Beneath the asphalt and concrete of Southside's bustling streets lurks a fascinating and surprising history filled with stories from the past that rival anything found in a best-selling novel. From the remains of a Civil War gunboat to an elephant named Miss Chic, the vintage photographs in Images of America: Jacksonville's Southside feature vaudeville performers and lion tamers, peacocks and pioneers, alligators and bears, time capsules and Times Square, towers and turpentine, immigrants and entrepreneurs, Insta-Burger King and Storyland U.S.A., chain gangs and a giant orange T. Rex, underground tunnels, and even a profound "miracle in the pines."

Your Travel Destination. Your Home. Your Home-To-Be. Jacksonville A fast-growing Southern city. Historical landmarks aplenty. Family-style fare and fine cuisine. A robust business scene. World-class resorts. Sandy beaches galore. • A personal, practical perspective for travelers and residents alike • Comprehensive listings of attractions, restaurants, and accommodations • How to live & thrive in the area—from recreation to relocation • Countless details on shopping, arts & entertainment, and children’s activities

The city of Jacksonville has hundreds of buildings that have withstood the test of time. Yet these lasting landmarks tell only a portion of Jacksonville's history. Dozens of other buildings have been abandoned and left to wither, turning into shadows of their former grandeur. Each place has a rich and storied history that belies modern appearances, like the Annie Lytle Elementary School, now known as the most haunted landmark in the city, and the Jacksonville Brewing Company, which had to come up with a creative way to stay afloat (think ice cream) when Prohibition hit. Join local writers Ennis Davis and Robert Mann as they go behind the scenes of fourteen crumbling but ethereally beautiful structures to reveal their true pasts. Enhanced with stunning color photography, Reclaiming Jacksonville is a must-have for every resident of the River City.