Jacksonville celebrates 200 years of rich history
Thousands of Jacksonville residents lined the streets downtown on June 11th to celebrate 200 years of the River City’s rich history. The celebrations included a parade, live music, exhibits, and fireworks.
As part of the City’s coordinated efforts to celebrate, The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) is hosting a bicentennial exhibit to showcase how the community can learn more about the events that happened over the past two centuries, and what the future holds.
“We designed the year-long exhibit in three phases to reflect that message – Jacksonville’s history from a natural ecosystem perspective, our history of innovation and progress, and the unique and diverse cultural heritage of this historically fast-growing city,” said Dr. Anthony Mortimer, Director of Curatorial Services for MOSH.
Included in the exhibit are historical photos that were found in the walls of the building that is now the Cowford Chophouse downtown.
MOSH also selected items that represent the history of the navy in the River City. A model of the shrimp boat Capt. Martin Black is on display.
MOSH’s innovation portion of the exhibit includes the space mailbox competition. The competition included Duval County public students to design a prototype of their very own post box to be sent into space on a Blue Origin rocket. The winning teams were from Chaffee Trail Elementary School and James Wheldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School. The winning designs are housed in the museum. MOSH visitors are encouraged to create their own postcards that will be flown into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
The exhibit also includes new innovations that are being developed now. Some of the plans include a smart city concept in the downtown area that would feature smart waste management, solar paths, pedestrian sensors, and autonomous shuttles.
The exhibit also includes plans and a model of the $85 million dollar MOSH Genesis project, the future home of MOSH. It will be built on the Northbank of Downtown within the next three years.
In late September, MOSH will be installing the final interpretive pieces of the Bicentennial exhibit, including the impact of Florida’s First People- the Timucua and Mocama, and recent archeological discoveries on Big Talbot Island. It will also take a closer look at the trends, trials, and triumphs of the growth of the city.
“We are hoping that visitors will enjoy the Bicentennial exhibit content, reflect on what it means to their lives as part of the City of Jacksonville, then take those thoughts back to their community and share them, said Dr. Mortimer, “In order to make Jacksonville’s next 200 years the best we can for everyone in our community, we have to encourage and be willing to work together toward common goals.”
For more information on the Bicentennial exhibit, traveling exhibitions, or how to get involved with the Museum, visit www.themosh.org.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading... 
