February 2023
N E W S L E T T E R
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The New Smyrna Museum of History and Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum are excited to announce this special event scheduled for Thursday, February 9th at the Brannon Center.
Gary Monroe has been the primary voice about the Highwaymen since 2001, when the University Press of Florida released his book, The Highwaymen: Florida’s African-American Landscape Painters. His writings and talks set the stage for appreciation of their art and its meanings. The Highwaymen’s story is ultimately one of transcendence; their artworks are imbued with what great art realizes–a sense of grace.
As their paintings re-emerged a cultural phenomenon was born. Gary Monroe identified the 26 Highwaymen as part of his years-long research and, based on his nomination, The Highwaymen were inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004.
Gary Monroe’s PowerPoint-assisted talk about the Highwaymen is engaging, entertaining and factual, as so much of what is said about the artists is inaccurate. Mr. Monroe brings an artist’s sensibility to looking at the paintings and is piqued by a native Floridian’s insights. He contextualizes the Highwaymen’s art in the Jim Crow South during Florida’s optimistic space-age years. He discusses the Sunshine State as a place to reinvent one’s self during the postwar boom, and explains how these paintings complimented this American dream sentiment. He talks about the artists individually and collectively, describing their modus operandi and how it led to their unique aesthetic. The paintings, he argues, realized a fresh contribution to American landscape painting, challenging the genre’s academic tradition and why they will find their way into fine arts museums.
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For Tickets Visit:
General Admission: $15
Museum Members: $10
Active members of the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum and New Smyrna Museum of History are eligible for the members ticketing rate.
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History Walking Tours continue through Thursday, April 27th 2023
Here is a list of this year's tour selections.
Tuesdays - "The Three Downtowns of Old New Smyrna" Explore multiple areas that started to become the town center for New Smyrna beginning with the Smyrnea' Settlement of 1768 through the arrival of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway.
Wednesdays - "Central Historic District"
Visit multiple local historic landmark buildings as well as sites where New Smyrna's first residents made their homes.
Thursdays - "Old Coronado Beach and Flagler Ave."
Discover a tomb in the middle of the street and a WWII watchtower site as you explore the story of the community formerly known as Coronado Beach. This tour will meet and depart from the South Pine Parking Lot on Flagler Ave.
General Admission - $15
Seniors (65+), Students & Military - $10
Museum Members - $5
Sign up for a tour today:
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Greg Holbrook
Executive Director
New Smyrna Museum of History
The new year seems to bring a flurry of activity here at the museum, and with our history partners here in the Volusia County area. As the event season continues we continue to work on projects to preserve and maintain our local landmark museum facility.
One project that we are excited to be wrapping up this year is our Echo grant project. We used the grant to add a lift to our second floor, and improve the exterior resilience and cosmetic appeal of our facility by adding stucco and impact window to the north side of the building. Part of the overall scope of work for the project also called for running a waterline to the north side of the building to service future landscaping. Thanks to Rodney Hesselton and Sun Splash Nursery, right here in New Smyrna Beach, we now have our landscaping project complete and available water to keep our plants happy. Our project continues with two more new impact windows and two impact rated doors to be added to the west end of the museum in the coming months which will close it out.
Already discussions are underway for what's next here at the museum. Thanks to not only our supporters but also the citizens of Volusia County for continuing to support the ECHO program. This citizen taxpayer support provides a program that can be integrated into future planning and development for many cities and organizations in our area.
We hope to see you soon here at the New Smyrna Museum of History.
Greg Holbrook
Executive Director
New Smyrna Museum of History
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Just In at The Museum Store!
Zip-up Hoodies
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Take a look at these zip-up hoodies that just arrived in The Museum Store. These soft hoodies made by DistRict are available in both dark and light blue with sizes small - 3x, currently in-stock. Featured on the left front of each is the logo for the New Smyrna Museum. On the back of the hoodie is a logo we found on some old letterhead and a promotional piece issued by the New Smyrna and Coronado Board of Trade in about 1920. The logo features a ship's wheel with an inset map showing some of the old rail lines that were in use back in the early 1900s. Included on the map are town names that no longer exist such as Briggsville, now Samsula, and Indian Springs a development that was very near the intersection of 415 and SR 44 where the New Smyrna Speedway is today.
Get yours today for only $39.95 to $42.95 depending on the size.
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Celebrating Black History Month
"Mary McLeod Bethune in Florida, Bringing Social Justice to the Sunshine State." by Dr. Ashley N. Robertson.
Mary McLeod Bethune was often called the "First Lady of Negro America," but she made significant contributions to the political climate of Florida as well. From the founding of the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls in 1904, Bethune galvanized African American Women for change. She created an environment in Daytona Beach that , despite racial tension throughout the state, allowed Jackie Robinson to begin his journey to integrating Major League Baseball less than two miles away from her school. Today, her legacy lives through a number of institutions, including Bethune-Cookman University and the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation National Historic Landmark. Historian Ashley Robertson explores the life, leadership and amazing contributions of this dynamic activist.
