The Jacksonville Historical Society is celebrating its 80th anniversary by purchasing the 1878 St. Luke’s Hospital and the 1882 Florida Casket Company Building at Palmetto and Duval Streets and developing these facilities as a center for a Jacksonville history museum and archival space for the preservation, exhibition and study of all aspects of the history of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.

Our St. Luke’s project has exciting potential and sobering challenges.  By all measures – organizational, management, financial and potential – it is larger than anything we have ever done before.  It is also an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Historical Society to provide the community with one location to study all aspects of local history.

The new history center at Old St. Lukes will enable the Society to consolidate its large and scattered archive collection, provide space for an established local genealogy society and its extensive library and to provide the public with a wide range of document preservation programs and materials.   Go to www.jaxhistory.com for photos and more information on the Old St. Lukes property.

The Historical Society asks you to play a part in making this new history center possible by contributing to the Old St Lukes Project.  Your financial participation is critical to the success of this unique urban history center.  Please make your contribution to the Old St. Luke’s history center project.


Thank you!,

Jerry Spinks
President, Jacksonville Historical Society


Click here to read the History of St. Luke's Hospital



The mission of the Society’s new history center is to dramatically increase public awareness and appreciation of all aspects of Jacksonville history by providing one location for citizens and educators to access a wide range of local archives and by providing instructions on the proper means of preserving public and private records.

The critical need for such a facility is due to the growth of the Historical Society’s archives which are used regularly by the public and scholars to study our extensive collection of significant material dealing with Jacksonville’s history.  The Society will use the new history center at the Old St. Luke’s property to

• consolidate the Historical Society’s extensive but scattered archives

• partner with the area’s premier genealogist society, Southern Genealogist’s Exchange Society

• present permanent and rotating exhibits on local history

• operate an on-site oral history program with recording studio

• provide classes to the public on preserving family records

• work with colleges to develop internship programs in museum and archive management

• act as a reference center for other collections in Jacksonville

• interact with local public and private schools to teach local history

• provide archival services and supplies to individuals and organizations.