If you have visited the Museum lately I'm sure you have noted that big changes are underway. Not in the Museum but to the neighborhood in which it resides. The old fire station behind us has a new roof and is undergoing renovations to house a local optometrist's office. The property to our North is undergoing infrastructure work preparing for the commercial and residential development that is projected for the coming years. The New Smyrna Beach Farmers Market which is located between City Hall and Old Fort Park has become a fixture of Saturday mornings and is visited by hundreds each week. At the Northeast corner of Riverside and North Causeway on the old Food Lion site another new development is under way which will provide 100+ more residential condos all within walking distance of the Canal Street shopping & dining district and our wonder New Smyrna Museum of History.
As we have continued to grow, so have the communities that have entrusted us with preserving their history.
Watching the way things were transition into being the way things are, can be unsettling for those of us that appreciate the past. However this increase in population density can provide a potential boost to the future of our organization and Museum.
Looking ahead at 2016 and beyond I'm excited at the possibilities and challenges that we face as an organization and museum facility in a growing community. New neighbors are potentially new supporters and a new audience to appreciate the rich history that comes with living in such a spectacular location that has been sought by people for hundreds of years.
I hope to see you at 6:30 on Dec. 17th at the Museum for our annual Christmas get together with the Harmony Soundwaves. If not, have a wonder Christmas and Holiday Season, we look forward to seeing you at the Museum soon!
Greg Holbrook
President
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Sestercentennial Celebration 2018
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| I know it's hard to believe but New Smyrna Beach will be celebrating its 250th birthday in 2018! That's right in 1768 the Smyrnea Settlement became active with over 1,250 Minorcans, Greeks, and others. Despite the difficulties they encountered and the ultimate failure of the settlement New Smyrna Beach is today a thriving and prosperous city. In 2018 the New Smyrna Museum of History is going to help produce an event to commemorate our long history here. While we have a committee chair and have had a couple of brainstorming sessions it's time to really start the planning. Would you like to be a part of this committee and help bring one of the biggest events ever to New Smyrna Beach? Whether you are a leader, a follower or a bit of both we need you and your ideas. If you would like to be a part please contact Robert at the museum. He will gather and pass along your contact information so that you can be kept up to date on future planning meetings. Let's make our Sestercentennial an event that is talked about for years to come! |
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River of History
Cruise
Wednesdays @ 10am
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Every Wednesday at 10 am in coordination with
Ponce Inlet Watersports the museum offers a River of History cruise on the Intracoastal Waterway. The tour leaves Ponce Inlet and heads south, reaching the marina area before returning north. Along the way learn the history of various locations along the river such as the Coast Guard station, the Rock House, the
Riverview Hotel, a history of the north bridge, the railroad, the Dummett family, the
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, and more. Every tour is different. Also, learn from the boat captain about native wildlife. If you are lucky you will see dolphin, manatee, and other creatures of the wild. If the tides are right you will stop on one of the islands in the waterway and search for shells. Tours last approximately two hours.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, children age 5-10 are $10, and children under 5 are free. Reservations are required! Call Ponce Inlet Watersports at 386-405-3445 for reservations and further information. Tours are dependent upon weather and a minimum number of bookings.
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Museum hours:
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday ~ Saturday
Admission by donation.
120 Sams Avenue
New Smyrna Beach
386-478-0052
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| Special Holiday and Season Hours |
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In order to allow our volunteers to spend time with their friends and families the museum will have special holiday hours.
Christmas: The museum will be closed from December 24 through December 28. We will reopen on December 29 at 10am.
New Year's: The museum will be closed from December 31 through January 4. We will reopen on January 5 at 10am.
Beginning Sunday, January 10 through April 11, 2016 the museum will have extended seasonal hours. Our hours will be Sunday 1pm-4pm and Monday through Saturday 10am-4pm.
