Pleasant Street Historic District, National Historic District in Gainesville, Florida.
Pleasant Street Historic District is a historic neighborhood in Gainesville featuring around 259 preserved buildings, including shotgun houses and bungalows from different time periods. The structures extend between Northwest 8th Avenue and Northwest 2nd Avenue, offering a view of various residential styles.
After the Civil War in the 1860s, formerly enslaved people established this neighborhood, building homes, churches, schools, and numerous businesses owned by Black residents. This community development reflects both the founding period and the economic activity that shaped the area.
The neighborhood displays Victorian homes, Queen Anne structures, and Colonial Revival buildings that show how residential design evolved over time. Walking through the streets, you can see these different styles standing side by side and understand how people built their houses in different eras.
You can explore the district on foot to observe the architectural details of the buildings, from simple shotgun houses to more elaborate bungalows. The neighborhood is walkable and invites you to stroll through different areas to discover the variety of building forms.
The Dunbar Hotel operated from 1936 into the 1950s as a gathering place that hosted musicians like Ella Fitzgerald and B.B. King when lodging options were severely limited for Black travelers. The hotel stands as a symbol of the economic independence and cultural importance that the community achieved.
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