Florida Memory is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, Bureau of Archives and Records Management. The digitized records on Florida Memory come from the collections of the State Archives of Florida and the special collections of the State Library of Florida.
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Related Sites
Listen: The World ProgramRailroads Change Florida
Documents
Civil War
Florida had only a few railroads when the Civil War began. Union attacks destroyed some sections of the Florida railroads. Florida's Confederate government temporarily removed tracks in other locations to prevent Union forces from using the railroads.
The Confederate government also moved to seize existing rails to reuse the iron for new rail lines to transport troops and supplies.
Governor John Milton vs. David Yulee, 1863
"I have respectfully urged upon you as President of the road, to yield the iron from certain parts of the road.."
Governor Milton recommends seizing iron rails from the Florida Railroad Company to build new rail lines to transport troops and supplies. David L. Yulee, president of the Florida Railroad Company, disagrees.
Maps
Florida East Coast Railway Map, 1917
During the 1880s and 1890s, Henry Flagler built the Florida East Coast Railway from Jacksonville down the East coast to Miami. He began the Overseas Extension in 1906 to connect Miami to Key West.
Map of the Plant System, ca. 1901
Henry Plant expanded train lines to Tampa and the West coast.
Maps of the Seaboard Air Line System
The Seaboard Air Line Railway Company bought up smaller railroads connecting the east and west coasts of Florida.
Railroad Documents
Tallahassee Rail Road Company Scrip
"Receivable in payment of all our dues."
The Tallahassee Rail Company issued its own scrip, which could be used for goods or services provided by the company. Although not legal tender, it was printed by the American Bank Note Company and commonly used as currency. These notes are dated 1866 and 1870.
Engineer's Report, 1893
"[T]he work of continuing the said Railroad towards Carrabelle is now actively and satisfactorily in progress."
In this letter written in 1893, engineer Frank P. Dawson certifies the completion of a section of railroad between Carrabelle and Tallahassee.
Henry M. Flagler
Henry Flagler began building up a system of railroads on Florida’s Atlantic coast in 1885. He purchased several existing lines and built new tracks leading as far south as Miami by 1896. By 1912, Flagler had extended his road across the Florida Keys to Key West.
Letter from Henry Flagler (1902)
"What the future will be, no one can foretell, but I have unbounded faith in the resources of the State and its citizens."
In this letter written in 1902, Henry Flagler describes coming to Florida and deciding to invest in the state.
Building the Rails
Zora Neale Hurston Singing Traditional Railroad Lining Rhythms
These chants were sung by workers to keep their pace as they built railroad tracks across Florida. Hurston talks about the process for lining railroad tracks and about the significance of the chants.
Features
Territorial Legislative Council Records, 1822-1845
Documenting Florida's legislature prior to statehood
State and County Officer Directories, 1868-1969
Lists of Florida's state and county officials either elected or appointed between 1868 and 1969.
Guide to Military Records and the Wartime Experience
A guide to government records and manuscript collections relating to service members and the wartime experience.
Dust Tracks
21 tracks from Hurston's time documenting African American culture for the WPA in 1930s Florida.
History Day 2025
Resources for Florida History Day from the State Library and Archives of Florida.