Phone +1 727-736-1176 | ||
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Address 349 Main St, Dunedin, FL 34698, USA Hours Closed now Tuesday10AM–4PMWednesday10AM–4PMThursday10AM–4PMFriday10AM–4PMSaturday10AM–4PMSundayClosedMondayClosed Similar Edgewater Park, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Pinellas Trail, National Armed Services, Caladesi Island State Park Profiles | ||
Dunedin historical museum smithsonian exhibit promo
The Dunedin Historical Museum is a local history museum located in downtown Dunedin in the U.S. state of Florida. Founded in 1970, 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. 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. Managed and maintained by the Dunedin Historical Society, the museum provides special programming for local schools as well as the general population.
Contents
History museum statues
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.
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.
Past exhibits
May 2015, Victorious: Dunedin, Pinellas County, and World War II
June 2014, Comics: The Superpowered History
January 2013, The Smithsonian Institution's Journey Stories
Partnerships
Dunedin Historical 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.