March Happenings at the History Center

After significant effort to remain open while undergoing renovation, the History Center building will temporarily close to the public, beginning Tuesday, March 3 and reopen July 15.

Though the building will be closed, work continues for History Center staff. Programming will continue with emphasis on digital and off-site collaborations. Historical inquiries continue to be answered via email and phone, and staff will remain available to review and receive artifact donations.

Please refer to our website www.polkhistorycenter.org and Polk County Government social media channels (links at the bottom) for exhibit updates and other history center news. Call (863) 534-4386 for more information.

Polk County Historical Commission Meeting

2:30 p.m. | March 6

The Polk County Historical Commission and Marker Committee will meet in the County Commission Boardroom on the first floor of the County Administration Building at 330 W. Church St in Bartow. The meetings are open to the public.

Polk County History Center Honors Women's History Month with Bernice W. Lyle Collection

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Polk County History Center has added the Bernice W. Lyle collection to our digital archive platform, CONTENTdm.

Bernice Willard Lyle, a lifelong resident of Bartow, Florida, was born on March 3, 1892. She attended Bartow's Summerlin Institute and graduated with the Class of 1910. During World War I, at the age of 26, Lyle volunteered with the American Red Cross in France.

After the war, she returned to Bartow and served as a teacher for 50 years. In 1977, Lyle was honored with the Award of Meric by the Bartow Rotary Club for her outstanding and continuous service her profession.

The collection includes a mix of early postcards and photographs depicting people and places in and around Bartow, as well as images and postcards from Lyle’s experiences during World War I. It also features postcards received from a former student during the Korean War era. 

Artist Rendering of "Polkodot Girl" from the Citrus Label Tour

We extend our gratitude to artist Leah H. for her fantastic rendering of "Polkodot Girl," featured on the Citrus Label Tour sign at the Polk County History Center. Leah skillfully captured this unique aspect of Polk County's citrus history using a tablet-sized dry-erase board and markers.

The artwork was left as a surprise for the History Center staff on a window ledge in the Polk County Crossroads gallery. Thank you Leah, we love it!

Visit www.polkhistorycenter.org to learn more about the History Center and the Citrus Label Tour of Polk County.

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

Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library

Did you know that you can reach out to the History Center directly for historical inquiries? Struggling to find that one tax record, or curious about a street name or pioneer settler in Polk? Our dedicated library staff are available to help you, even when the History Center is closed to the public. To start your request, contact Research Historian Shannon Graham by phone at (863) 534-4604 or e-mail ShannonGraham@polk-county.net.

The History Center’s extensive artifact and photograph collection are 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.

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