Micanopy Historical Society Museum facts for kids
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| Location | 607 Northeast 1st Avenue Micanopy, Florida |
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| Type | History museum |
The Micanopy Historical Society Museum is a cool place in Micanopy, Florida, USA. You can find it at 607 Northeast 1st Avenue. This museum shows off the history of the town. It's also part of the Micanopy Historic District. This district is a special area listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
The Museum's Story
The Micanopy Historical Society started in 1983. This happened after a group finished getting the Micanopy Historic District added to the National Register of Historic Places. John E. Thrasher III was the first president of the society.
How the Museum Began
The museum really got going under its second president, Dr. Robert N. Pierce. The first museum was in a small shop. It was in an area once called "Antique Alley." Members of the historical society worked hard to get the space ready. They designed displays and gathered local history items. This first museum opened in April 1985. Its second display was about William Bartram's time in the area. The museum also showed special exhibits from other museums. These included the Museum of Florida History and the Florida State Museum. The first location also had archives and a gift shop. Because it was small, the town let them use a storage room at the town hall.
Finding a Bigger Home
Under the third president, Dr. Ron Cohen, the search for a larger place began. The Thrasher Warehouse was considered as a new home. In 1986, the historical society received a grant. It was a $500 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This money helped pay for a study. The study looked at if the Thrasher Warehouse could be restored.
The study was completed, and architects drew plans. These plans were shown to the town commission. The commission approved the renovation project. Tom Brady, the museum's chairman, created the development plan. The first ideas were to restore the warehouse. They also planned to add shops and a small restaurant. This big project was divided into three parts. The estimated cost was $250,000.
Phases of Renovation
- Phase I: This part involved cleaning the warehouse. It also meant getting rights to the property. A non-profit group was created for the project. The main goal was to renovate the warehouse to be a museum.
- Phase II: This phase focused on fixing up the other buildings and the outdoor areas.
- Phase III: The last phase was about finishing the museum work.
A state grant of $69,000 helped complete the museum's renovation. The warehouse was restored to look like it did in 1890. Modern updates were added to meet building rules. The front part of the building showed exhibits on Micanopy's history. It also covered the history of North Central Florida. There were plans to ask for another $85,000 state grant. This money would finish the rest of the property's renovations.
Grand Opening
The museum opened to the public in 1991. A group of color guard members marched down Cholokka Boulevard. They wore old military uniforms and led the way to the museum. Alyce Tincher, the historical society president, gave a dedication speech. Tom Brady, the museum chairman, talked about the building's renovation. After a ribbon was cut, people from the community entered the new museum.
The Museum's Location
The Thrasher Warehouse is where the museum is located today. This wooden warehouse was built around 1890. A branch of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad served it until the 1950s. J.E. Thrasher, Sr. first used the building. He stored items for his general store, which opened in 1896. The warehouse was one of three buildings. It held farm equipment, hardware, lumber, and other supplies.
After his store burned in 1911, J.E. Thrasher, Sr. moved his goods to the warehouse. He ran his business from there. This continued until a new brick store building was finished. The Thrasher Warehouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The Archives
The Micanopy Historical Society Archives are on the same property as the museum. They are in a separate building. The archives keep materials about the history of the Micanopy area. You cannot take these materials out of the building. They must be used inside the archives. However, you can get copies of materials for a small fee. Researchers need to register before using the archives.
The archives are open for a few hours once a week. You can also schedule an appointment to visit. They accept donations of documents or photos. These items must be related to Micanopy's history.
