(subject to change)

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024

MORNING SESSIONS
Session 1:  Welcome to the FHS Public History Forum and THS Bicentennial Conference

• Ben Brotemarkle, Executive Director, FHS
• James M. Denham, President, FHS
• Bob Holladay, President THS
• John E. Dailey, Mayor of Tallahassee

Session 2: An Overview of Tallahassee and Leon County History

• Bob Holliday, President THS

Session 3: Wakulla Springs Archaeology

• James S. Dunbar, Author and Archaeologist, Aucilla Research Institute

Session 4: William Pope DuVal and the Founding of Tallahassee

• James M. Denham, author of Florida Founder William P. Duval: Frontier Bon Vivant.

FHS Awards Luncheon at Bricks & Brass

THURSDAY TOURS (Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation)
STATE ARCHIVES OF FLORIDA 

We begin our afternoon with a visit to the State Archives of Florida! The official repository of the State of Florida, the Archive collects, preserves and makes available for research historically significant records of the state, as well as private manuscripts, local government records, photographs, and other materials that complement the official state records. We will visit the home of the Archives, in the R.A. Gray Building, for a ‘behind the scenes’ tour.

MISSION SAN LUIS

Our next stop will be at Mission San Luis. Although Florida had over 100 Spanish colonial missions, Mission San Luis is the only one that has been reconstructed and is open to the public. Spanish friars, soldiers and civilians established the Mission at the request of the Apalachee Indians. These Spaniards were the first European immigrants to settle in the present-day Tallahassee area. The residents of San Luis evacuated the Mission two days before English forces reached it on July 31, 1704. It is the only Florida mission with living Native American descendants—the Apalachees.

HISTORIC FLORIDA STATE CAPITOL MUSEUM

Tallahassee was chosen as the territorial capital in 1824. The first territorial government met in log cabins. A capitol building was constructed in 1826 but never completely finished. It was torn down in 1839 for the construction of the present structure, which was completed in 1845, just prior to Florida’s entry into the Union as the 27th state. Additions to the Historic Capitol were made several times throughout the years. Architect Frank Millburn, who added the classical style dome, made the first expansion in 1902. The 1923 additions by Henry Klutho included two new wings and a marble interior. Finally, large wings for the House and Senate chambers were added to the north and south ends of the building in 1936 and 1947, respectively.
Threatened with demolition in the late 1970s when the new capitol was built, The Historic Capitol was saved through citizens’ action and was restored to its 1902 appearance. Architectural highlights include the elaborate art glass dome, red and white striped awnings, and a representation of the Florida State Seal over the entry columns. The restoration of The Old Capitol (1978—1982) was conducted under the supervision of the Department of General Services in conjunction with the Department of State. This intensive project of historical and archaeological investigation makes Florida’s former capitol one of the most thoroughly documented restoration projects in the nation.

PERFORMANCE & RECEPTION

After our tour of the Historic Florida State Capitol Museum, we will assemble in the Senate Chamber for a performance by Theater With a Mission, followed by a reception in the Upper Rotunda with music, hors d’oeuvres and cash bar.

FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024

MORNING SESSIONS
Session 5:  Tourism History/History Tourism

• John T. Foster, Author of At the Dawn of Tourism in Florida: Abolitionists, Print Media, and Images for Early Vacationers, and co-editor of Calling Yankees to Florida: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Forgotten Tourist Articles
• Ben Brotemarkle, Author of Beyond the Theme Parks: Exploring Central Florida, and Crossing Division Street: An Oral History of the African American Community in Orlando.  Producer and Host of Florida Frontiers radio & television.

Session 6: The Florida Civil Rights Museum

• Delaitre Jordon Hollinger, Founder
• Jacqueline Yvonne Perkins, Co-Executive Director

Session 7: Challenges in the Search for Equity and Equality

• Bruce Horovitz, author of Justice Pursued: The Exoneration of Nathan Myers and Clifford WIlliams
• Michael Gengler, author of We Can Do It, inspiration for the documentary film Bridging Troubled Waters: Cocch Jessie Heard, Football and Desegregation

FRIDAY TOURS (Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation)
GOODWOOD MUSEUM AND GARDENS 

Originally a 1,600-acre cotton plantation, the home is now on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as museum situated on 20-acres of land with centuries old live oaks and gardens.  The plantation was originally owned by the Crooms family of North Carolina, who brought 60 enslaved people to the property.  In addition to the main house, there are 20 structures dating from 1835 to 1925. The main house features original family furnishings, porcelain, textiles, glassware and art.

