BlackWaterLiving - Walking Tour

Walking Tour of Milton's
Historic District

Note: If you own one of these historic homes and have significant facts that have been omitted please contact Tom at mysticmotor1@aol.com.

Begin the Tour at
Milton Opera House
6866 Caroline Street

The most logical place to begin your walking tour is in the center of Milton at the Milton Opera House that houses the Museum of Local History. Located at the corner of Caroline and Willing Street, the Milton Opera House was designed by architect Walker Willis in the renaissance revival style and built in 1912. It was later renamed the Milton Auditorium and was one of the first brick buildings constructed after a devastating 1909 fire. The walls are four bricks thick and the floors are steel-reinforced concrete. It is the only three-story building in Milton. As many theatres, the second floor balcony surrounds the stage on three sides. The theatre was later named after seven-year-old Imogene Gooch after her parents purchased the building in 1921. The downstairs was once a post office and retail store. The area under the theatre then stood empty for forty years until the Santa Rosa Historical Society acquired it to house the Museum of Local History where all of our visitors could enjoy Milton’s colorful past.

Milton Opera House,
Later Renamed The Imogene Theater

The Museum of Santa Rosa History which is located in the Imogene Theatre is open every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and every other Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..

2007 Play & Event: Schedule

Website: Milton Florida Historical Society

The Santa Rosa Historical Society Needs Volunteers: The reason for the odd hours at the museum is they need more volunteers to staff the museum. If you are interested in volunteering on a regular day of the week to staff the museum contact the society President, John Rebel, at the Milton Fire Department (983-5430).

Stop No. 2
County Courthouse
6865 Caroline Street

This is not the original courthouse in this location. Milton’s first courthouse was a beautiful two-story red brick structure built in 1877. The courthouse faced Willing street and not Caroline. It had a similar building that housed the jail, also on Willing Street. The original building was demolished to make way for the center section of the current building. The building seen at this location today originally had a third story with tall, arched windows. The third story served as a jail but was later removed because of structural problems. The jail that was added to the back of the courthouse has long since been abandoned and is scheduled for demolition. Redevelopment plans are presently in the works for this building.

County Courthouse

Stop No. 3
The Milton Drug Store
128 Willing Street

Without leaving Milton Center you can turn and see the Milton Drug Store. This Milton landmark was rebuilt in 1910 after the fire. Unfortunately it burned again in 1987 and is now restored as offices.

Milton Drug Store

Stop No. 4
The Milton Docks Mural

(description to follow soon)

Milton Docks Mural

More Stops

Pages 1 2 3 Next

Sales & Info: (850)393-3144 (CST)
e-Mail: Mysticmotor1@aol.com