Alachua County was formed in 1824 from the Timucan word meaning "sinkhole." Gainesville has been…read morethe county seat since 1854. This courthouse is located on a prime city block in downtown Gainesville, surrounded by retail and restaurants and an open square that seems to be used occasionally for music festivals or farmers markets. The structure is an Art Deco / Modern style that is four stories of concrete and glass. Because of the nearby buildings and massive trees next to it, it's challenging to get far enough away to get a proper photograph. But it's in mostly good condition considering the Florida weather. It could use a good pressure cleaning of the exterior. The marker nearby reads, "The Alachua County Commission, by authority of the Florida Legislature, selected this site for a courthouse in 1854, moving the county seat from Newnansville. The first courthouse was a frame building completed in 1856. It was demolished on the completion of a red brick courthouse in 1886. The current building, completed in 1958, and its 1962 addition, were erected in response to the continuing expansion of governmental needs in Alachua County." [Review 357 of 2025 - 2009 in Florida - 23919 overall]

This courthouse is quite dated and looks pretty much straight out of the 70s or something like that…read morebut it gets the job done The inside and the outside architecture are both in need of some renovation however they keep it very clean inside All the employees I encountered were very friendly and helpful, it seems like mostly everybody except the litigants had a smile on their face. The location in downtown Gainesville is nice, it's close to the park and parking is pretty decent, there is parking all the way around the block for two hours or less for free and if you need more Parking than that you can park across the street in the pay lot. There is free Wi-Fi sponsored by the city in the area. I would not suggest filing a lawsuit to go experience this courthouse, however if you got to come here it's a decent place to go.

Located along SR24, this marker is the pointer in front of the Haile Homestead and is easily…read moreaccessible from the road. You might not be touring the homestead but reading the marker at least gives you an idea of what you can expect. It reads, "One of the oldest houses in Alachua County, the Historic Haile Homestead was the home of Thomas Evans Haile, his wife Esther Serena Chesnut Haile and 14 of their children. The Hailes came here from Camden, South Carolina in 1854 to establish a 1,500-acre Sea Island Cotton plantation which they named Kanapaha. Enslaved black craftsmen completed the 6,200-square-foot manse in 1856. The 1860 census showed 66 slaves living here. The Hailes survived bankruptcy in 1868 and turned the property into a productive farm, growing a variety of fruits and vegetables including oranges. Serena Haile died in 1895; Thomas in 1896. The Homestead, which passed to son Evans, a prominent defense attorney, became the site of house parties attended by some of Gainesville's most distinguished citizens. The Hailes had the unusual habit of writing on the walls; all together over 12,500 words with the oldest writing dating to the 1850's. The Homestead was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. A restoration was completed in 1996. Still partly owned by descendants of Evans Haile, the Homestead is one of the few remaining homesteads built by Sea Island cotton planters in this part of Florida." It is marker number F-548 and it was erected in 2005 by the Historic Haile Homestead and the Florida Department of State. It was too early in the morning to tour the home. Maybe the next time I'm in Gainesville. [Review 364 of 2025 - 2016 in Florida - 23926 overall]

This plantation house, built in 1854, is a national historic landmark, maintained by the Haile…read morefamily and a public historical foundation. It is open 10-2 Saturday and 12-4 Sunday. It's $5 to get in, which includes a guided tour. Can you even comprehend the value?! Oh, the value! The most interesting thing about the house isn't that it's pre-civil war, but that there are names, dates, records, and more scrawled across the walls. The Haile family who lived there were evidently encouraged to practice their handwriting on the walls. My favorite scrawling reads "THE HOUSE WAS BRIEFLY ALIVE." There's so much material written, though, that you're likely to find something even better.

I jut wish that someone would come and put some money back into this place. The spring has been…read morecompletely neglected, and the building is in disrepair. It's pretty disgraceful that UF or the state doesn't put more pride and love into this spring. It has such an incredible history, and is a state landmark.

Excellent little park and historic site in Gainesville. Perfect for hiking, biking or a just an…read moreeasy stroll. There is also a horse trail. The waterworks building is very cool and a few tables and grills allow for picnics and snacks in a shaded setting.

Tiny Post Office. Excellent service! There was a problem with my label and she fixed it! Fast &…read morefriendly service. Very impressed!