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The Importance of Our Mission

History Fort Lauderdale, formerly Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, believes that a sense of history is fundamental to understanding human experience, and therefore, collects, preserves, and shares material from our community’s past, so present and future generations can comprehend more fully their predecessors, their community and themselves.

With education as the primary focus, we offer public lectures and workshops; publish teacher resource materials; arrange school and general group tours and activities; support scholarly research through significant research assistance; maintain a 1907 house museum and three other 1905 historic structures, and a museum of changing and permanent exhibitions, and operate a research center that has functioned uninterrupted since 1962. 

Mission Statement

History Fort Lauderdale brings the stories of our diverse community to life through educational experiences, cultural exhibits, research, and preservation for future generations.

The Need for the Study of History

In August 2005, Washington Post columnist David Broder wrote about a hearing convened by Senators Lamar Alexander and Ted Kennedy to air their concerns about what they called “U.S. History: Our Worst Subject?” Alexander reported that, “according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly referred to as ‘the nation’s report card,’ fewer students have just a basic understanding of American History than have a basic understanding of any other subject which we teach including math, science and reading.” Alexander added that our children don’t know American history because they are not being taught it, noting that the Florida legislature had recently passed a bill permitting students to graduate from high school without taking a single U. S. history course.

History Fort Lauderdale focuses on teaching history. We use local history as a microscope for learning American and world history. For, example, we can show the impact of national events such as the Great Depression and other economic developments such as the expansion of railroads upon a community. We can demonstrate what the World Wars meant to a community and what courage individuals found in themselves and what sacrifices that families were called upon to make. We bring history home, close and personal. The Society’s Fort Lauderdale History Center and its museums provide a wider window to the world for the 3,000 students who participate in our programs and for all of the adults and families who come here each year. While they are learning local history, they also are absorbing the values and cultural attributes intrinsic to the American experience.

History Fort Lauderdale Staff

Patricia Zeiler, Executive Director
Ellery Andrews, Deputy Director & Education
Kamal Khan, Operations Manager
Cindy Lull, Outreach & Sponsorship Coordinator
Beth McGowan, Finance Director
Ellen Uguccioni, Historic Preservation
Val Nix, Membership
Margaret Miller, Librarian
Betty-Joan Alvarez, Research Assistant
DeAngelo McCray, Maintenance Supervisor
Daniel Smith, Facilities

Curation/Collections

Rodney Dillon, Historian & Supervising Curator
Ellery Andrews, Collections Management
Sheila Brew, Collections & Exhibit Preparator
Nora Pinell-Hernandez, Exhibit Designer

Historians/Authors-in-Residence

Roberto Fernandez, Historian & Woodlawn Cemetery Project
Patrick Scott, JD, Historian/Writer
John Bailey, Historian/Writer

Send inquiries. 

The Frame Studio

History Fort Lauderdale
Board of Trustees

Erin Farrington Finlen, President
Katherine Lochrie, Vice President
Art Bengochea,
Vice President
Melinda Bowker, Treasurer
Zachary Bazara, Secretary
Patrick Scott, Immediate Past President
Greg Brewton, Trustee
Mike Capovani
, Trustee
Patience Cohn, Trustee
Ann Denison, Trustee
Robert Golden, Trustee
Carol Henderson, Trustee
Abby Laughlin, Trustee
Patricia Rathburn, Trustee
Audrey Ring, Trustee
Matt Sacco, Trustee
Ben Sorensen, Trustee
Christine Vergari, Trustee
Gordon “Ollie” Wareham, Trustee
Patricia Glasco West, Trustee
Gloria Wetherington, Trustee
Patricia Zeiler, Executive Director

  • Home
  • About
  • Events/News
    • Paradise Under Palmettos
    • Take PRIDE! 2025
    • Lauderdale Living
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Museum Campus
    • Collections
    • Field Trips
    • Group Tours
    • Historical Walking Tour
    • Volunteer
    • Accessibility Chart
    • Exhibits
    • Artists In Residence
      • Constance Ivana
      • Florencia Clement De Grandprey
      • Jenna Ross
      • Stephanie McMillan
  • Venue Information
    • Wedding Venue
    • Rental Pricing
    • Preferred Vendors List
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Shop
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To purchase admission or RSVP for a tour visit us at:

231 SW 2nd Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

CALL US!

954-463-4431

EMAIL:

info@historyfortlauderdale.org

 

MUSEUM
OPERATING HOURS

7 Days a Week
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Guided Tours

Docent guided tours –
daily at 1, 2 & 3 pm
Walking tours – available upon special request

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FREE admission to individuals and families presenting a SNAP EBT card and a valid form of photo ID.

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