Discover Our History

The rich history of Lake City, Florida’s Springlands may surprise you. It includes a pretty diverse selection of offerings along our historical timeline: Native American settlements. The arrival of Europeans — the conquistador DeSoto trekked his army through here in 1539. The Second Seminole War. Civil War battles. Florida’s first elevator. The founding of the University of Florida. WWII pilot training and more. And here’s a bit of historical trivia everyone seems to like: Lake City was originally named Alligator. You can get a crash course in our history and culture at the Columbia County History Museum in Lake City. There’s also a museum dedicated to Stephen Foster, widely regarded as America’s first popular songwriter. (You’ve heard “Camptown Races,” right?) So explore our history and have an “Oh, Doo-Dah Day!”

Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum

The Lake City-Columbia County Historical Museum is housed in an 1870s-era home previously owned by the Vinzant family. This museum includes two stories of the history of Columbia County and artifacts from the Civil War. A portion of the museum is devoted to Vinzant family artifacts, including family photos. In addition to the various exhibitions, the museum also offers genealogical research, tours and special events.