Heritage Hall Museum & Museum "Country" Store are located in the renovated Old Fire Station, which was vacated by the county in 2000. Initially opened only during Floral City Heritage Days (annually on the first Saturday of December and preceding Friday night), Heritage Hall was redesigned in 2009 and opened weekly every Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
GALLERIES:
It features historic photos, artifacts and exhibits in two galleries. One gallery supports the rotating exhibits (Though Oct. 2010: "The Civil War in Florida" and thereafter: "Ferris & the Citrus Industry" in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Ferris Groves and founder "Doc" Ferris, a great-nephew of the inventor of the ferris wheel! Museum exhibits include a diorama of Floral City when the village was incorportated between 1907-1911 and during its phospate boom period. One of the most photographed roads in Florida is Floral City's Orange Avenue which forms the basis for the National Register Historic Distict and located in the center of town. A display of the historic 125-plus year old oaks is well presented in the Museum.
LIBRARY:
A comfortable and inviting Library/Media area provides a spot to sit and visit or view the DVDs and review the books of local history.
MUSEUM STORE;
The Museum Store has been designed in the fashion of an old country store providing a step back in time and offering a selection of hard to find items as well as a variety of items featuring the "Avenue of Oaks" design. This design can be found on tee shirts, clocks, mugs, pillows, tea towels, placemats,note cards postcards,and prints. Reproduced historic Florida maps (some rare), post cards and folk prints are for sale. The book case offers children's classics,local history,Citrus County and Florida history as well as other selections. Wooden children's toys, Florida sun bonnets, aprons,feather dusters and real corn broom are available. Next to the wood-burning stove, an old pie safe carries the Watkin's line of flavorings and spices, ole tyme soaps, bottled sodas, and in season local cane syrup and honey.
A visit to this heritage museum is offered to the public without charge and delivers a visit to the past in the friendly manner for which Floral City is known. "Floral City... where our past is a path to our future."
The Floral City Heritage Council was established under the Citrus County Historical Society, Inc in 1992. The Council first accomplished the task of placing Floral City on the National Register of Historic Places as a District, then assumed the presentation of the historical/educational event: Heritage Days. The Council lead the town in a 2020 Visioning Workshop (1999)and Action Plan and have guided the community through most of the objectives of that plan to include a special overlay district with land development code changes and the design and completion of the New Town Center (2009)in which the Heritage Hall Museum & Museum "Country" Store are located.
The Council meets quarterly, providing a "Snippet of History" program free to the public. Gatherings are held the at 7:00 p.m. in the Community House (8370 Orange Ave.) on the last Tuesday of January, April, August and October. Visit www.floralcityhc.org for more information.
Quarterly programs "Snippet of History" are offered free to the public every Jan., Apr., Aug., & Oct. in the Community House at 7:00 p.m.
The Council works in coordination with the Floral City Library (two doors away) to provide children's programs.
Annually since 1993 the Council has presented the "back in time" historical/educational program: Floral City Heritage Days on the first Saturday of December and the preceding Friday night.
Firday night (5:30-9:00 p.m.) is "Candles 'N' Carols" with fish fry, horse darwn wagon rides, luminarias and caroling along the 3/4 mile closed roadway under the century old oak trees. Event is free except for fish fry and wagon ride.
Saturday is the Florida Folk Day(all activities from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) with no general admission and no parking charge. There is a ticket fee for the Blue Banner Tour of Historic Homes ($10.00) and for food and items purchased from demonstrators of the late 1800s.
The town is dressed in period costumes of the village's phosphate boom period (1890-1911). The Museum & Musum "Country" Store are open, Florida acoustic music, Florida country foods..BBQ is special..., Heritage booksale, and the many folk demonstrators all in costume and displaying the daily living skills of the period. Also a free hay wagon ride is provided as a shuttle around town. Most activities are withing a two block area but ample free parking is availbale. Call (32) 860-0101 for more information. For directions visit www.floralcityhc.org.
Access: General Public
Appointment required: False