Built in the late 1800s by W.T. Davis for his two sons, the W.T. Davis Opera House building was donated to the Treasures of Madison County from Judge Charles McClure of Tallahassee in 1998. The building was restored in order to house the Treasures of Madison County Museum.
Since then, the Treasures of Madison County Museum has been providing a first hand look at the rich history within Madison County, with memorabilia depicting a time gone by. The museum allows those who enter its doors to learn about early Madison County's lifestyle, agriculture roots and military service.
On Friday, June 3, a new historical marker to commemorate the W.T. Davis building was erected at the Treasures of Madison County Museum. The Madison County Tourist Development Council provided the funding for the historical marker.
The building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 2015.
The building is one of the few remaining buildings in Florida that is covered with a galvanized sheet metal facade. This use of sheet metal for architectural ornamentation replaced iron as the choice metal for most architectural work in the 1870s.
The building's second floor served as an opera house and a center for entertainment in Madison County from 1892 to 1910. The building also housed small businesses and law offices of W.T. Davis' son, Charles Edgar Davis and grandson, William Turner Davis.
The Treasures of Madison County Museum is located on 200 SW Range Ave. in Madison and is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome but special tours are held by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call (850) 973-4636.
To learn more about the history of the Treasures of Madison County Museum, visit www.treasuresofmadisoncounty.com/our-history.html. To get a preview of some of the exhibits within the museum, visit www.treasuresofmadisoncounty.com/exhibits.html.