Florida Pioneer Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Florida Pioneer Museum
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 Location in Florida
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| Location | 0.5 mi. S of Lucy St. on FL 27 (Krome Ave.), Florida City, Florida |
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| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Henry Morrison Flagler |
| Architectural style | Philippine Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000574 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
The Florida Pioneer Museum is a cool place in Florida City, Florida, United States. It shows what life was like for early settlers and Native Americans in the area. The museum started in 1962. It got its first items from Dr. Herbert S. Zim, who gave Native American artifacts. A group of local women also donated tools.
On August 14, 1973, the museum building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site. The main museum building was once a home for a train station agent. It was built way back in 1904. In the mid-1960s, the house was moved to its current spot. It was then turned into a museum about the local history.
The land for the museum was given by Henry and Jacqueline Brooker. Henry was one of the first settlers in Florida City. He moved there in 1907. Jacqueline was the daughter of Bryan H. Edwards, an early mayor of Florida City.
There's also an old train depot building behind the museum. It was saved from being torn down by people who loved local history. This depot was moved to the museum's site in 1976. The Torcise family donated the land for it. Sadly, Hurricane Andrew badly damaged the depot in 1992. The museum helped rebuild it using old drawings. The depot is now owned by Florida City, not the museum itself.
Museum History
The Florida East Coast Railway built two small houses in 1904. These were the very first buildings in Homestead. They were homes for railroad workers. One was for the section foreman, and the other for the station agent. These houses were built two years before the railway started building tracks in the area.
Henry M. Flagler, who helped settle South Florida, designed these homes. He made them in a "Philippine style." This style was perfect for the warm Florida weather.
The Museum's Home
On February 6, 1964, one of these houses was moved to Florida City. Henry and Jackie Brooker Jr. donated the land for it. Henry's father was one of the first three men to live in Florida City around 1911-1912. Moving the house saved it from being destroyed. It then became the home of the Florida Pioneer Museum.
People in the community saw a need for a place to keep local historical items. With help from the Homestead Women's Club, the Pioneer Museum was created in this house. Louise Hamilton was the first president of the museum. Bea Peskoe was the vice president until 1970.
The museum's collection started with a gift from Herbert S. Zim. He was an author of nature guides. He gave many Native American artifacts. Other people donated old tools, shells, and items used by pioneer families. There are also railroad items and household goods. On August 14, 1973, the museum building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Train Depot
In 1976, the Florida East Coast Railway planned to tear down an old train depot. It was on their property in Homestead. A group of local leaders raised $25,000 to stop this. They wanted to move the depot to the land behind the Florida Pioneer Museum.
In 1988, another $200,000 was spent to fix up the depot. But in 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed it. The train depot you see on the property today is a new version. It looks just like the original one.
The City of Florida City now owns the museum. The Florida Pioneer Museum Association helps run it.
