Big Bend Scenic Highway - Historic City Hall - Apalachicola, Florida, USA. - National Scenic Byways on Waymarking.com

The Big Bend Scenic Byway offers two distinct experiences: the Forest and Coastal Trails. The Forest Trail follows an ancient sea bed through stretches of pine forests, wetlands and river flood plains. The Coastal Trail provides a look at old Florida fishing villages and maritime history.

Apalachicola is now said to be the Oyster capital of the world. Remnants of its colorful and diverse past remain very visible today through its many historic homes and buildings. Apalachicola's history and maritime culture are matched only by the area's bountiful natural resources and fresh local seafood, including the world-famous Apalachicola Bay oyster!

The building has been through more transformations than Dr Who.
First a Cotton warehouse, Timber & Sponge warehouse, commission store, office space, saloon, and cannery storage. Since its purchase by the City of Apalachicola more than 60 years ago, the warehouse has been used as the fire station, police station, jail and currently the City Hall.


Apalachicola City Hall - "This granite and brick Greek revival building, presently serving as the Apalachicola City Hall, was the first of more than fifty identical three-story warehouse structures built here on Water Street in the 1830’s to accommodate the burgeoning Port of Apalachicola. These warehouses were constructed on land purchased from the Apalachicola Land Company, in accordance with the “New York Contract.” This term referred to the Apalachicola Land Company’s parent company, the New York Land Company, which developed nearly identical warehouses , which are still standing on New York’s Water Street as part of New York’s South Street Seaport area.

With the decline of this Port in the late 19th century, all but this building and the Harrison-Raney building at 218 Water Street were lost due to fire, hurricanes and the lack of maintenance. William Murtagh, the first U.S. Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, on seeing these remaining 1830’s buildings, wrote: “These two remaining buildings are crucially important, because they are the remaining skeletons of what started this town.”

Over the years, this warehouse was used as a commission store, office space, saloon, and cannery storage. Since its purchase by the City of Apalachicola more than 60 years ago, the warehouse has been used as the fire station, police station, jail and City Hall. In 2005, with the assistance of funding from the Florida Secretary of State, Division of Historical Resources, the first two floors of this building were restored. Today the building is used by the City to house City Hall and other city operations.
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Address:
Apalachicola City Hall
1, Avenue E.
Apalachicola, Franklin County USA.

Program: America's Byways Website: [Web Link] Official Name: Big Bend Scenic Byway - Coastal Trail.

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