Dunedin History Museum

Dunedin History Museum

The Dunedin History Museum is a local history museum located in downtown Dunedin in the U.S. state of Florida. Founded in 1970,[1] the museum is housed in a former railroad depot built by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1924. The former rail line that serviced the depot, originally built by the Orange Belt Railway in 1888 and last used for a series of special excursion trips from nearby Tarpon Springs and back on March 8, 1987, was converted into a section of the Pinellas Trail in the 1990s.[2] The museum contains 2,000 artifacts, 2,500 photographs, and a library of books that convey a great deal of information on Dunedin's past. It also houses permanent exhibits about Honeymoon Island, local life, the founding of Dunedin, the military presence in the town, Florida railroads, and the citrus industry.[3] The museum provides special programming for local schools as well as the general population.

Permanent exhibits

Photograph of railroad artifacts in Dunedin Historical Museum

Florida Railroad

This exhibit provides information on the development and usage of the railroads through newspaper clippings, posters, and photographs.

Citrus Industry

Patrons can witness the full story of the creation of the citrus industry, usage of the railroads, and the creation of juice concentrate through photographs, images, artifacts and newspaper clippings.

Honeymoon Island

The full background story of this famous vacation destination is portrayed through artifacts, videos, photographs, and newspaper clippings. It discusses the first inhabitant, Henry Sharrer, and his daughter Myrtle Scharrer Betz. The exhibit gives details of life on the island for Myrtle, and then later on after the Hurricane that divided Caladesi Island into North and South.

Local Life & the Founding of Dunedin

Artifacts, photographs, and newspaper clippings provide a testament to the founding of Dunedin and the life of its growing population from the nineteenth century onward. It gives information on the city's Scottish heritage.[4]

Military

This exhibit provides some information on the military base that closed in 1944 and its development of the Alligator, an amphibious tractor originally used to rescue victims of Florida hurricanes. The Alligator was later worked on to help World War II efforts.[5]

Past exhibits

Back of the depot building.

May 2015, Victorious: Dunedin, Pinellas County, and World War II[6][7]

June 2014, Comics: The Superpowered History[8]

January 2013, The Smithsonian Institution's Journey Stories[9][10]

Partnerships

Dunedin History Museum has close-knit involvement with the community, especially with the Dunedin Public Library, just a mile down the road. The library houses a designated area for two exhibits: one for the Dunedin Historical Museum and one for the Armed Forces History Museum.

It is also partnered with the San Jose Catholic Church and local K-12 schools.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dunedin Historical Society, Inc. "Letter from the Director" (PDF). Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ Luisi 2010, p. 116.
  3. ↑ "Dunedin Historical Museum". Dunedin: Home of Honeymoon Island. City of Dunedin, FL. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Our History". Dunedin: Chamer of Commerce. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ "The Evening Independent". Google Books. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Victorious: Dunedin, Pinellas County and World War II". Dunedin Museum. Dunedin Historical Museum. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ Majchrowicz, Michael (June 25, 2015). "Dunedin Historical Museum exhibit helps patrons understand local life at end of WWII". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  8. ↑ Reeves, Terri Bryce (June 4, 2014). "Comic book superheroes assemble at Dunedin Historical Museum". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Exhibit Title". Dunedin Historical Museum. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  10. ↑ Reeves, Terri Bryce (January 31, 2015). "Smithsonian's 'Journey Stories' in Dunedin explores America's travels". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 16, 2015.

Bibliography

  • Luisi, Vincent (2010), Railroading in Pinellas County (1st ed.), Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 978-0-7385-8550-5

Coordinates: 28°00′42″N 82°47′20″W / 28.01154°N 82.78884°W / 28.01154; -82.78884

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