Cox Furniture Store, historic site in Gainesville, Florida, United States
Cox Furniture Store is a brick building in Gainesville built around 1890 in Romanesque Revival style, featuring large arched windows and thick walls that give it a church-like appearance. The structure retains much of its original construction, including original brick, wood elements, and sturdy columns along its facade.
The building originally served as an opera house and performance venue before becoming a furniture store that supplied the community for many years. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, which helped protect it for future generations.
The building reflects how small towns created gathering places that served both entertainment and commerce. Its shift from opera house to furniture store shows how communities adapted their spaces to changing needs over generations.
The building sits at 19 Southeast First Avenue in central Gainesville and is easily accessible on foot from nearby areas. Parking is available, and it is close to other historic sites in town, making it a convenient stop during a walking tour of the area.
The building has been known by several names throughout its history: the Simonson Opera House, the Edwards Opera House, and later the Cox Furniture Store. This succession of names reflects its changing roles and the various ways the community used it over the decades.
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