HISTORY CENTER HAPPENINGS!
Saturday, September 21, 11 a.m. – Architectural Tour
Join us for an architectural tour of the History Center and learn about neoclassical architecture, the construction of the building and the stories behind the iconic Old Polk County Courthouse. This month’s tour includes special emphasis on the clock tower. The architectural tour is on the third Saturday of each month at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, September 17, 12:15-1 p.m. – Out of the Archives Speaker Series – Polk County History Center Volunteer
Continuing the Out of the Archives series, volunteer and tour guide Tom Bogacki will explain how the museum’s collection rooms are organized while giving a behind-the-scenes tour of the third floor archives, highlighting some unique artifacts not currently on public display.
September’s Family Program – Curators of Curiosity – All Month
To commemorate National Grandparents Day on September 8, our young learners will be honoring this special group of people in our families all month long. Our little curators will be coloring in pictures and describing what they enjoy doing most with their grandpas and grandmas.
History Time Tots, a story and activity time, designed for ages five and under, will take place on Saturday, September 7, at 10 a.m. and Tuesday, September 10, at 10 a.m. We will be reading The Ultimate Guide to Grandmas & Grandpas! by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Michael Emberley.
Selected Exhibits on Display Include (some – not all listed)
o Polk County Crossroads: Change in Rural America
Polk County’s Crossroads is a collaboration between the History Center and Polk County’s Planning and Development division. The exhibit features maps spanning Polk County’s transportation evolution from the early 1800s to the 1950s. Additionally, local families have generously loaned antique surveying equipment for display, and visitors can discover how Florida was originally platted using those tools.
Newly reinterpreted exhibits explore the local history of cattle, turpentine, lumber, phosphate, beekeeping, farming, and banking. These diverse industries once thrived in Polk County, and while turpentine stills and lumber mills have faded, many other trades featured in the gallery continue to be a viable part of Polk County’s economy and tradition.
o Polk Arts & Cultural Exhibit – From architecture to music, dance, and literary works, the exhibit celebrates the impact that local artists have made in contributing to the quality of life in Polk County. The exhibit also serves as the permanent home for the Polk County Artist Hall of Fame, an annual honor to recognize those who have raised awareness of the importance of the arts and culture landscape.
o Imperial Polk’s Services details the formation of the county seat and the county commission, along with the origins of Polk County’s earliest functions: education, emergency services, law enforcement, doctors and hospitals.
o Polk’s Pioneers depicts central Florida life in the mid-1800s with floor to ceiling graphics, including dozens of photographs from the museum archives and a 1870s map of Florida. Topics include forts and military roads, pioneer life, religion, early African American settlements, and a lighthearted list of old Florida Cracker remedies.
o “Together We Win: Polk County’s World War I Contributions,” featuring Polk residents who served in World War I. The exhibit display period has been extended for an indefinite period of time.
