Urban Core in Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The St. Johns

A River of Many Names

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 31, 1903

1. The St. Johns Marker (side 1)

Inscription. (side 1)
Discovered by Juan Bono Quexos, 1520 • First named Rio de Corrientes by Spain • Explored by Pedro Menendez • Called Riviere de Mai by France, 1562-4 • San Mateo, Salamototo and Picolata were among its other Spanish names • Its Indian name, Welaka, meant River of Lakes • (See other side) (side 2) (Continued from other side) San Juan, then St. Johns, its English version, replaced all other names by 1821 when Florida was ceded to the U.S. by Spain. The mighty rover is famed in verse and story by Bartram, Wordsworth and Coleridge • Essential to the ecology of peninsula Florida • Rises just south of Lake Helen Blazes • Flows northward for most of its 276 mile length.

Erected 1972 by Jacksonville Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1520.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 30° 19.203′ N, 81° 39.617′ W. Marker was in Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It was in Urban Core. It could be reached from Museum Circle just west of South Main Street

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(U.S. 1), on the right when traveling west. Marker was located in Friendship Park near the fountain. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1015 Museum Circle, Jacksonville FL 32207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Florida’s First Coast.

It was also in the American South.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Historic King's Road British East Florida (a few steps from this marker); Soldiers of the American Revolution Associated with Jacksonville’s History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jacksonville's Favorite Oak (Quercus virginiana) (approx. ¼ mile away); Jessie Ball DuPont Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Treaty Oak Conservation Project Dedication (approx. ¼ mile away); Sinking of the Maple Leaf

The St. Johns Marker (side 2) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 31, 1903

2. The St. Johns Marker (side 2)

(approx. 0.3 miles away); Andrew Jackson (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Beginning (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 404 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 7, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.