Category: History

Museum Collections Revealed

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The Museum of Florida History and Florida Historic Capitol Museum is hosting a special event to showcase special works. The Unseen: Museum Collections Revealed will be held only on July 20th and August 17th. The special events will give guests a one-hour private tour featuring works usually not displayed to the public. The tour will also show guests the behind-the-scenes of museum curation: see how items are collected, processed, and cared for. These tours are open to only 10 guests per date; advance registration is required. Click here to reserve your spot. 

Greenwood: A Gorgeous Place to Call Home

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The Town of Greenwood was established in 1824, though the area was settled earlier. A charming small town, it remains a largely historic Antebellum community. Incorporated in 1927, Greenwood is a burgeoning town that offers a peaceful atmosphere. The town has a rich history, especially in regard to the Civil War. For instance, in 1853, Greenwood attracted national attention when a slave managed to injure a plantation owner. After failing to escape, he chose to take his own life by diving headfirst down a well rather than be captured, whipped as punishment, and returned to slavery. The incident was widely publicized by abolitionist editors as evidence of the cruelty of slavery. 

Greenwood is also home to seven homes and one store that are eligible for the National Registry. The store, Pender Store, is open for business to this day. Many of the homes can be viewed from State Highway 71. Additionally, Greenwood is close to a number of parks such as Torreya State Park, Florida Caverns State Park, and Falling Waters State Park. Visit Greenwood or move here today!

4th of July (2023)

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Happy Fourth of July!

Also known as Independence Day, the 4th of July has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. The celebration itself goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. Congress made it a federal holiday in 1870. The 1870 provision expanded to grant paid holiday leave to all federal employees in 1941. Nowadays, people celebrate with food, friends, family, and fireworks! Be sure to celebrate safely; never leave animals or children unattended when setting off fireworks, have a water hose on hand for accidents, and don’t play with fire if you’re drinking alcohol. Have a lovely holiday!

Father’s Day 2023

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Happy Father’s Day! Did you know that Father’s Day wasn’t declared a national holiday until 1972? It was first introduced to Congress in 1913 but failed to gain tractor or public favor for quite some time. Public opinion scoffed at the idea of celebrating fathers as they did mothers – there was a perceived softness to mothers that the culture of the time didn’t associate with the more stoic, reserved role of fatherhood. In fact, former President Woodrow Wilson once referred to Mother’s Day as a way to recognize “that tender, gentle army – the mothers of America.”

Father’s Day gained traction in part because of the advocacy of Grace Golden Clayton and Sonora Smart Dodd. The Great Depression and World War II pushed Father’s Day into the cultural consciousness and helped the day become commercially important. Additionally, the changing roles of fathers clinched the deal for Father’s Day; the modern role of a father is growing evermore removed from its historical roots. Now, the day is spent celebrating fathers and father figures who provide critical support during a child’s life. There is a growing field of study showing the direct and indirect effects of fathers on children’s well-being. 

Pride Month

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It’s Pride Month! Celebrated annually in June to commemorate its roots in the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, this is a time to not only celebrate the LGBTQ+ community but learn about the dangers facing the community today and identify ways to help. 

by Jonel Art

Pride started as a riot; in June 1969, the NYPD violently raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. This sparked six days of protests and riots in the area as the community fought back against the unfair oppression. The riots elevated what was considered a fringe culture to the front-page news. A year later, activists in New York marched through Manhattan to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots – this was the first Pride celebration.

Pride Month was officially recognized as a national event in 2000(1). Despite an increase in anti-LGBT laws sweeping through Florida in the last few months, those who haven’t fled the state for their safety are determined to celebrate and create a space of acceptance and support. Here are some LGBTQ+ events to take part in this month:

  • PensaPride Festival (June 24th) at Cordova Square Park, 1100 E. Brainerd St.
  • Bay Pride Fest (June 10th) at McKenzie Park, 36 Oak Ave
  • Tallahassee Pride Events

Moss Hill Methodist Church

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The Moss Hill Methodist Church is a historic site located near Vernon in Washington County, Florida. It is a wooden church built in 1857 using slave labor. Services are held in the church to this day, although modern conveniences such as electricity are still missing from the structure. Moss Hill was founded as a Methodist Misson soon after Florida joined the USA. The church was a centerpiece for life in the surrounding communities during the Civil War. Some of the congregation died in the war and were memorialized by markers in the Moss Hill Cemetary. The cemetery and church grounds are open to the public daily; visit to view the historic marker on the grounds that provides a brief history of the historic structure. 

