Clay County Florida Historical Society and Museum

Clay County Florida Historical Society and Museum The Clay County Historical Society collects, preserves, and promotes the history of Clay County, Florida. Museum Open: Fridays 10-1 Sundays 2-5

05/30/2026

There are lots of reasons to visit the Clay County Historical Museum in Green Cove Springs, but one NEW reason is our fun new t-shirts! We have them in all sizes, so come on down to the museum and get yours!

Open Sundays 2-5 PM and Fridays 10-1 PM!

📍915 Walnut St, 32043

Have you visited the Mandarin Museum across the river? Not only do they have an incredible display dedicated to the wrec...
05/28/2026

Have you visited the Mandarin Museum across the river? Not only do they have an incredible display dedicated to the wreckage and relics of the Union Army's Maple Leaf shipwreck, but they also have a nice display featuring a little Orange Park History!

Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley (1793-1870) was an African woman purchased as a slave wife to Zephaniah Kingsley, a white plantation owner and slave trader. They lived together in Orange Park, FL during the early 1800s, but Anna became a free woman and land owner herself, holding property across the river in Mandarin, which she farmed using slaves that she owned.

There is much more to Anna's complex life story, which we have shared in previous posts (check our stories today for more info), but you can also visit the at 11964 Mandarin Rd 32223, or Kingsley Plantation at 11676 Palmetto Ave 32226.

05/28/2026

Last night, Tuesday, May 26th, guests of the Clay County Historical Society enjoyed an informative and moving presentation by Bob Scallan of about three of Clay County's fallen sheriffs, right there in the upstairs courtroom of the historic courthouse where these men served their community.

Mr. Scallan walked us through the tragic events that led to the deaths of Sheriff Josephus Peeler in 1894, Sheriff Charles Wilson in 1906, and Sheriff Theodore Cherry in 1913. These men all died in the line of duty. They sacrificed their own safety to ensure the safety of those around them. Last night's presentation helped ensure they will never be forgotten. 💙

🙌 The Clay County Historical Society thanks the descendants of these fine men who joined us last night, and those who shared their family history with Mr. Scallan.

🙌 We thank for coming out to photograph this event and for sharing some of these fantastic photos with us. (Go check him out on Facebook and Instagram!)

🙌 We thank the community for coming out and supporting us in our mission to preserve and promote Clay County history.

🙌 And of course, we thank Bob Scallan of for his dedicated research and for sharing his knowledge with us in such an intriguing way.




05/26/2026

Michael Scott Speicher was born in Missouri in 1957. He later moved to the Jacksonville area with his family and eventually became a Naval pilot. While stationed at Cecil Field in 1991, he was deployed to Iraq to fight in the Persian Gulf War. On his first mission out, Speicher's F/A-18 Hornet was shot down in the desert outside Baghdad. There was no radio call for help and the Navy did not send a rescue crew...

Initially, Speicher was declared MIA, then killed in action. His status was later changed to missing, and still later to missing-captured. School friends from Forrest High School formed a group with the motto FREE SCOTT SPEICHER in 2001. They organized rallies, put up billboards and banners, and distributed bumper stickers throughout the community. The intention was to keep Scott's story in the public eye and pressure the government to continue the investigation.

Eventually, Speicher's remains were found buried in the Iraqi desert, confirmed by dental records. He was brought home to Florida in 2009 and laid to rest at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park. Memorials to Scott were erected at several locations around the Jacksonville area, the Naval Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola, and at FSU where he obtained a bachelor's degree. Perhaps the most impressive local memorial was a restored F/A-18 Hornet brought back to life by a team of military veterans working at Boeing, using mostly donated materials. This fighter plane can be found at Cecil Field with Scott's name painted on the side.

Lt. Commander Michael Scott Speicher of Strike Fighter Squadron Eighty One was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain and awarded a Purple Heart. He was the proud father of two children at the time of his death. He is still remembered fondly by fellow classmates and the pilots he flew with, and will always be missed by his family. His death shined a light on the tragedies of war and the shortcomings of a government that failed to look for him when it mattered most.

