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Museum
Get Involved
Programs & Events
Research
- Archives
- Research Room
Education
Historical Society
- About Us
- Awards
  - Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution Award
  - Fannie James Pioneer Achievement Award

Haunting History

22 October

Haunting History

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23 October

Haunting History

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Contact Us

Phone: 561.832.4164

Mail:
P.O. Box 4364
West Palm Beach, FL 33402

Visit:
300 N. Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

MUSEUM HOURS

Mon – Sat 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday Closed

HSPBC ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS

Mon – Friday 9 am – 5 pm

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If you were to travel back in time to what is now

If you were to travel back in time to what is now Palm Beach County during the late nineteenth century, medical care would be more difficult, but not impossible, to come by—especially if you lived close to the beach. In 1898, a dentist named Frank Houghton devised a unique solution for reaching the tourists and pioneers who lived along the remote stretch of coast from Titusville to West Palm Beach. He treated patients aboard the “Dentos,” a houseboat that served as his dental office.

Another dentist, Edwin Urdich, took over the route in 1906, but only operated the Dentos for another few years. By 1910, Palm Beach County had separated from Dade County, and the construction of roads quickly rendered the dental houseboat obsolete. During its heyday, however, the boat featured a fully furnished reception and operating room.

From the beginning, West Palm Beach has been shaped by its intrepid medical practitioners. Swipe left to see a photo of Dr. Thomas Leroy Jefferson, one of the first black doctors of the Palm Beaches. After moving to the area in 1902, Jefferson was known for riding a bicycle to reach his patients. The last photo depicts Dr. Alice Evans Miller, who in the 1910s became one of West Palm Beach’s first female doctors. She practiced medicine here for 51 years.

#PalmBeachCountyHistory #PalmBeachHistory #SouthFloridaHistory #FloridaHistory #FloridaPioneers #PalmBeachPioneers #LocalHistory #HistoricPalmBeach #History #MuseumHistory #ArtHistory #HistoricalSociety #PalmBeachCounty #WestPalmBeach #SouthFlorida #PalmBeachCountyHistoryMuseum

History needs a voice. Yours. Do you love local h

History needs a voice. Yours.

Do you love local history? Enjoy meeting new people? Become a docent at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and help bring our community's stories to life!

Our upcoming four-week Docent Training Program is the perfect opportunity to explore Palm Beach County's rich history while learning how to lead engaging tours for visitors of all ages.

Training Schedule:
Mondays & Fridays
September 28 through October 9

Whether you're a lifelong history enthusiast or simply looking for a meaningful way to give back, we'd love to have you join our team.

Interested or have questions? Visit pbchistory.org

#PalmBeachCounty #Volunteer #MuseumDocent #LocalHistory #VolunteerOpportunity #Community #HistoryMatters #LoveWhereYouLive #HSPBC #PalmBeach #WestPalmBeach #MuseumLife

✨ Join us as we celebrate the opening of Escribien

✨ Join us as we celebrate the opening of Escribiendo Nuestra Historia on Tuesday, September 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 🎉

Developed in partnership with Dina Rubio and The Latin Quarter, this powerful new exhibition shines a light on the stories of 14 remarkable individuals whose lives and contributions have helped shape the history, culture, economy, and civic life of Palm Beach County.

Presented during Hispanic Heritage Month, Escribiendo Nuestra Historia is more than an exhibition. Through photographs, biographies, and newly recorded oral histories, it ensures these voices become a permanent part of the Historical Society's archives, preserving their legacy for generations to come. 📖🎙️

Come celebrate the people, stories, and history that continue to enrich our community. We can't wait to welcome you! ✨

🗓️ Tuesday, September 15
🕠 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
📍 Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum
🎟️ Free admission

RSVP today at pbchistory.org

#EscribiendoNuestraHistoria #HispanicHeritageMonth #PalmBeachCounty #CommunityStories #HistoryMatters #LocalHistory #CulturalHeritage #OralHistory #HistoricalSociety #PBCEvents #MuseumExhibit #LoveFL #SouthFloridaCulture #DiscoverThePalmBeaches

Today we’re celebrating the 150th birthday of Lill

Today we’re celebrating the 150th birthday of Lillie Pierce Voss, who on August 15th, 1876, was the first child of European descent known to be born between Jupiter and Miami. Lillie was born in the Orange Grove House of Refuge, as her father, Hannibal Dillingham Pierce, was the manager of the station, located in what is now Delray Beach. Orange Grove was one of five stations built along the isolated coast to provide shelter and safety to shipwrecked sailors.

The Pierces were among the first families to permanently settle along Lake Worth; they arrived in 1872, when South Florida was still a largely uninhabited wilderness. Lillie’s older brother, Charles W. Pierce, worked for a time as one of the barefoot mailmen, Boynton Beach’s postmaster, and author of “Pioneer Life in Southeast Florida”.

Transcripts of oral history interviews recorded with Lillie reveal colorful details about the earliest days of pioneer life on Hypoluxo Island; she recalled houses with palmetto roofs, and remembered there being “a few million mosquitoes to the square inch.” Her days were spent hunting, fishing, sailing, and learning to read from her mother, Margretta Moore Pierce; many evenings were spent singing songs with her parents while Charles played the violin. According to Lillie, holidays were always an occasion for local settlers to gather for picnics on the shores of Lake Worth. This interview is available on the Historical Society’s YouTube channel.

