Secretary Byrd Designates Fernandina Beach Main Street as Florida Main Street Program of the Month

FERNANDINA BEACH, FLA. –

Today, Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that Fernandina Beach Main Street, located in Nassau County, has been designated the July 2025 Florida Main Street Program of the Month.

“As Florida’s Secretary of State and a native of northeast Florida, I’m proud to recognize the accomplishments of Fernandina Beach Main Street," said Secretary Cord Byrd. "In addition to hosting this year’s Preservation on Main Street Conference, the city also celebrates its 200-year anniversary as an American city, while also looking back on its roots in Florida’s Spanish colonial period."

Fernandina Beach sits on the north end of Amelia Island in northeast Florida. Long before Europeans and Africans arrived, the island was home to the Timucuan people and their ancestors. Laid out by the Spanish in 1811 and named for King Ferdinand VII, the town was the last platted under the 1573 Laws of the Indies and served as the northernmost settlement in Spanish East Florida. Over time, eight flags flew over Fernandina Beach, giving Amelia Island the enduring nickname “Isle of Eight Flags.” In 1858, David Yulee completed Florida’s first cross-peninsular railroad, linking Fernandina Beach on the Atlantic Coast to Cedar Key on the Gulf of America. This vital connection cemented its future as a thriving port town, railroad hub, and popular tourist destination.

Photographs provided by Fernandina Beach Main Street and AICVB

As the 20^th-century dawned, technological advancements, such as motorized boats, larger nets, and refrigerated shipping, made fresh seafood accessible to new markets. Master fishermen and craftspeople congregated in Fernandina Beach, where the ocean and river met the railroad, and helped create the modern American shrimping industry. The city's celebrated Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival began in 1964 as an annual shrimp boat race. Last year, the Shrimp Festival marked its 60th anniversary with a vibrant parade, followed by a weekend filled with vendors, artists, delicious local food, and entertainment for all ages.

In 1973, the Revitalization Plan for Downtown Fernandina Beach was initiated to build a stronger sense of community identity and values. Concerned community members united to preserve downtown Fernandina Beach, the historic heart of commerce. The ambitious plan, supported by substantial infrastructure investments, transformed the downtown area into a sought-after destination for visitors interested in history, Victorian architecture, and unique shopping and dining experiences.

Today, Fernandina Beach Main Street (FBMS) promotes economic vitality and historic preservation throughout the Main Street District using Main Street America's Four-Point Approach™. Initially designated a Florida Main Street District in 2015, it encompassed 14 blocks in the downtown business district. By 2019, the district expanded to include the waterfront Community Redevelopment Area along the river and beautiful parks on Atlantic Avenue and “The Buccaneer Trail.”

Since 2015, FBMS has generated $57,731,029 in public and private investments. The district has seen an increase of 55 new net businesses, creating 226 new net jobs. The organization has recorded over 17,934 volunteer hours. Over its ten years as a designated community, FBMS has implemented downtown wayfinding signs, established a Butterfly Garden, launched a Curb Appeal Award, and organized networking and educational workshops. The organization hosts annual events that draw residents and visitors into the historic downtown and 8th Street business districts, including Sip & Shop and the Island Hop Craft Beer & Spirits Festival. This year, between July 14 and 18, FBMS hosted the annual Preservation on Main Street Conference (POMS). This conference, held in conjunction with Florida Main Street and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, brings together professionals, board members, and stakeholders to celebrate Main Streets and move these vital organizations forward into the future.

For more information on Fernandina Beach Main Street, visit Fernandina Beach Main Street.

To learn more about the Florida Main Street program, visit Florida Main Street - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State or follow on Florida Main Street | Facebook and Florida Main Street (@floridamainstreet) • Instagram photos and videos.

Information and registration for the 2025 Preservation on Main Street Conference can be found at Home | POMS25.

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 About Florida Main Street

Florida Main Street is a program administered by the Division of Historical Resources under the Florida Department of State, which currently oversees 53 communities throughout the state. By implementing the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach, Florida Main Street encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation through the revitalization of Florida’s downtowns – the community’s heart and soul.