Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in DeFuniak Springs (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Walton County Heritage Museum, Lake DeFuniak, and Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood. Also, be sure to include Walton-DeFuniak Library in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in DeFuniak Springs (Florida).
Table of Contents
Walton County Heritage Museum
Museum. The Walton County Heritage Museum is located at 1140 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Housed in the former L&N railroad depot, it is part of the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
Address: 1140 Circle Dr, 32435 DeFuniak Springs
Lake DeFuniak
Lake in Florida. Lake DeFuniak is an almost perfectly circular 40 acre lake in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, United States, at the center of the DeFuniak Springs Historic District.
Lake DeFuniak is one of the two almost perfectly round circular spring-fed lakes in the world, the other being Kingsley Lake.[2]
Address: Circle drive, DeFuniak Springs
Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood
Building in De Funiak Springs, Florida. The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood is a historic site in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida. It was constructed as part of the Chautauqua education movement and is located at 95 Circle Drive. It is now used to house a branch of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. On August 7, 1972, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
In 1989, the building was listed in A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.[3]
Address: 95 Circle Dr, 32435 DeFuniak Springs
Walton-DeFuniak Library
Public library in De Funiak Springs, Florida. Walton-DeFuniak Library is a historic library located at 3 Circle Drive, in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida in the United States. Opened in 1887, it is the oldest continuously run library in the state. It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District.
In 1989, the library was listed in A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.
There are over 25, 000 volumes available at the Walton-DeFuniak Library.[4]
Address: 3 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs
Perry L. Biddle House
Heritage building in De Funiak Springs, Florida. The Perry L. Biddle House is a historic house located at 203 Scribner Avenue in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. It is locally significant as one of the best examples of the houses constructed in an early subdivision of DeFuniak Springs, outside of the heavy development which took place around Lake DeFuniak, and is also a good example of Frame Vernacular construction.[5]
St. Agatha's Episcopal Church
Episcopal church in De Funiak Springs, Florida. St. Agatha's Episcopal Church is a historic Carpenter Gothic Episcopal church located at 144 Circle Drive, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida in the United States. It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District. "It is a jewel box of great beauty "[6]
Walton County Courthouse
The Walton County Courthouse is a historic courthouse building located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1992.
A new addition to the courthouse was opened in October 2007 and the original courthouse is being renovated.[7]
Sun Bright
Heritage building in De Funiak Springs, Florida. The Sun Bright is an historic residence in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida. Located at 30 Live Oak Ave W, it was the home of Sidney J. Catts, Florida's twenty-second governor. On May 7, 1979, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
In 1989, the house was listed in A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.
After Governor Catts owned the house, it became a bed and breakfast until the early 2000 when it was converted back to a single family residence.[8]
The Vicarage
The Vicarage built in 1889 is an historic house located at 150 Circle Drive, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida in the United States. Also known as McLendon House, it is located next to St. Agatha's Episcopal Church. It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1992.
Built in 1889, it was one of two identical frame Florida vernacular houses which stood side by side on Circle Drive. Its twin to the left has since been moved to a different location on the drive. It went through a succession of private owners, some of whom used it as a boarding house for visitors to the DeFuniak Springs Chautauqua. St. Agatha's Episcopal Church, built in 1896 to its right, bought it for use as a vicarage in 1977 using funds given by Violet Horn McLendon of Marianna. The second floor serves as the private quarters of the vicar and family, while the first floor rooms and kitchen are shared with the congregation which use them as its parish hall.[9]
DeFuniak Springs Historic District
The DeFuniak Springs Historic District is a U.S. historic district located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. DeFuniak Springs, originally Lake DeFuniak, was named after Fred DeFuniak, the chief executive of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The district is bounded by Nelson and Park Avenues and 2nd and 12th Streets. It contains 172 historic buildings and 2 objects.
One such historic memorial is Florida's first stone memorial to the Confederacy. This memorial was first erected in Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church but currently resides on DeFuniak Springs' courthouse lawn.
Other than the Confederacy, a huge part of the town's history includes railroads. When railroad operation began in 1882, DeFuniak Springs became a popular railroad stop, particularly for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. This brought a lot of new people to the area.
As a result of these new people coming to the area, another huge part, and perhaps the most important part, of the town's history began This was the rise of the Chautauqua. It is believed that the Chautauqua emerged because of the influence of the Lyceum Movement, the lack of educational quality in schools, and the rise of religion following the Civil War. After its formation, the Chautauqua spread all over the United States, including to DeFuniak Springs. The Florida Chautauqua continued from 1885 to 1922 and attracted thousands of visitors to the area. This eventually led to the building of the historic Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood in 1909. This building originally included an auditorium that could seat up to 4,000 people, but the auditorium was destroyed by Hurricane Eloise in 1975. This building is located at 95 Circle Drive and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other locations listed on the National Register of Historic Places include 132 Circle Drive, which is a family residence built in 1900 and owned by the prominent citizen and realtor R.E.L. McCaskill, 144 Circle Drive, which is St. Agatha's Episcopal Church that was completed in 1896, and 150 Circle Drive, which is now the Parish House of St. Agatha's Episcopal Church but originally was built in 1900 to serve as a boarding house during the Chautauqua Era.[10]
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