National Register of Historic Places

Matheson House

Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida
Listed
June 3, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73000564

About this property

The 1867 Matheson House is a historic building in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is located at 528 Southeast 1st Avenue. It was the home of James Douglas Matheson and Augusta Florida Steele Matheson, the daughter of Florida pioneer Augustus Steele, who founded Hillsborough County and Cedar Key. James Douglas Matheson owned a dry goods store in downtown Gainesville and was active in local and state politics, as was his son, eight-term Gainesville mayor Chris Matheson, who was also a state legislator. Chris's widow, Sarah Matheson, deeded the house to the Alachua County Historical Society, which later merged with the Matheson History Museum after it opened in 1994. Sarah Matheson lived in the house until her death in 1996. She was the first female elder at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Gainesville and was an early president of the Alachua County Historical Society and a co-founder and member of the original board of directors of the Matheson Histical Center (now the Matheson History Museum). The 1867 Matheson House is now part of the Matheson History Museum Complex, which recounts the history of Alachua County. On June 4, 1973, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The house is open by appointment only.

Location

528 S.E. 1st Ave.
Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida
29.65112, -82.32021

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Matheson House

This page lists Matheson House. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Matheson House report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

McKenzie, Mary Phifer, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Southeast Gainesville Residential District
Listed
0.1 mi
Star Garage
Industrial
0.2 mi
Cox Furniture Store
Industrial
0.2 mi
U.S. Post Office
Industrial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Gainesville (Aug 1864)
1864Civil War
0.3 mi
Engagement at Gainesville
1864Civil War
0.3 mi
Dickison's Raid on Gainesville (August 1864)
1864Civil War
0.3 mi
Battle of Gainesville Florida
1864Civil War
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Matheson House listed on the National Register?

Matheson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Matheson House?

Matheson House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Matheson House?

The period of significance for Matheson House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Matheson House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Matheson House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Alachua County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Alachua County.

Explore AlachuaCounty ›

More historic places in Florida

Browse all historic places in Florida.

View Floridahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Florida history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Floridahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Matheson House will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report