In 1894, Lillie married Frederick C. Voss, a boat captain and steam engineer with whom she had six children; the couple lived in Hypoluxo together until Fred’s death in 1957. Lillie died in 1967 at the age of 91, and in 2013, she was posthumously inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame. Her life and legacy are of the greatest importance in understanding how Palm Beach County came to be what it is today. Happy 150th birthday, Lillie!

#PalmBeachCountyHistory #PalmBeachHistory #SouthFloridaHistory #FloridaHistory #FloridaPioneers #PalmBeachPioneers #LocalHistory #HistoricPalmBeach #History #MuseumHistory #ArtHistory #HistoricalSociety #PalmBeachCounty #WestPalmBeach #SouthFlorida #GeorgeWPotter #PalmBeachCountyHistoryMuseum

What makes an object in a museum truly unforgettab

What makes an object in a museum truly unforgettable? Sometimes, it is the story behind it. 🌊🏄‍♂️

In this video, Tom Warnke, Executive Director of the @surfingfloridamuseum, takes us inside Surfing Florida: A Photographic History to highlight one of the fascinating objects on display and share the story behind it.

From historic surfboards and vintage photographs to the people, places, and moments that shaped Florida's surf culture, this exhibition is packed with incredible stories waiting to be discovered.

Whether you are a lifelong surfer, a beach lover, a history buff, or simply looking for something fun to do this summer, come experience the history of Florida surfing for yourself.

🌊 Surfing Florida: A Photographic History
📍 Historical Society of Palm Beach County
🎟️ Free admission
📅 On display through October 31

Come see the stories, the boards, the photographs, and the history that helped make Florida surfing iconic.

#SurfingFlorida #PalmBeachCountyHistory #SurfCulture #FloridaSurfing #SurfHistory #FreeMuseum #SummerFun #FamilyFun #WestPalmBeach #ThePalmBeaches #MuseumExhibit #HistoricPalmBeachCounty #SupportLocalMuseums #PhotographyExhibit #FloridaHistory

🔎 Get a closer look at Benjamin Franklin: Creating

🔎 Get a closer look at Benjamin Franklin: Creating an American Icon with Zachary Jacobson, the collector who spent decades bringing this remarkable collection together.

Join Zach for a special tour and discover the fascinating stories, rare treasures, and behind-the-scenes details that bring the exhibit to life.

📅 August 15 & 22
⏰ Noon

Reserve your spot at pbchistory.org and experience the exhibit from the perspective of the collector who made it possible!

Thank you to our sponsors, Gunster and Forman Capital, for helping bring this remarkable exhibition to our community.

@gunsterlaw

#BenjaminFranklin #BenjaminFranklinExhibit #CreatingAnAmericanIcon #AmericanHistory #HistoryMuseum #MuseumExhibit #PalmBeach #WestPalmBeach #PalmBeachCounty #SouthFlorida #HistoryLovers #MuseumTour #BehindTheScenes #RareBooks #AmericanHistory250

✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us in Sag Harbo

✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us in Sag Harbor for a truly beautiful afternoon of style, flavor, and philanthropy.

We are deeply grateful to Johanna Ortiz (@johannaortizofficial) and Sage & Madison (@sageandmadisonshop) for hosting an exclusive shopping experience in support of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. Special thanks to Perro Verde Mezcal (@perroverdemezcal) and Altima Caviar (@altimacaviar) for providing an exceptional tasting experience that made the event all the more memorable.

Your support helps us continue our mission to collect, preserve, and share the rich history and cultural heritage of Palm Beach County.

Thank you to all who attended, shopped, sipped, and celebrated with us. We are honored to have such wonderful partners and supporters by our side.

📸:Marsin Mogielski (@marsindigital

#PBCHistory #HistoricalSocietyPBC #JohannaOrtiz #SagHarbor #SageAndMadison #PerroVerdeMezcal #AltimaCaviar #SupportHistory

As students across Palm Beach County prepare to re

As students across Palm Beach County prepare to return to the classroom, we join our community in thanking the teachers, past and present, who have inspired curiosity, encouraged learning, and shaped generations of students. Through the Historical Society of Palm Beach County's collections, we're also looking back at the generations who came before them.

A science teacher guides students through using a microscope in the 1980s. Members of Palm Beach High School's Future Teachers Club, photographed around 1950, remind us that many students were preparing for careers in education long before graduation. A 1963 Roosevelt High School yearbook captures a moment at prom, where the students broke out into the “Hully-Gully” dance. A 1938 Palm Beach High jacket covered with classmates' signatures captures the tradition of celebrating friendships and marking the end of a school year.

By preserving these photographs, yearbooks, and mementos, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County ensures that the stories of our community's classrooms—and the people who filled them—remain part of our shared history.

Do you still have your yearbook, letter jacket, class ring, or another keepsake from your school days? We'd love to hear the story behind it in the comments.

#PalmBeachCountyHistory #PalmBeachHistory #SouthFloridaHistory #FloridaHistory #FloridaPioneers #PalmBeachPioneers #LocalHistory #HistoricPalmBeach #History #MuseumHistory #ArtHistory #HistoricalSociety #PalmBeachCounty #WestPalmBeach #SouthFlorida #GeorgeWPotter #PalmBeachCountyHistoryMuseum

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The Historical Society of Palm Beach County is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and sharing the rich history of Palm Beach County. Through stewardship of archives, exhibitions, and educational programs, we connect our community to its past to inspire understanding and appreciation for generations to come.

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