On Circle Drive north of Live Oak Avenue East, on the right when traveling south.
The original octagon-shaped portion of this structure was built as the Florida Chautauqua Art Department during the first year of the Florida Chautauqua Assembly. Teachers educated guests in all medians of art during the Chautauqua season. It's . . . — — Map (db m269344) HM
On Circle Drive at West Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Circle Drive.
The original Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874 on Lake Chautauqua in western New York state as a vacation school for Sunday school teachers. The idea of providing a retreat for improving religious and secular education for the general . . . — — Map (db m39773) HM
On Circle Drive 0.1 miles West Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
This structure is the grand entrance to what was a 4,000-seat auditorium, opened in 1909, for major lectures and special events of the Florida Chautauqua Assembly. This structure and auditorium replaced a 2,500 seat auditorium called a tabernacle . . . — — Map (db m269668) HM
On Circle Drive 0.2 miles west of South 7th Street, on the right when traveling west.
After the Florida Chautauqua resort/ campus grounds opened in 1885, the annual Assembly grew to attract up to 4,000 people a day. However, there was only one hotel built on these grounds (Hotel Chautauqua) with approximately 100 rooms.
Therefore, . . . — — Map (db m269244) HM
On Cosson Road 1 mile west of Coy Burgess Loop, on the right when traveling west.
In 1936, James Marvin Cosson Sr. moved his family to this location about one-half mile east of the Eglin Army Airfield to have more land to farm and to provide for his wife, Annie Bell Cosson, and their four children. During World War II, Eglin . . . — — Map (db m73290) HM
On Circle Drive at Live Oak Ave East, on the left when traveling south on Circle Drive.
This is the oldest continuously operating library within its original structure in Florida - never closing since the day it officially opened on December 20, 1887 as a new addition to the Florida Chautauqua resort/campus.
The founding of . . . — — Map (db m278214) HM
On Circle Drive 0.1 miles west of George Street, on the right when traveling east.
This cottage was built in 1885 for Wallace Bruce who later became the longest-serving president of the Florida Chautauqua Association. In 1889, U.S. President Benjamin Harrison called on the Florida Chautauqua president to serve as US consul general . . . — — Map (db m269732) HM
On County Highway 183 (County Road 183) at County Road 280, on the right when traveling west on County Highway 183.
This is the site of one of Florida’s oldest organized Presbyterian Church which was the largest Presbyterian Church in Florida until 1885. On May 27, 1827, the Reverend Murdoch Murphy of the Alabama Synod presided with one Elder, Donald McLean, Sr., . . . — — Map (db m54796) HM
On McKinnon Bridge Rd at Red Hill Road, on the left when traveling south on McKinnon Bridge Rd.
Eucheeanna, the first Scottish settlement in territorial Florida, was named in honor of the Euchee Indians. Tradition holds that the first slave child was born in the settlement. Eucheeanna consisted of a school, court house, jail, Masonic and Odd . . . — — Map (db m73291) HM
On Circle Drive 0.2 miles west of South 7th Street, on the right when traveling west.
This photo was taken from the Chautauqua Hotel looking south (lake on left on this once gated resort/ campus and shows how tented classrooms were strategically spaced on Circle Drive prior to the construction of other buildings for classrooms and . . . — — Map (db m269328) HM
On Circle Drive at South 7th Street, on the right when traveling west on Circle Drive.
The First Presbyterian Church was established in November 1883 more than a year before the Chautauqua resort/campus grounds opened in 1885. Its members first met in a modest log cabin on Nelson Avenue between Second and Third Streets, moving at . . . — — Map (db m269240) HM
On Circle Drive west of South 7th Street, on the right when traveling west.
(center panel)
Explore a part of America’s forgotten history
Self-Guided Walking Tour
Map of the Florida Chautauqua at Lake of De Funiak Fla.
1 Train Depot • 2 Tourism • 3 Pedestrian Walkway • 4 Tented Classrooms • 5 Hotel . . . — — Map (db m269228) HM
On Circle Drive at West Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Circle Drive.
Florida teachers and administrators numbering 700 met here in Chautauqua Hall for a "teachers institute" called the Florida Chautauqua. The meeting was called to order by J.A. Graham, City Superintendent of Schools, Key West, at 12:30 p.m., on . . . — — Map (db m83080) HM
On Nelson Avenue (U.S. 90) at 6th Street, on the left when traveling east on Nelson Avenue.
