The Laura Street Trio, Jacksonville
If downtown Jacksonville had a VIP section for architecture, the Laura Street Trio would be sitting front row, sipping espresso, and giving everyone its business card. This trio isn鈥檛 a band鈥攂ut it hits all the right notes when it comes to history, style, and structural drama.
Let鈥檚 break down the cast. First up: the Old Florida National Bank, lovingly nicknamed the Marble Bank鈥攁nd yes, the name checks out. Built in 1902, it鈥檚 the elder statesman of the group, wrapped in classical revival columns and marble grandeur.Credit for the elegance goes to architect Edward H. Glidden, who clearly had a thing for symmetry and timelessness.
Then there鈥檚 the Bisbee Building, added to the scene in 1909 and proudly flaunting its Prairie Style curves courtesy of Henry J. Klutho. This wasn鈥檛 just a pretty fa莽ade鈥攊t was the first high-rise in the South to embrace reinforced concrete. That鈥檚 right, this building was flexing structural innovation while others were still figuring out plumbing.
Rounding out the trio is the Florida Life Building, another Klutho creation, completed in 1912. It held the title of the tallest building in Florida for a while鈥攋ust long enough to get bragging rights but not long enough to become unbearable about it. Its sleek lines and vertical reach echoed a Jacksonville charging into modernity.
Today, the trio is under renovation鈥攕o while the interiors are off-limits, the exteriors are still posing proudly for cameras. Side by side, they tell a layered story of post鈥揋reat Fire ambition, early skyscraper swagger, and a city itching to redefine itself.
So next time you鈥檙e wandering Laura Street, don鈥檛 just walk past鈥攍ook up and meet three of Jacksonville鈥檚 oldest influencers still turning heads over a century later.
Let鈥檚 break down the cast. First up: the Old Florida National Bank, lovingly nicknamed the Marble Bank鈥攁nd yes, the name checks out. Built in 1902, it鈥檚 the elder statesman of the group, wrapped in classical revival columns and marble grandeur.Credit for the elegance goes to architect Edward H. Glidden, who clearly had a thing for symmetry and timelessness.
Then there鈥檚 the Bisbee Building, added to the scene in 1909 and proudly flaunting its Prairie Style curves courtesy of Henry J. Klutho. This wasn鈥檛 just a pretty fa莽ade鈥攊t was the first high-rise in the South to embrace reinforced concrete. That鈥檚 right, this building was flexing structural innovation while others were still figuring out plumbing.
Rounding out the trio is the Florida Life Building, another Klutho creation, completed in 1912. It held the title of the tallest building in Florida for a while鈥攋ust long enough to get bragging rights but not long enough to become unbearable about it. Its sleek lines and vertical reach echoed a Jacksonville charging into modernity.
Today, the trio is under renovation鈥攕o while the interiors are off-limits, the exteriors are still posing proudly for cameras. Side by side, they tell a layered story of post鈥揋reat Fire ambition, early skyscraper swagger, and a city itching to redefine itself.
So next time you鈥檙e wandering Laura Street, don鈥檛 just walk past鈥攍ook up and meet three of Jacksonville鈥檚 oldest influencers still turning heads over a century later.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Jacksonville. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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The Laura Street Trio on Map
Sight Name: The Laura Street Trio
Sight Location: Jacksonville, USA (See walking tours in Jacksonville)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Jacksonville, USA (See walking tours in Jacksonville)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Jacksonville, Florida
Create Your Own Walk in Jacksonville
Creating your own self-guided walk in Jacksonville is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Downtown Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Downtown Jacksonville doesn鈥檛 need to shout to prove it has history鈥攊t just lets the buildings do the talking. Walk a few blocks, and you鈥檒l pass through layers of ambition, recovery, reinvention, and more than a few architectural flexes.
Riddle time. Gothic arches, towering spires, and stained glass that catches the light just right鈥� the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception makes you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Riddle time. Gothic arches, towering spires, and stained glass that catches the light just right鈥� the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception makes you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Jacksonville Introduction Walking Tour
Jacksonville, Florida鈥攁 place where size does matter. Stretching its way into the record books as the largest city by area in the continental U.S., Jacksonville hugs the northeastern edge of the Sunshine State, where the St. Johns River meanders lazily toward the Atlantic.
Long before traffic jams and beach selfies, the Timucua people called this area home. Then came the usual suspects:... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Long before traffic jams and beach selfies, the Timucua people called this area home. Then came the usual suspects:... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles