Volusia County History

The Dreka Building: The Hidden History Behind a Downtown DeLand Landmark

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Bronze James H. Ford Building dedication plaque on the historic Dreka Building in downtown DeLand, Florida.

Sometimes history announces itself with a towering monument, a roadside marker, or a museum filled with artifacts. And sometimes it quietly hangs a little bronze plaque on the side of a building and waits for somebody nosy enough to stop and read it. Hi. I’m somebody. In May 2026, I was wandering through downtown DeLand, … Read more

Fort Butler: The Forgotten Seminole War Fort I Found by Accident

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Historic Florida marker for Fort Butler, a Seminole War fort built in 1838 along the St. Johns River near Astor, Florida.

There are two kinds of road trips. The ones where you stick to the itinerary… …and the ones where a random historical marker sends you down a rabbit hole you never expected. This was definitely the second kind. I was on my way to visit Bulow Plantation Ruins when I spotted a historical marker along … Read more