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| History Book Club Thursday, December 3, 2pm |
The museum is proud to present local authors Ron and Alice Howell. They will be focusing on their book The Grand Hotel Ormond on the Halifax River, Ormond, Florida. This discussion will include a video, a PowerPoint presentation and also a follow up about their writing of seven different books on local history. Books will be available for purchase and signing. These would make a wonderful holiday gift for the person interested in local history. This event is free and open to the public!
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| Community Museum Meeting Thursday, December 17, 6:30pm |
The December meeting is our annual Christmas party which includes good friends and good food. Entertainment will be provided by the Harmony Sound Waves. Refreshments will be provided. The event is free and open to the public.
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| Christmas - December 25th Find the Perfect Gift! |
Looking for beautiful and memorable Christmas gifts? Look no further than the Museum store. Books, note cards, T-shirts, hats and more. Museum members receive a 10% discount.
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January 7th - February 10th
ACA 40th Anniversary Exhibit |
Retrospective Exhibit ~ 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of Images: A Festival of the Arts. The museum is proud to host an exhibit from the
Atlantic Center for the Arts honoring this tremendous community event. Come and see the history of this festival from its humble beginnings to the world-class event it has become.
The museum will be open special hours during the festival to coincide with the event.
January 29th-we will be open until 5pm
January 30th-9am-5pm
January 31st- 10am-4pm
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Hannah Bonnet Walking Tours
January 13th - April 15th - 2016 |
It's time to dust off your walking shoes and take a tour with "Hannah Bonnet" the first female mayor of New Smyrna Beach. Museum volunteer Barbara Zafuto will offer these informative tours January 13 through April 15, 2016. On Wednesdays tour the Old Fort Park area, Fridays tour the Canal Street Historic District, and on Saturdays tour the Flagler Avenue area including backstreets. Wednesday and Friday tours leave the museum at 10:30 and on Saturday meet at the Riverview Hotel lobby for a 10:30 departure.
Please click here for more information.
Tours cost $10 per person or $8 for museum members so be sure to show your membership card when purchasing your tickets. Barbara generously donates all tour proceeds to the museum.
Call the museum at 386-478-0052 for further information or to reserve your preferred date.
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| Community Museum Meeting Thursday, January 21, 2016 ~ 6:30pm |
Our annual banquet is always a tremendous event and this year will be no exception. John Mann, the lead tour guide and docent at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, will be giving a presentation on the three lighthouses of Volusia County. If you didn't know there have been three you should make plans to attend and learn about them. This event will be held at the Sugar Mill Country Club. The cost of the event and meal will be $25. The menu will consist of a buffet meal including a chicken or fish dish, a side, and a salad. Dessert and coffee will be available as well. Please make your reservations at the museum. Reservations may be paid by cash, check, or credit card. Thank you to volunteers Judy Burrows and Jan Fox for helping to coordinate this event.
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History Book Club
January 22, 2016 ~ 11am
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Dr. James Clark from the University of Central Florida will be on hand to discuss his newest book; Hidden History of Florida. The event will be sponsored by
Arcadia Publishing.
Florida has a history as diverse as its residents and much of that is still hidden. Since the arrival of the Spanish in 1513, the state has played host to strange stories: a heartbroken senator entered a mental institution over unrequited love for an heiress, thousands of British pilots trained in flight schools across the state, and the true, and darker, story of Pocahontas is linked with the "first barbecue." Come hear about these and more!
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| January 30, 2016 ~ 10:30am Bronco Charlie & the Pony Express New Smyrna Beach Public Library |
In our first event co-produced with the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library we are proud to present David Wordell and his presentation on Bronco Charlie: Rider of the Pony Express. This presentation is a combination of video and audio and promises to be fascinating to anybody interested in United States history. Bronco Charlie Miller began his Pony Express career at age 11 and later in life was a regular with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. In his youth Mr. Wordell met Charlie during the rider's later years and has since researched the Pony Express and Charlie in particular. Bronco Charlie died at age 105. This event is free and open to the public and will be held at the New Smyrna Beach Public Library. Thank you to volunteer Judy Burrows and librarian Charlyn Hill for their help in coordinating this event.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Richard Lipinski
Memberships can be purchased
on-line.
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