Here Are The Oldest Photos Ever Taken In Florida And They’re Incredible

Is there anything more fascinating than old photographs? Modern photography was developed by Louis Daguerre in 1839, and there are a few surviving photographs from the U.S. from this time. (If you're interested, you can check out some of the oldest photos taken in the US). While there are some surviving photographs from the first years of photography in Florida, the ones that we found were either family portraits or cityscapes with no people in them. The more telling shots that actually begin to show daily life eventually show up around the 1860s and 1870s (at least from what we could find in the state archives). Here are a few of the interesting examples from that time that we could find, some old photos of Florida to give you a glimpse back in time...

Saint Francis Street - Saint Augustine, 1860s

Spring at Green Cove Springs, 1870s

Johnson's Drugstore: Key West, the 1870s

"Going to the cane grind," 1872 (Nassau County)

The best examples begin to show up in the next few decades after that, as you can see from the video below shared on YouTube by Reid Milsap. Check out this fascinating look at early Florida below from about 1880 through 1903.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlDJOOPwm3A

The video features a collection of the earliest photos in Florida, depicting its pioneer days when folks traveled by boat or train. Some of the things (like the large oaks dripping with moss) still look the same today, while other photos look like glimpses of another world completely. Florida must have been quite a challenging and unique place to live then.

What do you think about these photos of life in Old Florida? Which photos were your favorite? If you were curious about what Florida looked like 100 years ago, we hope this article interested you! Make sure to let us know in the comments section. Or, if you know of other photos that depict what Florida was like way back when we would love to hear from you. If you love all things Florida, check out this unique state pride apparel from Wear Your Roots!

Looking for more Florida fun? Check out this tutorial on how to speak like a local: