List of National Historic Landmarks in Florida


The National Historic Landmarks in Florida are representations of a broad sweep of history from Pre-Columbian times, through the Second Seminole War and Civil War, and the Space Age. There are 46 National Historic Landmarks in Florida, which are located in twenty-two of the state's sixty-seven counties. Sixteen of the NHLs in the state are significant examples of a particular architectural style, eleven have military significance, ten are archaeological sites, three were the homes of well-known American authors, and one is associated with the development of the U.S. Space Program.
Five sites are in state parks and managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Also included is a site determined eligible for National Historic Landmark status, and a list of historical sites in Florida managed by the U.S. National Park Service which also have national significance.
The National Historic Landmark program is administered by the National Park Service, a branch of the Department of the Interior. The National Park Service determines which properties meet NHL criteria and makes nomination recommendations after an owner notification process. The Secretary of the Interior reviews nominations and, based on a set of predetermined criteria, makes a decision on NHL designation or a determination of eligibility for designation. Both public and privately owned properties are designated as NHLs. This designation provides indirect, partial protection of the historic integrity of the properties, via tax incentives, grants, monitoring of threats, and other means. Owners may object to the nomination of the property as a NHL. When this is the case the Secretary of the Interior can only designate a site as eligible for designation.
NHLs are also included on the National Register of Historic Places, which are historic properties that the National Park Service deems to be worthy of preservation. The primary difference between a NHL and a NRHP listing is that the NHLs are determined to have national significance, while other NRHP properties are deemed significant at the local or state level. The NHLs in Florida comprise 2.6% of the approximately 1,600 properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Florida.

Current NHLs

Eligible National Historic Landmark

The following property was determined eligible for National Historic Landmark status, but did not become one. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Landmark nameImageDate declaredLocationCountyDescription
Hialeah Park Race TrackHialeah
Miami-DadeBuilt in 1921, the greyhound track is one of the oldest existing recreational facilities in southern Florida, and contributed to South Florida's popularity as a winter resort for the rich and famous. It became so well known for its flamingo flocks that it was officially designated a sanctuary for them by the Audubon Society.

Historic areas of the NPS in Florida

National Historic Sites, National Historical Parks, some National Monuments, and certain other areas listed in the National Park system are historic landmarks of national importance that are highly protected already, often before the inauguration of the NHL program in 1960, and are then often not also named NHLs per se. There are six of these in Florida. The National Park Service lists these six together with the NHLs in the state.
Landmark nameImageDate
established		LocationCountyDescription
Castillo de San Marcos National MonumentSt.AugustineSt. JohnsThis fort was built in 1672-95 to protect early Spanish settlers.
De Soto National Memorialwest of BradentonManateeCommemorates the landing of Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto in 1539. De Soto's expedition was the first extensive exploration by Europeans of what is now the southern United States.
3Dry Tortugas National Parkwest of Key West in the Gulf of MexicoMonroeProtects several islands, associated coral reefs and marine life, and Fort Jefferson, a huge pre-Civil War masonry fort. The name "Tortugas" was given to these islands by Ponce de Leon in 1513, for the large numbers of sea turtles found in the area.
Fort Caroline National MemorialJacksonvilleDuvalCommemorates the first French attempt to establish a settlement in the present United States. The fort model overlooks the original site of the French Juguenot colony of 1564-65. The French and Spanish began two centuries of colonial rivalry in North America here.
Fort Matanzas National Monumentsouth of St.AugustineSt. JohnsBuilt to protect Spanish settlers. Two hundred and forty-five Frenchmen who challenged Spanish dominion were killed by Spaniards here in 1565. The name Matanzas means "slaughters."
6Timucuan Ecological and Historic PreserveJacksonvilleDuvalA partnership between the National Park Service and local government agencies to protect the wetlands, river systems, and historic sites within Duval County near Jacksonville, Florida. Kingsley Plantation, the oldest remaining plantation in Florida, is part of the preserve.