Explore the Jacksonville Area!

Central Park Plaza Monument
Downtown Jacksonville

The sculpture grouping, designed by Leonard Brunelle, was dedicated on November 8, 1920, as a tribute to the men who fought in the Civil War and the families they left behind. The figure of the youth with drawn sword on the east side, symbolizes the Call to Arms. The mother and child on the west symbolize the Sacrifice of War.
*Cross the Plaza west to S. Sandy St. turn south one block to the light (corner of S. Sandy & W. College Streets).

Jacksonville Public Library
201 West College

The Jacksonville Public Library was built in part with a $40,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie and was completed in November 1902. It was opened to the public on February 22, 1903.

David Strawn Art Gallery
331 West College

Built in 1880 for Phebe Gates Strawn, widow of Jacob Strawn, one of Jacksonville's wealthiest and most prominent families. The home was given to the Jacksonville Art Association in 1915 by Dr. David Strawn, Phebe & Jacob's fifth son. It houses rotating exhibits of locally and nationally known artists on the main floor. Permanent collections include the Miriam Cowgur Allen Collection of antique and collectible dolls and a collection of Early Mississippian Indian Pottery. The second floor has been renovated and furnished in keeping with the period of the late 1800's.
*Continue west along W. College to Church Street. (We suggest crossing to the west side of Church Street for easier walking.) Turn north on Church Street to the stop light.

Four Churches Corner
West State and Church Streets

With the completion of Trinity Episcopal Church in 1918, a total of four churches stood at the intersection of West State Street and Church Street. Two of the original churches remain, Grace United Methodist, built in 1910 on the southwest, and Trinity Episcopal Church located on the southeast. First Baptist Church was located on the northwest where the WATECO building now stands. It was destroyed by fire in 1966. State Street Presbyterian was on the northeast corner where we find the Grojean Insurance and Realty today. State street Presbyterian, or Westminster Presbyterian as it was later called, was destroyed in 1967.
*Once again we suggest crossing to the north side of State Street before traveling east on West State.

Morgan County Courthouse
300 West State Street

The Morgan County Courthouse, located at 300 W. State Street, was built in 1869 at a cost on $204,000. It is the third such building used for the purpose since Jacksonville became the county seat of Morgan County in 1825. The Morgan County Courthouse was placed on the National Historic Register in January 1987.

Farmers State Bank Building
200 West State Street

The Ayers Bank Building, now Farmers State Bank, was designed in 1911, built in 1912 and opened for business on January 2, 1913. The first building in Jacksonville to be constructed of steel, the cost of construction was $250,000.