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Back in Stock
"Florida Literary Luminaries Writing In Paradise" By James C. Clark.
From the Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca to James Patterson, writers have found inspiration in the Florida sunshine. Ernest Hemingway met his future wife at Sloppy Joe's in Key West. John Kennedy recovered from back surgery in Palm Beach while working on his Pulitzer Prize-winning book. James Weldon Johnson wrote what became the "Black national anthem" at the Stanton School in Jacksonville. And Edna St. Vincent Millay watched in shock as her manuscript went up in flames in Sanibel. Florida historian James Clark tells the stories of scores of writers, including Robert Frost, Jack Kerouac, John D. MacDonald and Stephen King. Hunter S. Thompson driving through the streets of Key West using a bullhorn to warn the citizens, Tennessee Williams partying with Truman Capote, Ring Lardner planning a get-together with Al Capone...it's all here.
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Explore our entire online catalog by visiting:
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"Hidden History of Civil War Florida"
We had a great turn out for our museum program in January with Robert Redd. In the event you couldn't make it, we have just added it to our channel for you viewing enjoyment.
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Veteran's History Project
Our video captures for the Veteran's History Project continue. This episode features Dr. Frank Farmer interviewing New Smyrna Beach resident Bobby Greatrex. Bobby served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War where he and the First Division Weapons Platoon saw action as part of Operation Starburst.
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Museum Program March 2023 |
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Thursday, March 9th 2023
Two Performances
4:30 & 6:30 PM
120 Sams Ave., New Smyrna Beach
Audubon's Epic Travels in Florida, 1831-32
with Joe Vetter
The quintessential artist, woodsman and naturalist explored our shores to complete his monumental "Birds of America", which features many of the avian wonders of the South. From St. Augustine, to Bulow's Plantation, to the Halifax and Tomoka Rivers, Audubon continued to DeLeon Springs, the St. Johns and the Keys. Come celebrate his illustrated masterpieces and legendary life. (Mr. Vetter will be in character with trivia prizes for this presentation!)
Due to a growing audience and limited seating space, two performances are being offered for this program, 4:30 & 6:30 PM.
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Board of Directors Nominations Now Open
Would you like to get more involved in the workings of the museum? Consider joining the Southeast Volusia Historical Society Board of Directors. Board elections are fast approaching and nominees are needed. If interested please contact board member Gary Swanson at ges4765@hotmail.com or museum director Greg Holbrook at NSMofHistory@gmail.com
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GWFC NSB Women's Club Interest Meeting
There is currently an ongoing effort to form a new Women's Club under the guidelines of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) here in New Smyrna Beach. A meeting of those who are interested is being held here, at the museum, 120 Sams Ave., New Smyrna Beach FL 32168 on Saturday, February 4th at 1:30 PM.
Our Women's Club building here in New Smyrna is wonderful asset to our local architectural character. The building which is just south of the South Causeway Bridge, is actually registered with the National Parks Service's Register of Historic Places. The building is nearly 100 years old and is currently undergoing a renovation spearheaded by the city of New Smyrna Beach which owns the building.
Once item missing from this great old building is a functioning Women's Club.
After being in existence for over 90 years the formal organization that utilized the space disbanded some years ago. If you are interested in being a part of the new Women's Club please join the meeting on Saturday or contact April Hudson at AHud1006@gmail.com
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Your Membership and Support Matters!
New Members:
Randy Aldridge
Danial & Diane Devine
Barbara Secor
Charles & Barbara Mars
Yolanda Keegan
Susan & Richard Pozzuto
Brent Robitzsch
Jan Cox
Susan Hoover
Eileen Boisseau
James Hollomon
De Walker
Matt & Trisha Rogers
Roberta Sutter
Daphne Berish
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The Southeast Volusia Historical Society has been awarded the Guidestar Silver Seal of transparency to acknowledge the level of dedication that we provide to donors, organizations and government entities who consider donating to our organization. |
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Make your donation today via mail to:
Southeast Volusia Historical Society Inc.
P.O. Box 968
New Smyrna Beach FL 32170-0968
Donations can also be processed online by clicking the button below:
Talk to your investment planner about how you can donate your mandatory minimum IRA distribution directly to the Southeast Volusia Historical Society and not pay personal income tax on the distribution.
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Museum Hours
Tuesday - Saturday
10 AM - 4 PM
Adults 18+ $8
Young Adults 11-17 $5
10 & Under Free
Members Free
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The New Smyrna Museum of History
120 Sams Ave., New Smyrna Beach Fl. 32168
Phone: 386.478.0052
nsmofhistory@gmail.com
PO Box 968, NSB, Fl. 32170-0968
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