Florida’s First Commercial Oil Well

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Did you know that Washington County is home to one of the first commercial oil wells ever drilled in Florida? In 1919, a string of wells was dug in eastern Washington County by independent oil seekers following a rumor of oil beneath the hills. One such well was dug at what is now Falling Waters State Park. It was a remarkable achievement, reaching a depth of 3,900 feet – an astonishing feat given the technology of the time and the location of the hole. While there was a brief moment of hope when the drillers found a pocket of natural gas, the well ultimately failed to produce anything of use and was capped. 

A few decades after drilling had ended, a cow fell into one of the sludge pits. The event was covered by multiple newspapers, leading to an outcry of public concerns about the “dangers” of the site. International Paper, then-owners of the land the well was on, ended up passing the deed to the land to Washington County. This land is at the center of the now-established Falling Waters State Park. While the well was unproductive for commercial oil quantities, it did eventually lead to a wonderful treasure for the people of Washington County and the wildlife of the area. 

Visit Falling Waters today to see the old oil well along the park’s nature trail, just around the bend after Florida’s tallest waterfall! 

Arbor Day 2023

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Arbor Day 2023 is coming this Friday, April 28th! Arbor Day, literally translating to ‘Tree Day,’ is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees, forests, and old-growth forests. The first Arbor Day as it is recognized in the USA was held in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, and has since grown into a national holiday (circa 1970) and has even gained international recognition (circa 1883). 

Prior to the introduction of Arbor Day to the United States, the first historical celebration that aligns with the ideals of ‘Arbor Day’ was celebrated in 1594. In the Spanish village of Mondoñedo, the first documented arbor plantation festival was successfully organized by the mayor of the town. Clearly, the celebration of trees has been a cultural cornerstone for hundreds of years. It is estimated that the celebration on April 10, 1872 culminated in hundreds of thousands of trees being planted. 

Want to celebrate Arbor Day? Consider:

  • Planting a tree
  • Create art celebrating trees
  • Build/purchase something made from recycled wood
  • Sponsor/adopt a tree in need
  • Participate in ‘tree care’ (mulching, pruning, and watering)
  • Visit a local park/state park
  • Read Arbor Day’s Celebration Ideas list for more suggestions

National Pet Day 2023

Debbie Roney Smith on
Duke, one of Debbie’s furry family members.

Today is National Pet Day! Founded by Colleen Paige in 2006, it’s an annual opportunity to celebrate our animal friends. Paige is an animal welfare advocate and pet-and-family lifestyle expert who wanted to bring attention to the growing needs of many unhoused pets who are waiting to be adopted from shelters.

One of many sweet kitties who live with Debbie.

These animals include more than the standard dogs and cats; rabbits, pigs, birds, and many reptiles are often taken in by shelters or rescue organizations. The phrase “Don’t Shop! Adopt!” is the holiday’s motto. Celebrate National Pet Day by doing your furry family member(s) favorite things, volunteering at an animal welfare organization, or donating resources to no-kill shelters or rescue centers in your area. 

JD, one of Debbie’s furry family members.

Abe Springs

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Abe Springs was the seat of government for Calhoun County from 1849 to 1880. It was the location of a nationally infamous jail that was used so rarely that the county rented it out as a corn crib (a granary used to dry and store corn). Abe Springs is now an unincorporated community in Calhoun County. The seat of government was moved to Blountstown in 1880 after the courthouse at Abe Springs Bluff burned down. The historical marker for the old courthouse was erected in 1993 by The Florida Department of State. Learn more about Calhoun County’s history by visiting this blog about the genealogy and history of the county.