Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church - Punta Gorda

"Uncle Dan" Smith, a local African American religious leader, constructed a thatch-roofed hut church on this site in 1886. Several white families, including Colonel Albert W. Gilchrist, who later became governor of Florida, were in attendance at the first service. ...

The Blanchard House Museum of African American History & Culture

This 1925 house was originally built for Joseph Blanchard, a black sea captain and key member of early Punta Gorda's business community, and Minnie, his mail-order bride. Upon the death of Blanchard's last surviving daughter, African American community historian Bernice ...

Cleveland Steam Marine Ways

George Brown came to the Peace River area in 1890 to work for a phosphate mining company. During the 1890s he was superintendent of buildings for the Desoto Phosphate Mining Company in Liverpool, near Arcadia. He later founded the Cleveland ...

The George Brown House (Private)

This property was built in 1915 by George Brown, a talented African American carpenter and local businessman, for himself and his family. The home is a monument to his second wife, Tommie.

Information provided by Florida Department of State.

Photo ...

Mount Moriah Baptist Church

The last building standing from the Freemanville community, a settlement of freed slaves. Built in 1911, it still serves as a place of worship for descendants of those original settlers.

Information provided by Florida Department of State.

Photo courtesy of ...

Freemanville Historic Site

A state historic marker recognizes this community settled in 1867 by freed slaves after the Civil War. On the second Tuesday in February each year, the City of Port Orange celebrates Freemanville Day, with historic reenactments.

Information provided by Florida ...

St. Rita's Black History Museum

The Old Sacred Heart/St. Rita (Colored) Mission Church building, constructed in 1899, was one of the few houses of worship for black Roman Catholics in this area, and the only one left standing. Moved to this site, the building now ...

St. Valentine's Day Massacre Site

This address was once home to the SMC Cartage Company, site of one of the most infamous gangland killings in American history.

On February 14th 1929, seven men associated with Bugs Moran's North Side Gang were murdered by gunmen hired ...

National Historic Landmark-Slater Mill

National Historic Landmark-Old Slater Mill

Here, Samuel Slater (1768-1835) perfected America's first successful water-powered spinning machine in 1790, and helped to build the country's first successful cotton mill in 1793.

His mill is operated as a museum.

Courtesy National Park Service National ...

National Historic Landmark-Ocean Drive Historic District

National Historic Landmark- Ocean Drive Historic District

This large historic district includes the south-western tip of Rhode Island -- not the state, but the island on which Newport is built.

It has a rugged, informal character, as compared with the formal ...