The former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys — for most of its 111-year history known simply as the Florida School for Boys — operated as a state reform school on the south side of Marianna from 1900 to 2011. It closed after investigations revealed decades of systematic abuse of the boys in its care, undercounting of deaths, and unmarked graves on the grounds.
The site is now a sobering piece of Florida's darker history. Former inmates and their advocates organised for years to get the state to acknowledge what happened here. The story drew national attention after University of South Florida researchers conducted forensic anthropology work on the grounds and found evidence supporting the survivors' accounts.
For visitors who know the history, the site functions as a reminder of how institutions can harm the most vulnerable people in their care for generations without accountability. A memorial to the victims has been established near the site. 2.5 miles south of Marianna town centre on State Road 71.