The Great Fire of 1901 – A Family Walking Tour | Cathedral Hill, Downtown Jacksonville

Step into one of the most dramatic moments in 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 piles of Spanish moss drying for 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 of Modern Cities and The Jaxson, 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
End of Tour reception at Carnegie Library (now home to Bedell Law Firm)

📅 Join us on June 6 at 9am and 1pm
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly — kids welcome
💲 $10 per adult | $5 per child
💲 Family ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children): $25

Come walk the streets where history happened—and see how a city rose from the ashes.
For more information, visit www.cathedraldistrict-jax.org