You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
Click on your region to discover nearby activities and programs.
Often overlooked in its contribution to film history, Florida has played a key role in creating the modern entertainment industry. This presentation discusses how Florida became a "third coast" to the American film and television industries over the past one hundred years. Starting with the first film pioneers in Jacksonville during the 1900s and 1910s …
Join us at the Amelia Island Museum of History for the opening night launch of two concurrent exhibitions: "Americans" and "Visualizing Indigenous Florida." Based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, "Americans" explores how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the culture of the United States. Running concurrently, the …
Drawing from the concept of ‘spirituality’ and the environmental humanities, this program explores how Floridians can understand the state’s waters within the context of the sacred, the holy, or the divine. By gathering historical outlooks and present-day environmental movements, Dr. Victoria Machado examines the cultural connections Floridians have to water and various environmental practices these …
Journey through more than a century of Florida's history with Florida Humanities Executive Director Nashid Madyun during a discussion on Patrick Smith's A Land Remembered. This novel follows three generations of the MacIvey family as they struggle to survive and prosper in the untamed Florida wilderness. Through cattle drives, frontier hardships, changing landscapes, and the …
From the Ashley Gang to the Devil's Millhopper and the Ghost of Bellamy Bridge, Florida folk culture is brimming with fascinating characters and situations almost too amazing to be true. But are they true? This presentation is a dynamic performance from a master storyteller and professor who brings these legends to life and discusses their …
Many of the events and themes that appeared on a large scale throughout the United States in the years leading up to the Civil War were also evident in Florida during its time as a US Territory, from 1821 to 1845. Told through the use of historic maps, this presentation showcases how Florida was home …
Though not always in the history books, the women who helped build, form, shape, and develop the state have inspired hope and possibility. This presentation highlights stories of strong, courageous women like Julia Tuttle, known as the Mother of Miami, or Mary McLeod Bethune, daughter of enslaved parents who went on to become an advisor …
This presentation takes audiences on a historical journey through the state, featuring performances of songs covering a wealth of historical events, characters, and folklore with in-depth storytelling about Ponce de Leon's voyage to Florida in 1513, Henry Flagler's building of the Florida East Coast Railway, Florida's unique ecosystems, and more. Original songs come from Chris …
Join author Eileen Meyer and artist Dave Szalay at this family program for all ages as they share stories about how they researched, wrote and illustrated the award-winning children's book, THE SUPERLATIVE A. LINCOLN. Our nation's sixteenth president is universally loved and admired. Eileen will offer fresh insights and stories about Abraham Lincoln's life from …
Frank Lloyd Wright is considered by many to be America's greatest architect. Although most of his buildings were constructed in the American Midwest, many Floridians are surprised to learn of his vast work and influence on the state, boasting the Prairies-style buildings east of Illinois. This entertaining program gives the audience an in-depth understanding of …
Florida's schoolchildren chose the panther as the state animal, and a decade later it nearly went extinct. But a ragtag band-some scientists, a veterinarian, and a veteran hunter-banded together to pull off a risky experiment to save them. Craig Pittman is a native Floridian. Born in Pensacola, he graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, …
Some people regard Florida as nothing but the Punchline State because so many weird things happen here. Craig Pittman argues that it is also the greatest state with the greatest impact on other states. In this presentation, based on his hilarious and thought-provoking New York Times bestselling book Oh, Florida!, Mr. Pittman explains how what …
Though not always in the history books, the women who helped build, form, shape, and develop the state have inspired hope and possibility. This presentation highlights stories of strong, courageous women like Julia Tuttle, known as the Mother of Miami, or Mary McLeod Bethune, daughter of enslaved parents who went on to become an advisor …
Florida's schoolchildren chose the panther as the state animal, and a decade later it nearly went extinct. But a ragtag band-some scientists, a veterinarian, and a veteran hunter banded together to pull off a risky experiment to save them. Craig Pittman is a native Floridian. Born in Pensacola, he graduated from Troy State University in …
Join distinguished archaeologist and historian Judith A. Bense for an engaging talk about her book Early Spanish Florida: Unearthing the History of America’s Oldest Colony. Told through the perspectives of the Spanish, Indigenous, and African communities whose interactions reshaped the region, the book highlights the complex cultural exchanges that defined early Florida. With maps, artifact photographs, …
Imago por las Artes is presenting the fourth edition of ENTRELIBROS, South Florida's only free Spanish-language children's book festival, at the Coral Gables Museum from October 14-18, 2026. Children, families, educators, and book lovers are invited to explore "Stories of the City," a theme that examines how children's literature shapes our understanding of place, community, …
This program examines the slow growth of democracy in Florida. Starting in Spanish colonial Florida, Dr. Steve Noll looks at how the actions of political leaders and grass-roots activists have worked to increase the ideas and notions of democracy, a continuing process. Steve Noll is an instructional professor in the University of Florida's history department, …
St. Petersburg is often celebrated for its waterfront, arts, and sunshine, but beneath its modern identity lies a story spanning thousands of years. This Florida Humanities Gathering invites participants to explore the people, places, and ideas that have shaped the city, from Florida's earliest Indigenous communities to the vibrant cultural destination it is today. Through …
Okeechobee Main Street and Okeechobee Historical Society will host the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, "Americans" in the Okeechobee Historical Courthouse from October 17th to December 5th, 2026. The exhibition explores how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the history, popular culture and identity of the United States. The exhibition will be open at the Historic Courthouse, …
Join us on October 17th at the Okeechobee Historical Courthouse for the opening of "Americans." Based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, "Americans" explores how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the culture of the United States. Opening day activities are hosted by the Okeechobee Historical Society, Okeechobee …
