When the Great Fire of 1901 tore through Jacksonville, destroying much of the city in just eight hours, it left behind more than charred ruins—it created an opportunity to start over. One individual who answered the call to rebuild the River City was Henry Klutho, a young architect from New York who would go on to transform the look and feel

During the Great Fire of 1901, they formed a bucket brigade to help stop the flames from spreading to their homes. Hogan’s Creek also acted as a natural barrier.

If you’re out at Klutho Park in Springfield, you might notice a modern-style giraffe statue overlooking the green spaces. It’s there to mark the site of Jacksonville’s first zoo, which was built in the early 1900s.

A Jacksonville home designed by architect Henry John Klutho is now for sale.