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!”
The Blanche
The Blanche has been a downtown landmark and central hub of hospitality for over 100 years. It was built in 1902 by Frank Pierce Milburn, considered the most popular southern architect of his time and famous for his eclectic style. Commonly referred to as “the pride of Lake City,” The Blanche was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 18, 1990.
