Daytona Beach Historical Sights

Daytona Beach is not only known as the “birthplace of speed,” but is also known for its history. Many historical landmarks have been preserved and they’re now tourist’s destinations. From the Sugar Mill ruins to famous historic homes, Florida is rich in history. Here are some great historic sights to visit the next time you’re in Florida.

Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park

The Bulow Plantation was once used to plant sugar cane, cotton, rice and indigo in the early 1800s. The Bulow family owned it—hence the name. The Bulow sugar mill was the largest mill in East Florida. It was destroyed during the Seminole Indian War in 1836.

Today, the Bulow Plantation is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. It features the sugar mill ruins, picnic facilities, canoeing, hiking trails and an Interpretive Center where you can learn more about the plantation. They’re open daily from 8am - 5pm. For more information call 386.517.2084.

Dummett Sugar Mill Ruins

The ruins at the former Dummett Plantation is believed to be the first steam-powered sugar mill in Florida. The Seminole Indian War, which lasted seven years, destroyed most of the sugar mills and it was abandoned ever since. For information call 386.676.4050.

Tomoka Mounds and Middens

This is one of the earliest Native American settlements on the Central East Coast of Florida. The archaeological site is a massive complex of prehistoric burial mounds and shell middens, which dates back about 5,500 years ago. For more information call 386.676.4050.

Freemanville Historic Site

The Freemanville Historic Site is dedicated to the freed slaves who settled in the Port Orange after the Civil War.

The marker is the city’s first state historic marker. A historical house and the Mount Moriah Baptist Church, built in 1911, are the only two remaining structures from Freemanville. For information call 386.756.5201.

Mary McLeod Bethune Home and Gravesite

The home of Mary McLeod Bethune (pictured) is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and as a United Methodist Historic Site. Mary McLeod founded the Bethune-Cookman University and she as a famous civil rights leader. Her home is filled with interesting artifacts and memorabilia. Her gravesite is located behind the house.

Tours are by appointment only. You can call 386.481.2122 for more information.

These are but a sprinkling of the history that awaits you in Daytona Beach and Florida.