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A Word from Foundation President Rich Russell
The evening of September 28 was a game changer for the Keys History & Discovery Center as we unveiled Stories of the Upper Keys, a massive permanent display (see story below). More than 80 invited guests attended the event and the overwhelming response from attendees was the Discovery Center really looks like a first class museum...and I couldn't agree more! Four years ago, we were blessed to have a vision and a man who could provide the walls needed to make that vision a reality. David Curry provided the space, a 50-year lease and financial support to get started.
Fast-forward to September 2016, an aggressive development plan has resulted in
Stories as well as other permanent exhibits, including
First People/Indians of the Keys
,
Pirates/Wreckers/Salvagers, and
Spanish Treasure Fleets
, as well as a model replica of Indian Key, circa 1840, which was underwritten by local philanthropists Ken and Dee Meeks. The state-of-the-art 35-seat theater opened in May 2015 with help from a grant from the Tourist Development Council. We have 50 Charter Club members who have pledged $500,000 in long-term support, nearly 300 annual memberships at levels from $65-$5,000, and many, many supporters who have taken up some of the many naming opportunities.
Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation, which operates the History & Discovery Center, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization formed in February 2013 by a group of residents who wanted to preserve and share the unique history of the community. The mission of the organization is "to develop and maintain a world-class history & discovery center that will accurately reflect the history of our Florida Keys community in a multi-faceted and interactive environment."
As with most not-for-profits, we rely on donations from individuals and businesses, annual memberships, naming opportunities, and grants. As a young not-for-profit, we are still in the position of need for general operating costs, as well as projects such as additional permanent exhibits, cost of traveling exhibits, and scanning and cataloging artifacts, such as book manuscripts, newspapers and letters.
We hope you will support the Foundation as the Keys History & Discovery Center continues to grow and expand. Donate or join today! Go to www.keysdiscovery.com
or call 305-922-2237, or call me at 305-522-0948 for more details. Thank you!
Richard Russell
President
Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation
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Stories of the Upper Keys Permanent Display
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Here's a peak at the newest permanent exhibit, Stories of the Upper Keys.
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Stories of the Upper Keys is the latest permanent exhibit to be presented by the Keys History & Discovery Center in Islamorada. The most comprehensive and elaborate exhibit developed to date, it encapsulates several significant aspects of our local history. In addition to subjects like Henry Flagler's Over-Sea Railway, the Overseas Highway, and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, the exhibit additionally explores the people who carved niches for themselves and their families from a considerably more inhospitable string of islands than the sub-tropical paradise we live in today.
The exhibit includes storyboards, more than 50 historic images, touchscreen monitors filled with more images and more stories as well as a video component with directional sound focused downward by audio domes in order to reduce the impact on surrounding exhibits. The first video available is an interview with President Herbert Hoover after a fishing excursion from North Key Largo's exclusive Angler's Club.
Also featured in the exhibit are a smattering of artifacts on loan from the Flagler Museum and Upper Keys history guru,
Jerry Wilkinson.
"
Stories of the Upper Keys is presented as seven individual panels spanning roughly 30 feet of wall space" explains the Center's Curator and Historian
Brad Bertelli. "While each of the seven panels is offered as an individual piece and can be appreciated that way, because of the interconnectedness of this collection of panels, the exhibit as a whole tells a larger story."
This massive exhibit was curated by Bertelli, designed by
Bruce Merenda at
Studio B Concepts, fabricated by
S+L Millworks, and made possible through grants and donations from
Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the
Charles G. Wright Endowment for Humanity, and the
Flagler's Folly Society, a member organization of young professionals aimed at meeting the mission of the Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation.
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Curator and Historian Brad Bertelli |
Research Library Nearing Reality, Donations Sought
The Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation received a challenge from a generous donor to raise $15,000 before the end of October that the donor will then match dollar-for-dollar. To date, donations totally $10,050 have been received. Help us reach this goal! Having $30,000 would provide us the capital needed to build-out the Jerry Wilkinson Research Library, something we have been planning for more than two years.
We have a grant award from Monroe County Tourist Development Council that will reimburse us up to $10,000 once the project is complete and we are working with a librarian to assist us to best furnish the research library to fit the various collections we have acquired in the past two years.
