Fort Christmas was built on December 25, 1837, during the Second Seminole War. A replica of the fort is at Fort Christmas Historical Park in east Orange County, along with a collection of pioneer homes and buildings.
Plantations in Florida were part of an agrarian society that depended upon the labor of enslaved people. Remnants of Florida's plantation culture can still be seen today at places including Goodwood Museum and Gardens and the Grove Museum in Tallahassee, the Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island in Duval County, and at Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park in Flagler County.
Discovering A.S.J. Allen. In 1904, the African American community leader A.S.J. Allen was killed by a white neighbor over a property border dispute. Allen's great-grandson Alonzo Felder has researched his productive life and tragic death.
Memories of Palatka. By the mid-1800s, the historic town of Palatka was a transportation hub for steamboat traffic. In the early 20th century, it became a battleground against the Ku Klux Klan. In 1933, Ravine Gardens State Park became a WPA project. Beginning in the 1970s, The Florida School of the Arts provided performers for "Cross and Sword," the official state play of Florida.
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Edison first came to Florida in 1885, where he built a winter residence and laboratory. In 1916, Edison’s friend and collaborator, automobile manufacturer Henry Ford, bought his own Fort Myers estate, right next door to Edison’s.
Frank Lloyd Wright is known as one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. Wright wanted to create a uniquely American style of architecture that broke away from European models, and create geometrically interesting, organic structure that blended into the natural landscape. His largest single collection of building in one location is at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Wright’s only private residence constructed in Florida is Spring House in Tallahassee.
The Seminole (along with the Miccosukee) are the indigenous people of Florida. Seminole history and culture is preserved at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Reservation.
The Leon and Jewel Collins Museum of African American History and Culture in Cocoa includes exhibits about Harry T. Moore who worked in the building, Zora Neale Hurston who lived nearby, and Original Highwayman Artist R.L. Lewis.
The Florida Historical Society Public History Forum and the Annual Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society Conference were held together in Gainesville, in 2022.
Mabel Norris Reese. Courageous journalist Mabel Norris Reese covered the infamous Groveland Rape Trial and Ku Klux Klan activities in Lake County in the mid-20th century.
Mary McLeod Bethune was a larger-than-life educator and activist whose legacy is now remembered with an eleven-foot tall, 6,000-pound statue carved by Nilda Comas. She used the last piece of statuary marble taken from the same Italian quarry used by Renaissance artist Michelangelo. The statue will represent Florida in the US Capitol building.
Based on a panel discussion presented as part of the Florida Historical Society 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting and Symposium, historians and voting rights activists discuss “100 Years of the 19th Amendment: Florida Women Breaking Barriers.”
Florida historians discuss “Civil Rights, Equality, and Racial Justice in the Age of Black Lives Matter.” The panel discussion was presented as part of the Florida Historical Society Virtual Annual Meeting and Symposium.
This panel discussion was presented as part of the Florida Historical Society Virtual Annual Meeting and Symposium. Historians compare pandemics from the state's past with COVID-19.
The Freedom Rides of 1961 are seen as a pivotal point in the Civil Rights Movement, but it's often forgotten that two groups of Freedom Riders came to Florida.
From "The Florida Suite" composed by Frederick Delius in the 1880s, to the present, the musical legacy of Jacksonville includes classical, jazz, bluegrass, and contemporary works.
All FHS Members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at our Florida Books & Gifts Bookstore located in Cocoa Village, and early notice of all events, including our Public History Forum in May and our Annual Meeting and Symposium in October! Other benefits vary by member level!
All FHS members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at our Florida Books & Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting & Symposium.
All FHS Memberships run for one year from the month payment is received.
All FHS members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at Florida Books & Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting & Symposium.
Access to the Quarterly will be available once staff has processed your Membership (generally 3 business days).
All FHS Members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at Florida Books and Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting and Symposium.
Additionally, Standard Members also receive:
1. The electronic OR print edition of The Florida Historical Quarterly, our award winning journal.
All FHS Members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at Florida Books & Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting and Symposium.
Additionally, Family Members also receive:
1. The electronic edition of The Florida Historical Quarterly, our award winning journal.
All FHS Members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at Florida Books & Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting and Symposium.
Additionally, FHS Supporters also receive:
1. The electronic edition of The Florida Historical Quarterly, our award winning journal If you would like to receive the print edition (or both!) of the Quarterly, please notify us at: membership@myfloridahistory.org
2. Your choice of any book published by the Florida Historical Society Press.
All FHS Members receive our newsletter, The Society Report, a 10% discount at Florida Books & Gifts bookstore in Cocoa Village, and early notice of special events, including our Annual Meeting and Symposium.
Additionally, FHS Sponsors also receive:
1. The electronic edition of The Florida Historical Quarterly, our award winning journal If you would like to receive the print edition (or both!) of the Quarterly, please notifiy us at: membership@myfloridahistory.org
2. Your choice of any three (3) books published by the Florida Historical Society Press
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