Native Americans lived in what is now known as DeFuniak Springs for thousands of years. The Florida State Legislature founded the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad on March 4, 1881. A circular lake and an open region were discovered by the survey crew as they traveled from Pensacola to examine the railroad route. W. D. Chipley, the group's leader, ordered that the virgin forest not be cut at this location and that a stop would be placed along the line here. The group was tented on the beaches of the lake. Chipley said that this would be the ideal location for a town. The area was given the Frederick DeFuniak moniker since he was the president of the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad. Lake DeFuniak, the place's original name, was eventually altered to DeFuniak Springs.
The Walton Heritage Museum is now housed in the old railroad station, which is, owned by the City of DeFuniak Springs and run by the Walton Heritage Association. The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood, which was constructed to replace the outdated Tabernacle auditorium erected in 1884, is another property owned by the City. The new Hall of Brotherhood, which was built in less than a year, was initially used on February 3, 1909, for the Florida Chautauqua's opening exercises. At the time, it was regarded as the most contemporary theatre in the South, including a regal entrance that resembled the U.S. Capitol, seating for 4,000 people, and color-dissolving lighting. It was stated that the auditorium stage could accommodate 100 actors. The freshly renovated auditorium was devastated by Hurricane Eloise in 1975. Therefore, currently, all that is left are the front lobby and the classrooms, which are rented out for special events like weddings, birthdays, and reunions. The historic downtown has mostly remained unchanged since tourists first arrived by rail 100 years ago; the buildings still have their original appearance.
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