Brief History of Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach

Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach offers a rich tapestry of historic buildings, unique boutiques, art galleries and tasty treats. Delighted visitors perpetually stroll Canal Street’s palm tree-lined streets, soaking up small town charm, Florida-style. It has truly become the cultural hub of New Smyrna Beach, offering engaging events throughout the year, such as frequent art exhibits, classic car shows, craft beer tastings, pooch parades, arts and craft fairs, a farmer’s market, holiday frivolity…and the list goes on!

Founded in 1768, New Smyrna Beach is one of Florida’s oldest and most enchanting cities; and Canal Street is located at the center of it all…

Central Florida was sparsely populated and often raided by Seminoles protecting their territory well into the 19th Century. Tourism, the economy, as well as the population dramatically spiked when the railroad came to town in 1892. During Prohibition, New Smyrna and its river islands were also popular with moonshiners and rum runners. In 1947, it became New Smyrna Beach, and grew into the charming, seaside town it is today with over 20,000 permanent residents.

Canal Street, running through the 100-acre section of New Smyrna Beach that is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and home to historic buildings that were constructed of wood frames and masonry from 1885 to 1935, is aptly named for the ancient, hand-dug canals which run beneath it.

Today, Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach is lined with captivating commercial establishments, including the Little Drug Company – an old fashioned drug store where you can still perch atop a bar stool and enjoy a root beer float; Yellow Dog Eats, Half Wall and Corkscrew Bar and Grille – where both locals and vacationers park it to rest for a while and get a belly full of deliciousness! There are also Gallery One Twenty, simply bubbling over with artistic flair; Donna’s Canal Creamery – a yummy ice cream/coffee shop stop; and now Hosting NSB – New Smyrna Beach’s trusted source for web design, social media marketing and so much more!

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