January Happenings at the History Center

Learn about the exciting events and programs happening throughout the month!

The History Center is closed Jan. 1, 2025

in observance of New Years Day

Preservation Work at the History Center

Important preservation work continues on the exterior windows of the historic Old Polk County Courthouse. The ongoing work will necessitate that a limited number of exhibitions be closed for extended periods. The History Center is scheduled to remain open for normal operating hours. Exhibit availability may vary based on the progression of the preservation work. Call (863) 534-4386 if you have questions about specific exhibitions.

Polk Place

Curator of Education Jayme Jamison joins host Bryan Lacey on Polk Place to go over the events and programs happening in January.

Upcoming Events & Programs

Oak Hill Cemetery Tour

Jan. 4, 9 a.m.

Join our curator of education on a walking tour of the historic Oak Hill Cemetery in Bartow. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2003, the cemetery is awash with the memory of Polk pioneers beneath a canopy of live oak trees. The tour starts at the History Center with a short walk of approximately one mile and includes historic landmarks along the route to the cemetery. Cemetery tours are offered the first Saturday of every month, October through April.

Note: The cemetery ground is uneven and visitors are advised to wear appropriate footwear.

Architectural Tour

Jan. 18, 11 a.m.

Join Bartholomew Delcamp, Curator of Collections, as he portrays historic courthouse architect E.C. Hosford on an architectural tour of the History Center. Discover the neoclassical architectural elements that Hosford incorporated in the design that define this iconic Polk County landmark. The tour occurs at 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month.

This month, we focus on the Greco-Roman columns that are representative of the Beaux Arts influence in the original design

Genealogy Speaker Series

Jan. 25, 10 a.m.

Eire Online: Irish Resources for the Casual Researcher

Presented by Tina Beaird

Join the Polk County History Center for this month's Genealogy Speaker Series. This month we welcome Tina Beaird, owner of Tamarack Genealogy, as she presents how to research your Irish roots with online resources.

Tina is the genealogy and local history librarian at a Chicago area public library. She holds a Masters degree in Library and Information Science with a specialization in Archives/Preservation from Dominican University.

This is a virtual program. The presenter will appear virtually. Guests are invited to participate via Zoom. For Zoom details, please contact Research and Genealogy Historian Shannon Graham at (863) 534-4604 or ShannonGraham@polk-county.net.

Stay up to date on meetings and events happening within Polk County.

Polk County Calendar

aerial view of Polk County History Center

Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library

Stop by the History Center to use the vast historical resources of the library to discover your family history. Learn about the towns and families that made this area flourish through a selection of materials related to the history of Polk County and the entire southeast United States. Polk County resources include newspapers, aerial photographs, city directories, property tax rolls, cemetery records and more. Visitors also have free access to Ancestry.com. Contact the library at (863) 534-4604 if you have any questions.

The History Center’s extensive artifact and photograph collection are now available on our website. Visit www.polkhistorycenter.org, select “Historical Museum Collection” and use the keyword search feature.

Digital Collections Online

The Polk County History Center's collection features a variety of materials – documents, photographs, maps, audio/visual media and three-dimensional items. These items are accessible to the public digitally through our inventory database and through specially curated digital albums via CONTENTdm.

To access the digital albums, click here.
Access the extensive artifact and photograph collection inventory by visiting www.polkhistorycenter.org and selecting “Historical Museum Collection.” You can use the keyword search feature.

Each week a different vintage photograph from the History Center's archives is featured on our social media pages. Check it out and see if you recognize any places or faces.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Polk County Government Facebook

Polk County Instagram

Parks & Recreation Facebook

Polk County History Center

100 E. Main St., Bartow, FL 33830

(863) 534-4386

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

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