Historic Treasures

Paxton Ruritan Club
The Paxton Ruritan Club, formed in 1952, is dedicated to improving communities and building a better America through fellowship, goodwill and community service. The Ruritan Club hosts an annual Paxton Heritage Festival held the last Saturday of October.

850-834-3031 Paxton

The Chautauqua Auditorium
Built in 1909, the original building hosted the Florida Chautauqua cultural and education programs until the Great Depression. Today, the city uses the beautiful, old building for many social and community functions. 850-892-9494

Historic Circle Drive
A walk around Lake DeFuniak is a walk back into Victorian times, when labor and material were plentiful, and elaborate architectural details were incorporated in the homes being built. Turrets, double verandas, classic fluted columns, gingerbread trim and window dormers all resulted in interesting architecture.

First Presbyterian Church
The original church was organized in 1882. The present white building of the First Presbyterian Church was completed in 1923 after the original sanctuary was destroyed by fire. It is one of the two known buildings constructed of petronite blocks, which were being made in DuFuniak Springs in the early 1920’s. 850-892-5832

St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church
St. Agatha’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1890 in Defuniak Springs. It is the oldest church building in the city, and its stained glass windows are of special interest. 850-892-9754

Walton-DeFuniak Library
The Walton-DeFuniak Library is the oldest in the state of Florida still serving the public today. The library was built in 1887 at a mere cost of $580.00. 850-892-3624

Hotel DeFuniak
Built in 1920, Hotel DeFuniak is steeped in the rich history and traditions of a Florida Chautauqua town. The charmingly restored boutique hotel is set in the distinctive, historic, downtown business district of DeFuniak Springs. 850-892-5214

The Chautauqua Theatre
An orchestra pit, a state-of-the-art sound system and comfortable seating capacity of 292 make for a delightful evening in this historic building. 850-892-9494

Walton County Heritage Museum
The L&N Depot, home of the Walton County Heritage Museum, was built in 1882 and enlarged in 1909. As many as 4,000 passengers a day arrived at the station during the Chautauqua Era. 850-951-2127 or 800-822-6877

Confederate Monument
The monument located in front of the Walton county Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs was the first memorial ever erected to honor the Confederate soldiers. The monument was built in 1871 shortly after the end of the Civil War. The apex of the monument is a giant index finger pointing skyward.

Walton County Heritage Festival
Located in DeFuniak Springs, this festival showcases the unique and divers history of Walton County, including musical displays, Indian artifacts, books, farm equipment, tools and more. 850-832-9254

Old Town of Santa Rosa
Once a bustling bay community that sat at the end of Hogtown Bayou, the hamlet exported organs, sugarcane and fish. With the collapse of the crops the town folk abandoned the village by steamboat and it sat as a ghost town for many years.

Beaches of South Walton

The Grayton Store
Now a restaurant, named the Red Bar, the old Grayton Butler store was the only supply and commodity place in the Grayton area. Built in 1937.850-231-1008 Grayton Beach

Coffeen Nature Preserve
A nature preserve that once was the testing grounds for the captured World War II German V-2 rockets. The whole compound consisted of barracks, hangers, launch tracks, bunkers, fire station, towers and maintenance shops. Visitation by advance reservation only. 850-267-2312 Beaches of South Walton