Cultural Sites of North Florida: A Backroads Guide to Small Museums and Other Local Treasures

Discover local history through less-traveled places that reflect the stories and communities of the region

Cultural Sites of North Florida is your guide to 43 intriguing, little-known destinations in the northern part of the Florida peninsula, from Crystal River to Jacksonville. In this book, local experts Ronnie Lovler and Dixie Neilson highlight places that can be reached by a short trip away from the highways and down meandering backroads, inviting you to discover forgotten history, immerse yourself in the stories of diverse communities, and learn what makes this area of the state unique.

This book features a selection of small museums, culturally significant sites, nature centers, and parks that many tourists and residents may have never explored. Locations include the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association in Ocala, Morningside Nature Center in Gainesville, Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park in Starke, the springs of Gilchrist County, Florida Agricultural Legacy Learning Center near St. Augustine, the A. L. Lewis Museum at American Beach, and many more.

For each place, Lovler and Neilson describe what can be found there, the story behind the site, and the importance of the site to the people in the community. Whether you enjoy this book from your favorite cozy armchair or by hitting the road to see these hidden gems for yourself, you will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the past and present of nearby towns and neighborhoods. And you will be inspired to keep exploring on your own as this book shows there is so much more to investigate!

Ronnie Lovler is a journalist who covered Latin America for CNN and a former fellow of the International Center for Journalists. She wrote for the Gainesville Sun, is a correspondent for Mainstreet Daily News, and is an adjunct professor at the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

Dixie Neilson is a former director of the Matheson History Museum in Gainesville. Previously, Neilson was collections manager at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art and faculty member in the museum studies program at the University of Florida.