Have you ever wished you could go back in time? If you could, Florida would be a great place to do so. There’s a reason so many people speak fondly of Old Florida and the way things used to be. Florida has a unique and fascinating history, and unless you’re sitting down with a bunch of locals who are sharing their tall tales, these old photos of Florida may just have to do the trick in taking you back a century. While some dates for these photos that are provided are approximations, the photos themselves should all be at least a century old.
Train wreck on a bridge in Tampa, 1906
State Library and Archives of Florida This does not look like it was an easy photo to capture.
Woman pulling a child on sled in DeLand, 1890
State Library and Archives of Florida Wait a second, is this snow in Florida?!
People posed on a trolley car in Tampa, 1892
State Library and Archives of Florida That is one tiny trolley car if you ask us.
Young men with Penny-Farthing bicycles in Tallahassee, 1900
State Library and Archives of Florida Is this how biker groups started?
Cape Florida Lighthouse, Key Biscayne, 1901
State Library and Archives of Florida This landmark is still standing, and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Young Cigarmakers in Englehardt & Co. in Tampa, 1909
Flickr/The Library of Congress It’s a little hard to tell, but the boy in the middle is smoking a cigar. I guess they figured if they were old enough to make them, they were old enough to smoke them.
Casino Pool in Alcazar Hotel, St. Augustine, 1905
State Library and Archives of Florida This hotel, built by industrialist Henry Flagler, is now the Lightner Museum. Recent visitors will recognize this swimming area as the museum’s restaurant. It’s still a very beautiful space, but it must have really been something to see it filled with water.
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, 1880
State Library and Archives of Florida Still a beautiful sight to see to this day.
July 4th parade in Delray Beach, Florida, 1914
State Library and Archives of Florida Forever celebrating in Florida.
Family using a railroad car of the Tavares and Gulf Railroad as a home in Tavares, 1915
State Library and Archives of Florida When we look at this photo, we can’t stop wondering about these people and how they came to live here.
Band awaiting the arrival of President Grover Cleveland in Lakeland, 1894
State Library and Archives of Florida What a day to celebrate.
Lady in white reclining on the beach in Palm Beach, 1896
State Library and Archives of Florida Just imagine trying to get sand out of the crevices in that dress.
Bath House, White Springs, 1912
State Library and Archives of Florida The remnants of the bath house can still be visited at Stephen Foster Memorial State Park.
The Breakers Hotel on Fire, Palm Beach, 1903
State Library and Archives of Florida The Breakers Hotel is a famous hotel built by Henry Flagler. It opened in 1896 and was rebuilt after fires in 1903 and 1925.
Sisters posed with a Bible, Jacksonville, 1897
State Library and Archives of Florida Maybe it’s just us, but something about this photo seems a little…creepy?
St. Augustine street scene, 1893
State Library and Archives of Florida St. Augustine is the country’s oldest city and still full of historic charm.
Women showing their ankles in Pensacola, 1905
State Library and Archives of Florida Oh my, how scandalous!
Railroad workers on a bridge in Lacoochee, 1890
State Library and Archives of Florida This photo is really beautiful. It almost looks like a painting.
Florida orange pickers in a grove, 1910
State Library and Archives of Florida The photo doesn’t give the location, but it would have been during Florida’s second citrus boom, after the great freeze in 1894-95.
Men standing around Sawfish and Bonito shark, Key West, 1911
State Library and Archives of Florida There are tons of great photos of proud fisherman in Florida’s archives.
Second annual Citrus Seminar: Gainesville, 1911
State Library and Archives of Florida The University of Florida was founded in 1853.
Woman with dog and rifle, 1915
State Library and Archives of Florida The location wasn’t given for this photo, but it’s just too cool to leave out.
What do you think of these old photos of Florida? Did you have any favorites? How different are these places today? Please share your comments with us below!
State Library and Archives of Florida
This does not look like it was an easy photo to capture.
Wait a second, is this snow in Florida?!
That is one tiny trolley car if you ask us.
Is this how biker groups started?
This landmark is still standing, and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Flickr/The Library of Congress
It’s a little hard to tell, but the boy in the middle is smoking a cigar. I guess they figured if they were old enough to make them, they were old enough to smoke them.
This hotel, built by industrialist Henry Flagler, is now the Lightner Museum. Recent visitors will recognize this swimming area as the museum’s restaurant. It’s still a very beautiful space, but it must have really been something to see it filled with water.
Still a beautiful sight to see to this day.
Forever celebrating in Florida.
When we look at this photo, we can’t stop wondering about these people and how they came to live here.
What a day to celebrate.
Just imagine trying to get sand out of the crevices in that dress.
The remnants of the bath house can still be visited at Stephen Foster Memorial State Park.
The Breakers Hotel is a famous hotel built by Henry Flagler. It opened in 1896 and was rebuilt after fires in 1903 and 1925.