Rest in peace, Captain Michael Scott Speicher, 1957-1991. Thank you for your service. 🇺🇸

05/25/2026

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was constructed in 1921, after Congress approved the burial of an unidentified U.S. soldier from World War I, with other Unknowns interred since. The Tomb has been guarded year-round continuously since 1937, when the firs...

05/25/2026

Have you visited the Veterans Memorial at the Historic Triangle in Green Cove Springs? If not, this Memorial Day is the perfect time to come pay tribute to Clay County's fallen heros, next to the Historic Courthouse at 915 Walnut Street. 🇺🇸

Our historical museum will also be open from 12-3 PM if you need to cool off. ❄️ Admission is always FREE, and you might even get to hear our own Steve Griffith play guitar. 🎸

05/23/2026

The 1927 iron tugboat "Pegasus" spent the first part of its career serving in New York waters before moving to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the early 1950s. It stayed in New England for another few decades before being towed to Florida for a completely new life as a floating restaurant.

Richard Jackson brought the Pegasus to Red Bay Marina in Green Cove Springs in 1986 and began the restaurant conversion while living in a houseboat. He knew nothing of the restaurant business, but he followed his dream and made it happen, though legalities and finances were always an issue.

The "Tugboat Restaurant" opened for business in 1990 and was a popular and memorable dining spot in Clay County. That same year, in an effort to keep the restaurant in business, surviving members of the Lynyrd Skynyrd band organized a fundraising concert to keep the Tugboat 'afloat.' Many Clay County natives that were around back then remember the concert.

Sadly, it wasn't enough to help in the long run, and Jackson soon sold the restaurant to a new owner who would keep the venue open only a short time before it eventually shut down for good. In 1994, it was towed again, this time to Fort Myers to serve as a ticket sales office for a casino cruise line.

This, too, lasted only a few years, and in 1999, the Pegasus was towed out to Charlie's Reef in the Gulf and pumped full of water until it sank, creating an artificial reef and intriguing dive spot.

Did you ever eat at the Tugboat Restaurant? Did you attend the southern rock concert there in 1990? Did you know the Pegasus was eventually sunk off the coast of Fort Myers?

redbaymarina

05/22/2026

Mark your calendar 📆
Free Admission 💯🇺🇸

05/22/2026

🎸 Clay County’s Musical Legend: Hank “Sugarfoot” Garland 🎶

Did you know one of the greatest guitarists in American music history came from right here in Clay County, Florida?

Born Walter Louis “Hank” Garland, this local talent rose to fame in Nashville, recording with icons like Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers. His lightning-fast instrumental “Sugarfoot Rag” became a country classic — earning him his famous nickname.

Beyond country, Garland was a gifted jazz innovator, blending smooth tones and technical brilliance that influenced generations of musicians. Though his career was tragically cut short, his music continues to inspire guitarists around the world.

Let’s celebrate Clay County’s own 🎵 Hank “Sugarfoot” Garland — the man who brought Southern soul and jazz mastery to the world stage. 🌎🎶

05/20/2026

Step back in time at Florida Remembered during the 74th Annual Florida Folk Festival. Explore the traditions, skills, stories, and folkways that helped shape Florida through hands-on workshops, demonstrations, music, and living history experiences. From basket weaving and quilting to woodworking, fermentation, folk crafts, and frontier reenactments, Florida Remembered celebrates the ingenuity and enduring spirit of those who built Florida’s cultural landscape.

Meet tradition bearers, watch skilled artisans at work, and discover the rich history woven into everyday life across generations of Floridians.

📅 May 22–24, 2026
📍 Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Dr, White Springs, FL 32096
🎟 Purchase tickets at floridafolkfestival.com

Address

915 Walnut Street
Green Cove Springs, FL
32043

Opening Hours

Friday 10am - 1pm
Sunday 2pm - 5pm

Telephone

+19042849644

Website

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