941 West Bay Street was the West Bay Hotel during Railroad Row’s vibrant days. This block is now a surface parking lot at the northeast corner of West Bay and Lee Streets.
Lee Street during the construction of the JTA Skyway.
Cruising down North Davis near Beaver Street. The Great Fire that destroyed most of Jacksonville in 1901 originated on this block.
North Davis Street near the Ritz Theatre.
901-927 West Bay Street during its final years of existence. During Railroad Row’s bustling days, these buildings were occupied by the Maxwell Hotel.
Last but not least. This image was taken decades before the 1980s. However, it’s a good shot of Railroad Row dominating the background.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Davis is a certified senior planner and graduate of Florida A&M University. He is the author of the award winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.” Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is the co-founder of Metro Jacksonville.com and ModernCities.com — two websites dedicated to promoting fiscally sustainable communities — and Transform Jax, a tactical urbanist group. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com