Museum of Florida History

06/24/2026

This building is really decked out for the US Bicentennial! The building once stood on the corner of Fort King Street and Magnolia Avenue in Ocala. It housed two sister radio stations WMOP and WFUZ. Patriotic even before the Bicentennial, as seen in this ca. 1970 photograph, it was called the All American Radio Building and really showed its American spirit! Will you decorate your digs for America250?
📷: Patriotic Postcard, 1976. All American Radio Building, ca. 1970. Collection of the Museum of Florida History

06/23/2026

06/20/2026

To celebrate in just over two weeks, the Museum of Florida History will spend the next few weeks highlighting some of the patriotic artifacts in our collection. To begin with, we have this United States parade flag. With forty-five stars on the blue background, this flag dates from 1896 to 1908. This places it firmly in the era of the Spanish-American War ca. 1898. The war was partially fought to limit Spain’s influence in the Caribbean as well as a response to the mysterious sinking of the U.S.S. Maine. 📷: Forty-five star United States Flag, ca. 1898. Collection of the Museum of Florida History

06/19/2026

The Florida Freedom Truck is rolling into downtown Sanford this morning!
In 1870, Henry Shelton Sanford planned a new city “the Gate City of South Florida,” which he believed would become the transportation hub for southern Florida. In 1877, the city of Sanford was incorporated and by 1884, Sanford was a prosperous town with docks, a railroad station, and large hotel.
Learn about Florida’s history and heritage in downtown Sanford (400 E. 1st Street) starting at 10:30 a.m. (subject to change). More information here: America250FL.com.

06/16/2026

Between the 16th and 19th century, over 5,000 pirates sailed off the coast of Florida and still live on in the public's imagination. Join Chief Curator Bartholomew Delcamp at this month's History at High Noon Program where he will discuss the role of piracy in Florida's maritime history. The event is Tuesday, June 23, at 12 pm at the Union Bank Museum.

06/10/2026

Check out these cute kids’ wallets with their images of Florida beach and sea scenes. The donor of the wallets collected Florida tourist memorabilia and bought the wallets at a Florida souvenir shop on Highway 27 in south Florida in the 1980s. Do you like to pick up fun souvenirs on your summer vacations?
📷: Girls’ souvenir wallets, ca. 1975–85. Collection of the Museum of Florida History

06/08/2026

06/06/2026

National Fishing and Boating week is the first full week in June. This year, it falls between June 6 and 14. The Florida Board of Conservation published this “Make Sure Make Shore” booklet to teach youth safe boating practices and prepare them to operate watercraft responsibly. The Florida Board of Conservation operated from 1933 until it was folded into the newly created Florida Department of Natural Resources, now the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, in 1969. If you are going out on the water this week—or anytime—maybe this booklet will help remind you to have fun on the water but always practice safety!
📷: “Make Sure Make Shore, The Florida State Junior Boatman’s Safety Course” booklet, ca. 1967–70. Collection of the Museum of Florida History

06/05/2026

The Museum of Florida History and the Department of Transportation collaborated to create the Florida Freedom Tour. These traveling trucks showcase over 500 years of Florida history in honor of the nation’s semiquincentennial. The schedule for the Florida Freedom Tour can be seen above, and more information can be found at america250fl.com.

06/03/2026

The Old Trenton Train Depot at 111 NW 4th Avenue offers a glimpse into the railroad history of this quaint Gilchrist County town. The Florida Freedom Tour is stopping in at the Old Trenton Train Depot today! The Florida Freedom tour is delivering history all summer! More about Florida Freedom Tour here: America250FL.com
Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners