Learn the facinating story of the golden age of North Florida's railroad industry and railroad towns. Archer was an important railroad town from the end of the Civil War through the 1930's. Early rail lines opened Archer and much of North Florida to development.
Days Open: Saturday
Trains provided transportation into and out of the rapidly growing towns located where the trains stopped, creating markets for inbound goods and providing outlets for local industry, agriculture, and timber operations. Archer was one of these towns.
When the railroad arrived in the 1860's, Archer area farmers expanded their acreage and grew prosperous moving loads of sugar cane, cotton, sweet potatoes, produce, and oranges into Archer. Archer grew into a bustling center of commerce and industry, selling goods and services to farmers, the railroad, and railroad passengers and workers.
A foundry and machine works factory was established, along with a wheelwright, blacksmith, gas works, grain mill, sawmill, planing mill, lumber yard, fertilizer warehouse, cotton gin, ice house, box and crate factory, fruit packing house, moss factory (Spanish moss was dried and used for packing goods and produce), and a blind factory.
The railroad provided jobs for engineers, telegraph operators, ticket agents, conductors, porters, track maintenance men, and the men who unloaded and loaded freight. The workers and commercial enterprises employed doctors, lawyers, accountants, and banks.
In the 1930's paved roads and long-haul trucks largely replaced the need to move freight and passengers on North Florida's railroads, and many towns, including Archer, saw the end of their boomtown era. But the history and artifacts of Archer's railroad glory days are preserved at the Archer Historical Railroad Museum. Across the street you'll see the Baldwin Steam Locomotive which once moved freight and timber along the rail lines.
Hours: Saturdays 9am-1pm Admission: free, donations welcome.
Questions? Contact Phil Denton 352.514.5004 or 352.495.1044, or dentonph@bellsouth.net
Located in Archer at the corner of SW 170th Street & SW 134th Ave.
Archer is 15 miles southwest from Gainesville.
