Palatka, Florida

==Cityscape==

[[File:Palatka North Hist bricks1.jpg|thumb|left|Brick street in the [[Palatka North Historic District|North Historic District]]]]
As with many cities in the United States, development has occurred in a radial pattern from the city center to beyond the incorporated area. Due to the historical importance of Palatka as a southeastern interior port, much of the urban development is oriented toward the riverfront. The eastern sections of the city, which include downtown and the historic districts, are characterized by a gridded street system. A significant amount of the original brick roads survive in this area. The western outlying suburban areas are primarily characterized by an amorphous road pattern.<ref>University of Florida [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00102592/00001], Palatka, a regional study of architectural history, 1977.</ref>

The city of Palatka is actively working toward [[redevelopment]] of its riverfront and downtown area.<ref>Palatka Daily News [http://palatkadailynews.com/articles/2011/01/12news/news01.txt, January 12, 2011, New Palatka mayor says downtown is No. 1]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref> The rise of the automobile, and the inevitable shift to a big-box economic format, has taken its toll on the once thriving regional center. Like many other American cities, Palatka's downtown has had to repurpose itself to cope with an auto-centric society.

===Architecture===

[[File:Palatka Larimer01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Larimer Memorial Library]]]]

Several architectural styles are represented within the city. [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]], [[Colonial Revival]], [[Art Deco]], [[Classical Revival]], and [[Prairie School]] are all prominent building styles in the historical districts. One of the most notable buildings is the old James Hotel at 300 St. Johns Avenue. The hotel was constructed by Dr. George E Welch, president of the now defunct Putnam National Bank. Designed by architect [[Henry John Klutho]] in 1916, this building is a prime example of the [[Prairie School]] style.<ref>Prairie School Traveler, [http://www.prairieschooltraveler.com/html/fl/jameshotel/James-Hotel.html James Hotel].</ref> Klutho also designed the [[Larimer Memorial Library]], named after the wife of James Ross Mellon, eldest son of Judge [[Thomas Mellon]]. The library is a fusion of Prairie School and Art Deco. Today, the building is home to the Art Council of Greater Palatka and houses local art galleries. The Larimer was added to the U.S. [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2008.<ref>RET-TBD, [http://www.ret-tbd.com/Larimer%20Arts.html Larimer Arts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715174712/http://www.ret-tbd.com/Larimer%20Arts.html |date=2011-07-15 }}.</ref>

Though there are no discernible architectural styles in the outgrowth areas, a notable building technique has been used in the construction of the {{convert|23000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Children's Reading Center Charter School. Five [[monolithic dome]] structures crown the facility and give it a distinct style.<ref>Putnam County School District, , Children's Reading Center Charter School, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110718091720/http://crccs.putnamschools.org/crccs/Our_school.html Our School].</ref>

===Neighborhoods===

* [[Downtown Palatka|Downtown]]
* [[Palatka North Historic District|North Historic District]]
* [[Palatka South Historic District|South Historic District]]
* [[Palatka Heights]]
* [[Newtown (Palatka)|Newtown]]
* [[East Palatka, Florida|East Palatka]]
'''<big>Parks and Gardens</big>'''
* James C. Godwin Riverfront Park
* Hank Bryan Park
* [[Ravine Gardens State Park]]
* Veteran's Memorial Park

=== Museums in Palatka ===
* Bronson Mulholland House
* St Johns River Center
* Putnam Historic Museum
* Mariners Museum Inc.