The history of the Downtown Daytona Beach area stretches back centuries. The Timucuan Native Americans once lived in this region of Florida, making their homes in fortified villages. Later, British loyalist Samuel Williams established as a citrus and sugar cane plantation in the region – then controlled by the Spain – after fleeing North Carolina during the American Revolution. The planation burned to the ground in 1835 during the Second Seminole War, and Matthais Day purchased the land for the city that would bear his name in the early 1870s.
Nearby Bethune-Cookman University was established in 1904 by civil rights and education leader Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. In 1946, Jackie Robinson played the first racially integrated professional baseball game in the stadium that is now named after him. As the years have passed, Downtown Daytona Beach has grown and prospered at the heart of the city.
Today, Downtown is home to the Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach. Located in the historic Beach Street area between Bay Street and Orange Avenue, the Riverfront Shops offer something truly special: The opportunity to browse locally owned shops and services, savor the unique flavors of authentic eateries and enjoy entertainment and attractions – all in a beautiful riverfront location unlike any other.
Every season, fans fill up the stands to see Daytona Tortugas play in the historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark on the waterfront. Beach Street has museums, exhibits, outdoor festivals, aquatic activities, nightlife, cafés and Florida’s oldest Saturday Farmers’ Market. Anchoring the North Block of Beach Street is the state-of-the-art News-Journal Center at Daytona State College, which hosts performers from around the world.