St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum [FL]

Description

The Museum seeks to discover, preserve, present, and keep alive the story of the nation's oldest port, as symbolized by the working St. Augustine Lighthouse. Constructed of Alabama brick and Philadelphia iron in 1874, the lighthouse is St. Augustine's oldest surviving brick structure. In 1876, a brick lightkeeper's house was added to the site. Lightkeepers and their assistants lived and worked there until the tower was automated in 1955.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach

Description

The Foundation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation of the historic, architectural, and cultural heritage of Palm Beach, Florida. Through advocacy initiatives, educational programs, architectural resources, and cultural events, the Foundation's goal is to encourage the community to learn about and save the historic buildings that make Palm Beach special. The Foundation also offers educational programs for children at the 1886 Little Red Schoolhouse, the first schoolhouse in southeast Florida.

The foundation offers research library access, lectures, classes, workshops, and educational and recreational programs.

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Ca d'Zan, and Circus Museums [FL]

Description

Located on a 66-acre estate on Sarasota Bay, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was established in 1927 as the legacy of John Ringling (1866–1936) and his wife, Mable (1875–1929). Recognized as the official State Art Museum of Florida, the Museum of Art offers 21 galleries of European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities, Asian art, American paintings, and contemporary art. The Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing hosts a variety of traveling exhibitions throughout the year. The estate features the spectacular Cà d'Zan ("House of John"), a waterfront mansion that was restored in 2002. The Circus Museums, including the Tibbals Learning Center, display the world's largest miniature circus, costumes, wagons, performance equipment, and other artifacts chronicling the history of the Circus. The estate also features Mable Ringling's Rose Garden, completed in 1913, and beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

The museums offer exhibits and tours; the Ca d'Zan offers tours; the museum complex as a whole offers performances, lectures, film screenings, educational programs, research library access, educational and recreational events.

Cracker Country [FL]

Description

Cracker Country, a rural Florida outdoor living history museum was established so that future generations might better understand and appreciate Florida's rural heritage. From the rustic cypress log corn crib to the grand old two-story Carlton house, Cracker Country features 13 original buildings dating from 1870—1912. These buildings were moved to their present location from throughout the state, then restored and furnished with antiques of the period.

The site offers exhibits, tours, and demonstrations.

Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park [FL]

Description

More than eight centuries ago, Native Americans inhabited the area around Lake Jackson. The park site was part of what is now known as the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex. Today, it encompasses six earthen temple mounds and one possible burial mound. The largest mound is 278 feet by 312 feet at the base and approximately 36 feet in height. Artifacts of pre-Columbian societies have been found here including copper breastplates, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and cloaks. Visitors can enjoy a short hike past the remains of an 1800s grist mill or picnic on an open grassy area near the largest mound.

The park offers tours and exhibits.

University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame [FL]

Description

The Hall displayas photos of each of the hall inductees and the National Championship Trophies for University of Miami Football and Baseball, along with the Heisman Trophies of Vinnie Testaverde and Gino Torretta. A basketball and memorabilia from the Rick Barry years are on display, along with memorabilia from all sports. Also on display is the Seminole War Canoe which was for many years the prize for the winner of the University of Miami vs. Florida Football games. The Trophies for all of the University's Bowl Appearances are on display from the Palm Bowl (the first and original Orange Bowl) to this year's Rose Bowl. The unusual is also on display, including a picture of the University's first collegiate national championship team, the 1931 National Collegiate Polo Championship Team.

The hall offers exhibits.

The Capitol Complex Extension Branch of the Southeastern Regional Black Archives at Union Bank[FL]

Description

Completed in 1841 when Florida was still a territory, the Union Bank is the state's oldest surviving bank building. Chartered to help finance local cotton plantations, it ultimately closed because of crop failures, the Second Seminole War, and poor management. After the Civil War, it reopened as the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company for emancipated slaves and later served several other functions. In 1971, the Bank was moved from its original site, and, after restoration, it was opened as a museum in 1984. The Union Bank now serves as an extension of the Florida A&M University Black Archives, Research Center, and Museum and is open to the public and school groups only on weekdays. Artifacts and documents reflecting black history and culture are on display, and public programs are provided by Black Archives staff.

The bank offers exhibits.

Koreshan State Historic Site [FL]

Description

Throughout its history, Florida has welcomed pioneers of all kinds. Cyrus Reed Teed was probably the most unusual, bringing followers to Estero in 1894 to build New Jerusalem for his new faith, Koreshanity. The colony, known as the Koreshan Unity, believed that the entire universe existed within a giant, hollow sphere. The colony began fading after Teed's death in 1908, and in 1961 the last four members deeded the land to the state. Today, visitors can fish, picnic, boat, and hike where Teed's visionaries once carried out survey experiments to prove the horizon on the beaches of Lee County curves upward.

The site offers exhibits, demonstrations, and tours.

Fort Foster State Historic Park [FL]

Description

Fort Foster was one of the original Seminole War forts constructed in Florida during the early 1800s. Today a replica wood-picket-style fort has been constructed on the original site. Park rangers provide tours, and explain the Fort operations and living conditions, as well as telling the history of the Seminole Wars in Florida. The interpretive center contains exhibits about the fort, the Seminoles, and the Second Seminole War.

The park offers exhibits, tours, and occasional living history events.