Fernandina Beach in Nassau County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Old Nassau County Jail

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 17, 2020

1. The Old Nassau County Jail Marker

Inscription. The Old Nassau County Jail has occupied several buildings on this site from 1878 through 1978. In 1868, the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners began the process of creating a stand-alone jail, and in 1871, the deed for this property was signed by former Senator David Yulee. Built in 1878, the first jailhouse started as a single-story, wood-frame structure, and was expanded to two stories by 1884. A new jail building was constructed on this site circa 1891, but was replaced in 1938 with this two-story masonry building. Designed in the Moderne style, it featured improved jail cells, plumbing, and cots. A 1954 addition nearly doubled the jail's size, and included a desk clerk's office, guest rooms, lockers, and showers. Four cells and two day-rooms for inmates were located on the first floor, and six cells on the second. There were separate areas for men and women, and for black and white inmates during segregation. In 1978, a new Nassau County jail was built in Yulee, and the county deeded this building to an early version of the Amelia Island Museum of History the following year. The building was extensively renovated

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in 2003 and 2007, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Erected 2019 by The Amelia Island Museum of History in memory of Thomas M. Raymond, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1080.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 30° 40.059′ N, 81° 27.815′ W. Marker is in Fernandina Beach, Florida, in Nassau County. It is at the intersection of South 3rd Street and Cedar Street, on the right when traveling south on South 3rd Street. Marker is located in front of the Amelia Island Museum of History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 233 South 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach FL 32034, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast,

in Greater Jacksonville,

and on the Sea Islands.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 17, 2020

2. The Old Nassau County Jail Marker

Historically, it finds 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 marker: Florida House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fairbanks Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); Florida's First Atlantic to Gulf Railroad (approx. ¼ mile away); Revolutionary War Invasion of British East Florida (approx. ¼ mile away); Nassau County Historic Courthouse (approx. ¼ mile away); Post Office Lamp Posts (approx. ¼ mile away); U.S. Post Office–Customs House-Courthouse (approx. ¼ mile away); William Bartram Trail (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fernandina Beach.

The Old Nassau County Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 17, 2020

3. The Old Nassau County Jail

Amelia Island Museum of History image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 17, 2020

4. Amelia Island Museum of History

Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,713 times since then and 120 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on August 2, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.