THE GROVE MUSEUM

Few historic sites in Florida have witnessed as much history as The Grove. For nearly two centuries, the people connected with the site have figured prominently in the moments that defined Tallahassee and Florida history. Built in the 1830’s by enslaved African Americans, the Grove Museum is one of the best-preserved antebellum residences in Florida. As the home to several generations of the affluent Call and Collins families, The Grove was sold to the state of Florida in 1985 by Governor LeRoy Collins and his wife Mary Call Collins under the promise that the home become a museum to preserve the State’s history for years to come.  Work to convert the residence into a museum began in 2009 after Mary Call Collins passed away. Between 2009 and 2017, the Florida Department of State undertook an award-winning renovation of the home – transforming it into the Museum as it stands today. The museum takes a critical look at slavery and the Florida Civil Rights Movement to educate and empower visitors from across the country. The programs and guided tours make the Grove the ideal destination to get an immersive lesson on how we build a better Florida for future generations.

JOHN G. RILEY HOUSE

Built in 1890 by John G. Riley, local educator and civic leader, the home is the last visible evidence of Smokey Hollow, an African-American community that once thrived in downtown Tallahassee.  Exhibits feature historical artwork and photographs.  The museum was rated No. 8 on the Black Entertainment Television’s list of “Must See African American Places in the U.S.

RECEPTION AND BANQUET AT BRICKS AND BRASS

Reception with live music , hors d’oeuvres and cash bar. Banquet Dinner featuring Jillian Prescott Memorial Keynote Lecturer Mary E. Adkins, “Florida Constitutional Law: Causes in Context.”

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024

 

MORNING SESSIONS

Session 8: Florida History Day Student Showcase 

Sponsored by the Museum of Florida History, Florida History Day (FHD) is an annual, statewide activity that enhances the teaching and learning of history in middle and high schools. Florida joins 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and international schools in East and South Asia as an affiliate of National History Day®. NHD promotes history in the classroom by offering students the resources and support to do original research about people, ideas, and events of the past. The curriculum supports the project-based learning approach. The Museum of Florida History has coordinated FHD since the 1988–89 school year. The Florida Historical Society is proud to showcase local award-winning projects at our Public History Forum.  Coordinated by KC Smith, FHS Board Member and former Curator of Education & Florida History Fair Coordinator at Florida Department of State.

Session 9: Once Upon A Time in Florida

• Maurice J. O’Sullivan, author and editor of multiple books including Have You Not Hard of Floryda?, Orange Pulp, and Florida’s Golden Age.
• Lu Vickers, author of books including Cypress Gardens, America’s Tropical Wonderland: How Dick Pope Invented Florida, Remembering Paradise Park: Tourism and Segregation at Silver Springs, and Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids: A History of One of Florida’s Oldest Roadside Attractions.
• Rick Kilby, author of Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas, and Finding the Fountain of Youth: Ponce de Leon and Florida’s Magical Waters.

Session 10: President’s Roundtable Discussion

• James M. Denham, President, Florida Historical Society
• Bob Holladay, President, Tallahassee Historical Society
• Maurice J. O’Sullivan, Immediate Past President, Florida Historical Society
• Doug Smith, Past President, Tallahassee Historical Society

SATURDAY TOUR (arrive on your own)
TALLAHASSEE MUSEUM 

The Tallahassee Museum! Set amidst 52 acres of breathtaking Florida flora and fauna, the Museum’s living exhibits of native wildlife, nature trails, historic exhibits and zip line and aerial adventure courses are enjoyed by visitors of all ages.
The Museum is home to fourteen historic buildings that immerse visitors in 19th-century experiences and allow them to discover the history and lifestyles of southern communities. The internationally acclaimed exhibit, Jim Gary’s Twentieth Century Dinosaurs features vividly colored dinosaurs sculpted from recycled car parts that evoke thoughts about art, science, and sustainability. 
***Tour includes boxed lunch to enjoy on the grounds during our visit.