Saturday, June 6, at 9 am & 1 pm
Cathedral Hill, Downtown Jacksonville
Family-friendly — kids welcome
$10 per adult | $5 per child
Family ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children): $25
Step into local history as we commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Great Fire of 1901 with an engaging, educational walking tour designed for the whole family!
Jacksonville’s Great Fire of 1901 remains the largest metropolitan fire in the American South. It began on May 3, 1901, when a lunchtime spark from a cook stove ignited pile of Spanish moss at a mattress factory at Davis and Beaver Streets. The flames quickly spread across downtown, ultimately destroying 2,368 buildings, leaving 10,000 people homeless, and claiming seven lives. The fire was finally brought under control at Hogans Creek in Cathedral Hill, forever shaping the neighborhood we know today.
Led by local expert Mike Field from The Jaxson and Modern Cities, this family-friendly tour brings history to life for all ages. Developed as a Jacksonville history experience for children and adults alike, the tour shares powerful stories of courage, resilience, and rebuilding in a way that is engaging and accessible.
Along the way, you’ll:
- Visit historic sites that burned to the ground and were rebuilt
- Learn how all five historic congregations of the Cathedral District rose again after the fire
- Explore the evolution of firefighting in a growing, densely populated downtown
- Stop by historic fire stations and discover how the city adapted after the disaster
Come walk the streets where history happened and see how a city rose from the ashes.
TOUR NOTES:
- Tours are Rain or Shine – Please wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing!
- No refunds – your tickets are transferable.
- Please note that our Cathedral Hill churches are home to active worshipping communities. On occasion, services or events such as weddings or funerals may take priority and require a change to our tour schedule. Thank you for your understanding!
Thank You to Our Sponsor!