Shortly after the Civil War, the women of Walton County organized a "Ladies' Memorial Association," with Jeannett I. McKinnon as president, to erect a marble monument honoring Walton County's Confederate dead. The Association raised $250, and the . . . — — Map (db m39774) HM
On Circle Drive 0.2 miles west of South 7th Street, on the right when traveling west.
Everyone needed a place to stay when they attended any part of the multi-week Florida Chautauqua Assembly. The Hotel Chautauqua with glamorous amenities, dining hall and spacious front porch once stood on this site. Upon arrival to the resort/campus . . . — — Map (db m269327) HM
On Circle Drive at West Avenue, on the right when traveling south on Circle Drive.
You are on the grounds of a once-gated campus/ resort opened in 1885 for the annual, multi-week Florida Chautauqua Assembly. Leaders wanted guests to connect with whatever faith they felt comfortable during their stay and arranged or facilitated . . . — — Map (db m269659) HM
On Circle Drive 1 mile Hubbard Street, on the right when traveling east.
People of all economic backgrounds enjoyed the Florida Chautauqua Assembly with a small daily entry fee or a week-long hotel stay. More affluent members built homes on these once-gated resort/ campus grounds, allowing them proximity to the . . . — — Map (db m269721) HM
On Circle Drive 0.2 miles west of South 7th Street, on the right when traveling west.
This crossing served as the main passageway to and from the train depot on the once-gated resort/ campus grounds for excursion rain passengers. The crossing extended across the railroad tracks to the downtown business district so tourists and guests . . . — — Map (db m269317) HM
Near Circle Drive at West Avenue, on the left when traveling south.
Recreation stood as one of the four pillars of the Florida Chautauqua. Recreational activities at the Assembly were offered primarily through boating and swimming courses on this perfectly round, spring-fed lake which served as the centerpiece of . . . — — Map (db m269711) HM
On Circle Drive 0.1 miles south of West Avenue, on the left when traveling south.
The Florida Chautauqua resort/campus offered instructional activities supported by the four pillars of Chautauqua: Art, Education, Recreation, and Religion. In other words, whatever activity you wished to engage in as a resort guest was within one . . . — — Map (db m269707) HM
Near Circle Drive at West Avenue, on the left when traveling south.
2,500-seat auditorium called a tabernacle stood on this site from the opening year of the Florida Chautauqua resort/ campus until 1909 when it was eventually replaced with a new, 4,000-seat auditorium known today as the Chautauqua Hall of . . . — — Map (db m269424) HM
On Circle Drive 0.2 miles west of South 7th Street, on the left when traveling west.
This is one of the earliest known photographs of the Florida Chautauqua resort campus grounds before many, buildings were complete. Tents, were first erected for classrooms and accommodations. When leaders first opened the campus grounds for these . . . — — Map (db m269320) HM
On Circle Drive west of South 7th Street, on the left when traveling west.
The depot served as the primary entry point for excursion trains during the Florida Chautauqua assemblies lasting from 1885 to 1928. As many as 4,000 passengers a day arrived at this station during the height of the Chautauqua era. Performing bands . . . — — Map (db m269234) HM
On Nelson Avenue (U.S. 90) east of 6th Street, on the left when traveling east.
To the memory of the Confederate Dead of Walton Co. Florida. Erected by the Ladies of the Walton County Female Memorial Association. Southwest face Angus D. McLean, Col., 6th Fla. Vols. Murdoch M. Gillis, Capt. 6th Fla. Vols. Daniel D. . . . — — Map (db m39775) HM
On Circle Drive at Live Oak Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Circle Drive.
The Walton-DeFuniak Library opened during the first decade of the existence of the town of DeFuniak Springs. This community originated in the early 1880's as a station on the new Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad. The town was named for Frederick de . . . — — Map (db m60246) HM
On Circle Drive near Live Oak East, on the right when traveling south.
This photo (circa 1886-1890) shows how the Florida Chautauqua resort/campus was complimented with wooden sidewalks throughout the once-gated grounds. Campus leaders designed the grounds to provide a luxurious atmosphere which they marketed as "The . . . — — Map (db m269406) HM
