The Sarasota County History Center presents renowned archaeologist Dr. Jerald T. Milanich for the first program in its Fall 2026 Florida History Lecture Series commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.

This presentation explores the history of Florida’s Indigenous peoples and offers a different perspective on the familiar story of 1776. Drawing on evidence from archaeological sites throughout Florida’s Central Gulf Coast, Dr. Milanich will explore the region’s 14,000-year history of American Indian societies. Join us for a closer look at what Florida looked like in the United States’ earliest days, and consider how the experiences of the region’s indigenous inhabitants broaden our understanding of our nation’s history.

The event is free, but registration is required.

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support is provided by the Jacarlene Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, or the Jacarlene Foundation.