Jacksonville Maritime Museum
Encyclopedia
The Jacksonville Maritime Museum (JMM) tells the history of Jacksonville, Florida
and the First Coast
through its connection to the St. Johns River
and the Atlantic Ocean
. Their collection includes large scale models of ships from the Mayflower
to present day vessels, as well as paintings, photographs and artifacts dating to 1562.
The Jacksonville Landing
allowed the museum to use unoccupied retail space to display their collection of large scale model ships for seven years, beginning in 1990. Society President Lockhart explained, "Every time they would get a new tenant, they would move us to another empty space." That situation occurred five times in seven years. In mid-November, 1997, the museum was given seven days to vacate in preparation for a new tenant. "This time, they just ran out of empty space," commented Lockhart. Many exhibits were put into storage.
Beginning in 1994, their primary facility was located in a 5,000 ft² enclosed pavilion on the South bank of the Jacksonville Riverwalk
, near Friendship Fountain
. It remained there for nearly 18 years until it returned to the Jacksonville Landing and reopened on April 9, 2011.
The new location is on the ground floor, and accommodates the display of more items. Future plans include an interactive children's display and a theatre with seating for 50.
The museum houses hundreds of artifacts and includes permanent exhibits on the USS Saratoga
and Napoleon B. Broward
’s Three Friends Tugboat. Popular past exhibits have included St. Johns Riverboats, Shipbuilding
in Jacksonville and the RMS Titanic diorama
.
In 1998, the museum received two grants totalling $4,200 which paid for a computer project that created their website, provided an electronic link to other maritime museums and facilitated a monthly newsletter for the society.
In the last 20+ years, the museum has been the recipient of numerous documents and artifacts, which has caused a problem. The size of the museum’s collection greatly exceeds the space available in their current location. Ideally, the society would like to find a 13,000 ft² riverfront facility with docking space. To that end, the group has a fundraising goal of $1 million. As of January, 2007, they had raised $200,000 and were trying to obtain a parcel of state land that was used occasionally for parking.
, Jacksonville University
, and at Naval Station Mayport
. The biggest model owned by the museum was the USS Louisville
. The miniature model is 17 feet in length and sits atop a base weighing half a ton. After sitting in storage for many years, it was sold to the Frazier International History Museum
in Louisville, Kentucky
where it became part of their World War II exhibit.
30°19′14"N 81°39′32"W
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and the First Coast
First Coast
The First Coast is a region of Florida, in the United States. It extends along the Atlantic, or eastern, coast of the state, from the Georgia border, past the southern end of Anastasia Island, to Marineland....
through its connection to the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Their collection includes large scale models of ships from the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
to present day vessels, as well as paintings, photographs and artifacts dating to 1562.
History
The JMM began in 1985 and is operated by the Jacksonville Maritime Museum Society, Inc., a non-profit, 501C(3) organization. Their goal is to provide a resource that demonstrates the local impact of maritime trade.The Jacksonville Landing
Jacksonville Landing
The Jacksonville Landing is a shopping and dining complex in Jacksonville, Florida. It was built by the Rouse Company and opened in 1987. It has been compared to New York City's South Street Seaport, Boston's Faneuil Hall or Miami's Bayside, all developed by Rouse.-History:The Jacksonville Landing...
allowed the museum to use unoccupied retail space to display their collection of large scale model ships for seven years, beginning in 1990. Society President Lockhart explained, "Every time they would get a new tenant, they would move us to another empty space." That situation occurred five times in seven years. In mid-November, 1997, the museum was given seven days to vacate in preparation for a new tenant. "This time, they just ran out of empty space," commented Lockhart. Many exhibits were put into storage.
Beginning in 1994, their primary facility was located in a 5,000 ft² enclosed pavilion on the South bank of the Jacksonville Riverwalk
Jacksonville Riverwalk
The Jacksonville Riverwalks are located on the north and south banks of the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.The Riverwalk was originally a boardwalk on the south bank of the St. Johns River that opened Nov. 8, 1985. It was intended as a venue where tourists and local residents...
, near Friendship Fountain
Friendship Fountain
Friendship Fountain is a large fountain in Jacksonville, Florida. It is located in St. Johns River Park at the west end of Downtown Jacksonville's Southbank Riverwalk attraction...
. It remained there for nearly 18 years until it returned to the Jacksonville Landing and reopened on April 9, 2011.
The new location is on the ground floor, and accommodates the display of more items. Future plans include an interactive children's display and a theatre with seating for 50.
The museum houses hundreds of artifacts and includes permanent exhibits on the USS Saratoga
USS Saratoga (CV-60)
USS Saratoga , was one of four Forrestal- class supercarriers built for the US Navy in the 1950s. Saratoga was the sixth US Navy ship, and the second aircraft carrier, to be named for the Battle of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War.Commissioned in 1956, she spent most of her career in...
and Napoleon B. Broward
Napoleon B. Broward
Napoleon Bonaparte Broward was the 19th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida from January 3, 1905 to January 5, 1909. He also served as the sheriff of Duval County, Florida, and in the Florida House of Representatives....
’s Three Friends Tugboat. Popular past exhibits have included St. Johns Riverboats, Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
in Jacksonville and the RMS Titanic diorama
Diorama
The word diorama can either refer to a nineteenth century mobile theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-size or miniature model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum...
.
In 1998, the museum received two grants totalling $4,200 which paid for a computer project that created their website, provided an electronic link to other maritime museums and facilitated a monthly newsletter for the society.
Future home
A majority of the museum’s income is derived from society memberships and donations.In the last 20+ years, the museum has been the recipient of numerous documents and artifacts, which has caused a problem. The size of the museum’s collection greatly exceeds the space available in their current location. Ideally, the society would like to find a 13,000 ft² riverfront facility with docking space. To that end, the group has a fundraising goal of $1 million. As of January, 2007, they had raised $200,000 and were trying to obtain a parcel of state land that was used occasionally for parking.
Models on loan
Many large, scale models of ships are displayed at other locations, including the Jacksonville Port AuthorityJacksonville Port Authority
The Jacksonville Port Authority also known by its brand name, JAXPORT, is the independent government agency in Jacksonville, Florida that owns and operates much of the seaport system at the Port of Jacksonville.-History:...
, Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
, and at Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
. The biggest model owned by the museum was the USS Louisville
USS Louisville (CA-28)
USS Louisville — a Northampton-class heavy cruiser — was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Louisville, Kentucky...
. The miniature model is 17 feet in length and sits atop a base weighing half a ton. After sitting in storage for many years, it was sold to the Frazier International History Museum
Frazier International History Museum
The Frazier International History Museum, formerly the Frazier Historical Arms Museum, is a museum in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is named for the museum's founder Owsley Brown Frazier...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
where it became part of their World War II exhibit.
Hours
The Jacksonville Maritime Museum is staffed by volunteers and is open from 10:30am to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday and 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.External links
30°19′14"N 81°39′32"W