potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, and beans. The farm
produce was shipped north on steamships that regularly stopped in
Mandarin. Major Webb played an active role in the community, which
by 1881 had a population of 1,200 people, 300 white residents and
900 black residents.
Walter Jones, proprietor of the Mandarin Store and Post Office,
moved his family to the homestead in the early 1900s and his family
members occupied the property until 1992.
The City of Jacksonville acquired 10 acres of Major Webb’s
original homestead from the descendents of Walter Jones in 1994 for
the purpose of creating the city’s first historical park. The
property was developed and restored with support from the Florida
Communities Trust and city and state grants. The site was dedicated
as a City of Jacksonville Landmark and Landmark Site. The park
opened to the public in August 2000. The park includes the
farmhouse, barn, outbuildings, sawmill, nature trail along a
riverfront boardwalk, picnic area, and restrooms. The park and
farmhouse are handicapped accessible.
The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society operates the park
facilities under a contract with the city. Following restoration,
the farmhouse opened for public tours in August 2002. The society
has furnished the house to reflect family life during the late
1890s and early 1900s. Guided tours are available during scheduled
hours and by advance reservation.
