Amelia Island Welcome Center in Fernandina Beach, Florida
In the mid-19th century, Downtown Fernandina Beach became the eastern terminus of Florida’s newly built rail network connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. This small brick depot, built in 1899, served passengers going from Fernandina Beach down to Cedar Key, replacing the previous depot (which was closer to the coastline and less centrally located). It operated until the early 1930s, at which point the Florida Railroad Company deeded it to the local historical society, which then deeded it to the City of Fernandina Beach. The former depot housed the Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach/Yulee Chamber of Commerce until 2002, when it became the Amelia Island Welcome Center. Since then, municipal bodies and local foundations have worked to restore and preserve the building’s history, including building a replica of the original train platform on the west side of the depot. The city has also added a statue of David Yulee, who founded the Florida Railroad Company and served as president of several other rail companies. Sitting on the bench beside the contemplative Yulee is now one of Amelia Island’s most popular photo ops. Inside the center, visitors are surrounded by beautiful period details, from stained glass windows to wooden ceiling beams and flags that once flew over the island. The space is also filled with interactive displays and map tables that allow for further exploration of the area’s rich history. Once you’ve caught up on Amelia Island’s past, you can get started planning the rest of your trip, with curated brochures that showcase local events, water activities, and nature experiences. Since the welcome center is in the heart of Fernandina Beach, you can start exploring the town as soon as you exit, perhaps going for a drink at the Palace Saloon across the street or hunting for a good read at The Book Loft just down the block. As the center makes abundantly clear, there’s no shortage of ways to make your visit to this historic coastal city a trip to remember.
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