Ed Austin Regional Park
Found in the midst of East Arlington, this park offers a variety of things to do. Spend the day at this family friendly and dog friendly park. The kiddos and pups have…
Walter Jones Park
Pack a picnic and a blanket, put on your walking shoes and grab your camera, and carve out some time to visit Walter Jones Park.
This 10-acre park was established in 1994 and is noted as Jacksonville’s first historical park. It is located in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, once a small town of about 1200 residents. Immerse yourself deep in this breathtaking picturesque landscape, laden with Oak trees and remnants of Orange groves draped with Spanish moss. The area is rich in Civil War and African American history. World renowned author and activist, Harriet Beecher Stowe resided in the area during the winters after writing her famous novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
The Mandarin Museum & Historic Society is housed on the park grounds. Guided tours of Walter Jones Historical Park and its historic buildings are available during operating hours. Touring the museum, you will learn about the Civil War from the Union Army perspective. Discover how the Maple Leaf, a leisure steam boat was converted into a military transport vessel and sunken as it returned from transporting Union Army troops in the St. Johns River by the Confederate Army. Dozens of artifacts recovered from the wreckage are now on display at the museum.
Another historic building housed at the park tells an important story for African Americans in Northeast Florida. After the war, educational opportunities opened for African American children and so the historic St. Joseph’s Mission Schoolhouse came to be. It is now the last remaining one-room schoolhouse for blacks in Jacksonville. It was originally built in 1898.
Other remnants of history exist all throughout the park. Stories of the author and civil rights activist Harriet Beecher Stowe, can be seen through the remaining pieces of the stained-glass window created to imitate the view from her Winter home here in Jacksonville. Mandarin was home for many Civil War descendants. The family of Major Webb, Walter Jones and the Losco family all have history to be explored at Walter Jones Park.
Location
Walter Jones Park
11964 Mandarin Road
Jacksonville, FL 32223
Park open daily, dawn to dusk
Mandarin Museum and Schoolhouse
Open Wednesday-Saturday
10 am – 4 pm
Guided tours are available during operating hours for a suggested donation of $7 per guest.
*The first Saturday of every month, 10 am – 2 pm, all historic buildings are open with docents inside and admission is free.*
Park Map
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