As you may know, Jerry Wilkinson is the foremost Upper Keys historian who also serves as an emeritus member on the Foundation's Board of Directors. Jerry has agreed to leave his vast collection, one that he has acquired throughout decades of research, which includes photos, transcripts, artifacts, maps and more. In addition, we have been loaned or gifted with these additional collections:
- The Reporter Newspaper: More than 100 bound copies of the newspapers from the mid-1970s to 2010.
- Author Willie Drye: Manuscript and associated research for the book, Storm of the Century.
- Author Thomas Knowles: Digital files and materials for the book, Category 5.
- The Late Upper Keys Historian Jim Clupper: Boxes and boxes of research, particularly related to prehistoric Indians in the Keys.
We are looking for your help in making the dream of the Jerry Wilkinson Research Library a reality now, not years from now. We are creating a place where interested parties will be able to dig deeper into the rich history of these islands, a place that will allow us to acquire the kind of resources enabling it to become the preeminent source when researching the history of the Upper Keys. It will house newspaper articles, books, magazines, photographs and maps regarding topics pertinent to the Florida Keys with a special emphasis on documents pertaining to the Upper Keys.
Your support is needed! Please considering making a donation today, a donation that will be matched dollar-for-dollar if $15,000 is raised before October 31. Go to our website at http://www.keysdiscovery.com/product/donations
. Thank you!
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Robert the Doll.
Photo credit: Rob ONeal.
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Haunted History:
Robert the Doll Comes to Islamorada
In collaboration with the Key West Art and Historical Society, the one and only
Robert the Doll will be coming to the Keys History & Discovery Center for a night of ghost stories with Key West author and ghost hunter,
David Sloan. Sloan is the foremost authority on the history of the doll and has written the book, Robert the Doll
.
Reportedly the most haunted artifact in the Florida Keys, it is the only one in the island chain with its own Facebook page! The doll was originally given to Robert Eugene Otto on his fourth birthday, October 25, 1904. The birthday boy promptly declared that he would now go by the name Gene and the doll would be named Robert. According to all accounts, Robert and Gene were inseparable. What soon became apparent in the Otto house was that something out of the ordinary was occurring. When Gene was playing with Robert in his room, Gene could be heard having conversations that were accompanied by giggling.
To hear more about the fascinating life of Robert the Doll, come hear David Sloan as he reveals the haunted history of this fascinating doll. After the program, David will be available for a book signing.
Doors to the Discovery Center open at 5 p.m., to allow guests to see current exhibits. Presentation begins at 6 p.m. Members of the Discovery Center are free. Cost for non-members is $25, which includes admission and light appetizers. A cash bar in available. Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made via e-mail at info@keysdiscovery.com
or by calling 305-922-2237.
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Sixth Generation Conch Joins Foundation Board
Erin (Dunn) Muir, a sixth-generation Conch, has joined the Board of Directors of the Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation. Muir is a founding co-chair of Flagler's Folly Society (FFS), a member organization of the Foundation, formed about a year ago to promote the mission to preserve and share the history of the Upper Keys. The membership is geared toward young professionals and those interested in a part philanthropic/part social member organization.
"When Erin approached us about forming a young professionals group to support our efforts and learn more about local history, I knew she was on to something special," said Foundation President
Rich Russell. "Her dedication and passion for her roots exceeds expectations, so it was a natural fit for her to join the Foundation Board."
A graduate of Coral Shores High School, Muir currently serves as the campaign manager for the Campaign to Re-elect State Rep.
Holly Raschein. She has served as legislative aide to Rep. Raschein since 2012. Prior to returning home to Tavernier where she grew up, Muir worked in the not-for-profit field. In addition to the FFS, she is the chair of the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition, an advisory member with the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, founding board member of Elite Dance of the Keys, a trustee of the Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys, and a member of the Mariners Hospital Young Philanthropists of Baptist Health.
She also is a graduate of Leadership Monroe, Class XXIII.
"Volunteering and giving back to my community is a personal priority," said Muir, "Serving on the Foundation Board will further my passion for preserving and sharing the unique history of the Keys and that of the six generations of my family who have been fortunate enough to call the Upper Keys home."
She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the Honors College at the University of Florida. Continuing her education at UF, she received a master's degree in public affairs in 2009. She lives in Tavernier with husband Sam Muir, a nuclear engineer at Turkey Point, and they are expecting their first child in January.
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Florida Keys History and Discovery Foundation, which operates Keys History & Discovery Center, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The Board of Directors is comprised of members of the community who serve voluntarily.
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