Polk County Historical Museum – Bartow, Florida
Florida is filled with beautiful places to see and things to do and one of the beautiful places is a stop at the Polk County Historical Museum. The Museum is in the Old Polk County Courthouse. The building that is now the museum was actually the third courthouse for the area. The first one was an old farmhouse that was sold for $100 after a decade of use to make room for the next construction. The second courthouse was a wood frame structure completed in 1883-84 for a cost of $9,000 It was used for nearly a quarter of a century but was dismantled and deserted in 1908 when worry about fire and the need for more space took precedence to the “old one.”
The building that stands today as the Museum was built between 1908 and 1909 for a cost of $83,890. The museum houses collections of natural and cultural objects that relate to Polk County and the greater Central Florida area. The displays range from pre-Colombian to present day eras. The artifacts on display represent individuals, cultural groups, and events significant to the region. They might be fossils, hand-made personal items, clothing, art, tools, agricultural equipment, military objects, communication objects or household and science objects. They tell the story of the past and bring you to the present.
The Museum doesn’t just display the items, it also has educational programs that feature a variety of subjects specific to Polk County, Florida. The displays are attractively shown with the variety of things for you to see including an old post office, murals, weapons from the past and so much more. You will learn a great deal with a visit to this museum.
Not only is it filled with interesting items but the building itself is a beautiful piece of architecture welcoming you to Bartow.
Admission to the museum is free.
Hours:
- Tuesday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Saturday 9:00am – 3:00pm
- Closed Sundays, Mondays and all major holidays.
The museum will also be CLOSED on the additional days listed below:
- November 11 – Veteran’s Day Observance
- Thursday & Friday, November 24 & 25 – Thanksgiving
- Friday & Saturday, December 23 & 24 – Christmas Holidays
Address:
100 East Main Street
Bartow, Florida 33830
Phone:
863-534-4386
Email: Myrtice Young, Historic Preservation Manager: myrticeyoung@polk-county.net
or
museum@polk-county.net
If you want to donate items to the museum, call or email them for more information.
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