At the History Center

Experience Jacksonville’s history up close at our evolving downtown campus. Whether you’re attending an event, exploring our historic buildings, or conducting research in the Archive of Jacksonville History, we welcome you to be part of the story—learning, discovering, and connecting with the people, places and events that shaped our city.

Educational Programming

Educational programming is central to our mission at the Jacksonville History Center. Through speaker series, historic tours, oral history workshops, and events like our annual history fair, we bring Jacksonville’s stories to life—not just to look back, but to understand how the past shapes our future. These programs inspire curiosity, spark community pride, and invite people of all ages to take an active role in shaping the city’s evolving story.

Speaker Series

The Jacksonville History Center hosts a dynamic monthly lecture series featuring a wide range of historical topics and engaging presenters. Speakers include historians, dramatists, subject-matter experts, and artists, offering fresh insights and compelling perspectives on North Florida history and beyond. Each year, the series features 10 to 12 programs, including multimedia presentations and occasional panel discussions.

Evenings begin with refreshments at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6 p.m. Free for members; suggested donation of $10 for non-members, $5 for students. Members and guests are invited to a brief pre-lecture reception.

Historic Tours

The Jacksonville History Center offers guided tours that bring the city’s rich past to life. Highlights include our popular tours of Evergreen Cemetery and Old City Cemetery, where stories of Jacksonville’s notable figures and hidden history unfold among the historic landscape. Click on the button below to see upcoming tours. We also offer tours of our Merrill House Museum. Please call the Jacksonville History Center office, 904.665.0064, or email MerrillHouse@jaxhistory.org to learn more about Merrill House tours.

Annual History Fair

The Jacksonville History Center’s History Fair is a community celebration of the people, places, and events that have shaped our city. Held each June, the fair features exhibits from dozens of Northeast Florida history organizations, sharing stories, artifacts, and resources that bring Jacksonville’s past to life for all ages.

Speaking Engagements

As part of our commitment to public history, the Jacksonville History Center regularly engages with the community through speaking appearances at schools, civic groups, and cultural institutions. CEO and historian Dr. Alan Bliss frequently represents the organization around town, sharing insights on topics ranging from Jacksonville’s architectural legacy to its maritime history and much more. Our professional archivists and Merrill House Museum docent also give talks on local history, preservation, and storytelling from the city’s past. These talks foster a deeper understanding of our city’s past and invite broader conversations about its future. Interested in booking Dr. Bliss or one of our other staff members for a speaking engagement? Click the button below to get in touch.

Oral History Workshops

Our oral history workshops teach participants how to preserve personal and community stories through guided interviews and recording techniques. Whether you’re capturing family history or contributing to a larger community project, these sessions offer hands-on tools for preserving the voices of the past. Because we offer these workshops based on community interest, we invite you to check our events calendar from time to time to see when the next one is scheduled.