Closed Sunday & Monday
Suwannee Freightline (pdf) 5/09 
Suwannee Freightline (pdf) 2/09

 

 
Welcome to the Suwannee County Museum
 
Located on N. Ohio Avenue / US 129, Live Oak, Florida. Just north of the railroad tracks.

Stop by and see history come alive as you step into the Suwannee County Historical Museum. You will see an extensive telephone display,  local artifacts,a moonshine distillery, a Timucaun Indian Village recreation and much more! The building that houses the museum has historical significance in itself. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad constructed an immense brick freight station in approximately 1902.

The freight station was used to its capacity and many early residents remember seeing hundreds of cotton bales and other crops lined up for blocks waiting to be shipped out. The depot sat empty and in disrepair for several years. In 1991 a new breath of life was breathed  into this historic structure.  After many renovations were completed, the facility was occupied by the Suwannee County Historical Museum in 1993. The presence of this historic building is a reminder of the time when Live Oak was the fifth largest city in Florida. The lumber industry, naval stores, cotton production,  ginning, and the railroads, made the city a thriving place. Little is left that speaks of those days, but the building and the museum it houses certainly do. Its very presence is a testimony to the vision and dedication of the early citizens of Suwannee County. As a constant reminder of the way things were, this structure was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Changes to the building were kept to a minimum to meet code for public use. Bay doors were sealed from the outside, but hang on the interior. The flooring is the original 2x6 pine plank floor and the interior walls are unpainted brick. Two of the freight doors were converted to conventional double doors. Heat and air conditioning and a fire sprinkler system were installed. All pipes and ducts are exposed and electrical wiring is in conduit, in an effort to maintain the nature of

   

the building. The overall structure, including the former freight office space covers approximately 5400 square feet. The freight depot also includes the original loading dock located at the rear of the structure. It is used for special events  and available for rental for weddings
and other special occasions.

   
Information and photo taken from the May, 2008 edition of the Suwannee Freight Line published by the Suwannee County Historical Museum Association.

 

 

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