Timeline

Photo courtesy of Jacksonville Historic Society

Historic information has been obtained from the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; the Olmsted Historic Site, Brookline, Massachusetts; the Memorial Park Association archives held at the Jacksonville Historic Society, and the Jacksonville Public Library, and other sources around the country.

Park Timeline

September 27, 2017

The Spiritualized Life sculpture is officially designated a “WWI Centennial Memorial” by the World War One Centennial Commission and receives $2,000 matching grant funds towards the restoration and maintenance of the memorial through 100 Cities/100 Memorials program.

October 25, 2017

Memorial Park is officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

October 30, 2017

Dr. R. B. Rosenburg, [now retired] Associate Dean and Professor of History, Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia, begins research which eventually yields more than 500 names to be added to the original 1,220 on the Florida Fallen scrolls.

September 27, 2018
September 27, 2018

In anticipation of the park’s centennial in 2024, Memorial Park Association unearths the memorial scrolls to learn the names of the Florida Fallen. During the disinterment, the scrolls are discovered to be waterlogged.

October-November 2018
October-November 2018

The memorial scrolls are restored through efforts by Ann Seibert, paper conservationist, and Starr Cox, director of archaeological conservation at the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program.

November 2018

Campaign goal of $1.5 million for the first phase of the Spirit of Victory campaign is reached.

November 11, 2018
November 11, 2018

MPA commemorates the 100-year end of WWI by producing the largest event to date featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, a glass poppy garden created by Jacksonville University students under the direction of Brian Fuhs and underwritten by Mrs. David Hicks. The evening ends with fireworks.

2019

City of Jacksonville begins process to secure funds to replace the park balustrade.

January 2019

Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, author of “Saving Central Park,” is keynote speaker at Memorial Park Association annual reception

June 2020

City of Jacksonville selects Intron Technologies to create new balusters and rebuild the historic balustrade.