The Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center occupies the land of the first multi-line railroad terminal opened in 1897 at the urging of Henry Flagler, owner of the Florida East Coast Railway. In 1919, the Jacksonville Union Terminal was the rail gateway to all of Florida – and during six decades of service, was among the busiest passenger depots in the country, with up to 10 million people passing through its portals each year. Converted to a convention center in 1986, the venue remains rich with historic railway flavor.
Today, glittering expositions and grand galas have replaced the bustle of a great railroad station. The stately old terminal, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the centerpiece of the largest meeting and convention facility in the region. The Prime Osborn boasts a 78,000 square-foot Exhibit Hall and 22 additional function rooms, including a 10,000 square foot Grand Lobby with marble walls and a 75-foot vaulted ceiling. With 265,000 gross square feet of space, the Prime Osborn Convention Center is versatile enough to host an event, large or small. State-of-the-art audio and visual systems are also available throughout the center. High-speed broadband internet service for events is also available.
The Convention Center has been the home of events such as the Jacksonville Home & Patio Show, the Southern Women's Show, the Florida/Georgia Hall of Fame Luncheon and a variety of other community events.