Maybe it’s just us, but something about this photo seems a little…creepy?
St. Augustine is the country’s oldest city and still full of historic charm.
Oh my, how scandalous!
This photo is really beautiful. It almost looks like a painting.
The photo doesn’t give the location, but it would have been during Florida’s second citrus boom, after the great freeze in 1894-95.
There are tons of great photos of proud fisherman in Florida’s archives.
The University of Florida was founded in 1853.
The location wasn’t given for this photo, but it’s just too cool to leave out.
Also, if you want more old photos of Florida, make sure to take a look at these 27 vintage photos taken of Key West in the 1930s.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Old Photos of Florida July 11, 2020 Marisa Roman What are the best things about living in Florida? Life in Florida can seem pretty fantastic, especially when you ask the right people. Since Florida is one of the states with the largest number of retirees, life can’t get much better for many. There are so many wonderful aspects to living in Florida, no matter the city, that are worth mentioning. For instance, the beaches cannot be rivaled anywhere else in the United States. Also, the culture of many beach towns is relaxed and easy-going. If you go more inland to Florida, you’ll find bustling agriculture and farmlands. Another wonderful thing about living in Florida is the ever-growing food scene. Restaurants of all different cuisines pop up from coast to coast, making dining in Florida a real treat. If you need some more reasons why living in Florida is great, click here. Where can I find more of the best photos of Florida? If you’re looking for more historic photos of Florida, don’t worry, we have plenty! Luckily for us, many residents and visitors have taken and shared their photos of Florida over the years, and we’ve created a few lists where you can see some of the best all in one shot. For instance, take a look at these 30 vintage photos of Florida in the 1950s! Or, you can also check out what these popular Florida landmarks looked like back in the day. Where should I go to take photos of Florida? While you likely won’t be able to snap photos of Florida a century ago, you can still head out throughout the state to snag some photos that maybe will be enjoyed 100 years in the future! There are so many wonderful places in Florida to capture photos, from down in the Keys all the way to St. Augustine. No matter where you go in Florida, beauty awaits.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Old Photos of Florida
July 11, 2020
Marisa Roman
What are the best things about living in Florida? Life in Florida can seem pretty fantastic, especially when you ask the right people. Since Florida is one of the states with the largest number of retirees, life can’t get much better for many. There are so many wonderful aspects to living in Florida, no matter the city, that are worth mentioning. For instance, the beaches cannot be rivaled anywhere else in the United States. Also, the culture of many beach towns is relaxed and easy-going. If you go more inland to Florida, you’ll find bustling agriculture and farmlands. Another wonderful thing about living in Florida is the ever-growing food scene. Restaurants of all different cuisines pop up from coast to coast, making dining in Florida a real treat. If you need some more reasons why living in Florida is great, click here. Where can I find more of the best photos of Florida? If you’re looking for more historic photos of Florida, don’t worry, we have plenty! Luckily for us, many residents and visitors have taken and shared their photos of Florida over the years, and we’ve created a few lists where you can see some of the best all in one shot. For instance, take a look at these 30 vintage photos of Florida in the 1950s! Or, you can also check out what these popular Florida landmarks looked like back in the day. Where should I go to take photos of Florida? While you likely won’t be able to snap photos of Florida a century ago, you can still head out throughout the state to snag some photos that maybe will be enjoyed 100 years in the future! There are so many wonderful places in Florida to capture photos, from down in the Keys all the way to St. Augustine. No matter where you go in Florida, beauty awaits.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Life in Florida can seem pretty fantastic, especially when you ask the right people. Since Florida is one of the states with the largest number of retirees, life can’t get much better for many. There are so many wonderful aspects to living in Florida, no matter the city, that are worth mentioning. For instance, the beaches cannot be rivaled anywhere else in the United States. Also, the culture of many beach towns is relaxed and easy-going. If you go more inland to Florida, you’ll find bustling agriculture and farmlands. Another wonderful thing about living in Florida is the ever-growing food scene. Restaurants of all different cuisines pop up from coast to coast, making dining in Florida a real treat. If you need some more reasons why living in Florida is great, click here.
Where can I find more of the best photos of Florida?
If you’re looking for more historic photos of Florida, don’t worry, we have plenty! Luckily for us, many residents and visitors have taken and shared their photos of Florida over the years, and we’ve created a few lists where you can see some of the best all in one shot. For instance, take a look at these 30 vintage photos of Florida in the 1950s! Or, you can also check out what these popular Florida landmarks looked like back in the day.
Where should I go to take photos of Florida?
While you likely won’t be able to snap photos of Florida a century ago, you can still head out throughout the state to snag some photos that maybe will be enjoyed 100 years in the future! There are so many wonderful places in Florida to capture photos, from down in the Keys all the way to St. Augustine. No matter where you go in Florida, beauty awaits.
