Orman House [FL]

Description

Built in 1838 by Thomas Orman, this antebellum home overlooks the Apalachicola River, and was used for both business and social gatherings. Orman was a cotton merchant and businessman in Apalachicola from 1840 to the 1870s. He helped the tiny town become one of the Gulf Coast's most important cotton exporting ports during the mid-19th century. The house features details of both Federal and Greek revival styles with wooden mantelpieces, molded plaster cornices, and wide heart-pine floorboards.

The house offers exhibits and tours.

Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park [FL]

Description

This park commemorates the site of Florida's largest Civil War battle, which took place February 20, 1864. More than 10,000 cavalry, infantry, and artillery troops fought a five-hour battle in a pine forest near Olustee. Three U.S. Colored Troops took part in the battle, including the now famous 54th Massachusetts. The battle ended with 2,807 casualties and the retreat of Union troops to Jacksonville until the war's end just 14 months later. Olustee Battlefield has a visitor center with historical information and artifacts. A reenactment is held every February and a Civil War Expo takes place in late summer. Scenes for Civil War movies, including the 1989 movie Glory, have been filmed during the reenactments.

The park offers a short film, exhibits, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Hollywood Historical Society Inc [FL]

Description

The Hollywood Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and disseminating the history of Hollywood, Florida. The society runs a research center, which is open to the public year round, and the Hammerstein House, which is open on the first Sunday of the month during the fall and winter months. The Hammerstein House serves as a historic house museum and gives visitors a glimpse into life in Hollywood during the 1920s and 1930s.

The society offers annual home tours, guided tours of the Hammerstein House, and research resources. The website offers visitor information, a brief history of the Hammerstein House, and information regarding upcoming events.

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates [FL]

Description

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates preserves the winter homes of Thomas Edison (1847-1931) and Henry Ford (1868-1947), today furnished to period style. Sights include the homes; a 20-acre tropical garden which began as Edison's experimental garden; Edison's laboratory where he, Thomas Ford, and Harvey Firestone collaborated in a search for a more affordable rubber alternative; and a museum, displaying Edison's inventions and possessions, including more than 200 Edison phonographs and his prototype Model T Ford. Edison's estate, known as Seminole Lodge, was completed in 1886; and Ford purchased the neighboring home, "The Mangoes," in 1916. Edison is best known for the invention of the phonograph and electrical light bulb. Thomas Ford is known for inventing assembly line production.

The estates offer films; exhibits; guided tours of the homes, laboratory, gardens, and museum; botanical tours; lectures; school tours; outreach presentations; living history docents; and a picnic area. Wheelchairs are available on request. Two weeks advance notice is required for group tours of 20 or more. The website offers suggested writing activities for use by teachers.

Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park [FL]

Description

In 1836, the Second Seminole War swept away the prosperous Bulow Plantation where the Bulow family grew sugar cane, cotton, rice, and indigo. Ruins of the former plantation—a sugar mill, a unique spring house, several wells, and the crumbling foundations of the plantation house and slave cabins—show how volatile the Florida frontier was in the early 19th century. Today, a scenic walking trail leads visitors to the sugar mill ruins, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The park has picnic facilities and an interpretive center that tells the plantation's history.

The park offers exhibits

The John G. Riley Foundation, Inc. [FL]

Description

The John G. Riley Foundation works towards the preservation of the John Riley House and of the cultural and educational history of African Americans in Tallahassee, Florida. The foundation operates the Riley House Museum, which is a typical historic house museum. The Museum is also home to the foundation's extensive library.

The foundation offers exhibits in the Riley House Museum, an oral history program, a historic archive, educational programs, and workshops. The website offers visitor information, a brief history of the home, information regarding upcoming events, and a brief biography of John Riley.

Northwood Hills Neighborhood Association [FL]

Description

The Northwood Hills Neighborhood Association is dedicated to maintaining the history of the Northwood Hills Neighborhood as well as functioning as a typical neighborhood association. In particular, the association works with other local groups in order to preserve important historic structures.

The association offers tours of historic and architecturally significant homes. The website offers information regarding upcoming tours and events. In order to contact the association via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Miami Design Preservation League [FL]

Description

The Miami Design Preservation League seeks to preserve and share the history of Miami's architecture, both within and outside of the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District. Miami is perhaps most widely known for its Art Deco architecture. However, the historic district includes Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Miami Modern (MiMo) structures.

The league offers a film series, lectures, a gallery with exhibits related to the Art Deco movement, guided walking tours, iPod or cellphone self-guided walking tours, and guided bicycle or Segway tours.

Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park [FL]

Description

Natural Bridge is the site of the second largest Civil War battle in Florida and where the St. Marks River drops into a sinkhole and flows underground for one-quarter of a mile before reemerging. During the final weeks of the Civil War, a Union flotilla landed at Apalachee Bay, planning to capture Fort Ward (San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park) and march north to the state capital. With a timely warning, volunteers from the Tallahassee area—Confederate soldiers, old men, and young boys—met the Union forces at Natural Bridge and successfully repelled three major attacks. The Union troops were forced to retreat to the coast and Tallahassee was the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi not captured by the Union. A reenactment of the battle is held at the park every March.

The park offers occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Art Deco of the Palm Beaches [FL]

Description

Art Deco of the Palm Beaches seeks to preserve and share the Art Deco architecture and 20th-century design and artwork of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, Florida. Art Deco was a reaction against the Art Nouveau movement of the 1890s, which emphasized curvilinear design. In contrast, Art Deco emphasizes linear qualities and "harsh" geometries. Cultural design influences include Japan and the Aztec and Mayan Empires.

The organization offers lectures and customizable tours. Lecture topics include non-local Art Deco works.