What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 10am - 3pm Wednesday 10am - 3pm Thursday 10am - 3pm Friday 10am - 3pm Saturday 10am - 3pm

Lake Wales History Museum

Name: Lake Wales History Museum
Address: 325 S Scenic Highway, Lake Wales, FL, 33853, US
Telephone: +18636761759
Price range: $
Rating: 4.7

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Lake Wales History Museum

🚂 Open: Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am-3 pm ☀️ Constructed of brick and covered with pink stucco, the Depot at 325 S.
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Scenic Highway was built as a passenger station by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1928 at an approximate cost of $51,000. Replacing service at the original depot, the new location was chosen to relieve traffic congestion in the downtown area. A freight room and loading platform were added in 1938. Passenger service to Lake Wales ceased in 1954. In 1966, Seaboard Air Line and Atlantic Coast Li

ne merged to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railway. In 1974, freight service shifted to the West Lake Wales station, and trains no longer stopped at the Lake Wales depot. However, the Spanish style building with the red tile roof remained a landmark of the post-boom era in Lake Wales. Spearheaded by the Bicentennial Commission, efforts began in 1974 to convert the empty building into a museum and cultural arts center for the citizens of Lake Wales.

09/02/2026

When you "flipped" your calendar yesterday to September did you get goose bumps? We did! Pioneer Days is NEXT MONTH! Gearing up for a great event.

08/23/2026

Haven't nominated your favorite "Pioneer" yet? No worries! There's still time - deadline is September 18.

08/14/2026

Looking forward to hearing from you!

07/22/2026

We're excited to welcome Tish Sheesley as the new Executive Director of the Lake Wales History Museum! With more than 30 years of experience leading museums and nonprofit organizations, Tish brings extensive expertise in fundraising, community engagement, strategic planning, and museum operations. Her passion for preserving local history and creating meaningful connections within the community makes her an excellent fit for the museum.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary and look toward the future, we are excited for the opportunities ahead under Tish's leadership. We look forward to continuing to preserve, share, and celebrate the stories that make Lake Wales special while building on the strong foundation that has been established over the past five decades. Please join us in welcoming Tish to the Lake Wales History Museum family!

07/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for our 50th Anniversary Celebration! ❤️🤍💙

We are honored to share our birthday with the nation and are grateful that so many of you chose to celebrate this special milestone with us. Whether you're a longtime supporter or a first-time visitor, your presence helped make the day truly memorable.

Thank you to everyone who enjoyed the festivities, participated in the rededication ceremony, toured the Mimi Hardman Collections & Research Center, and helped us celebrate five decades of preserving and sharing the stories that make Lake Wales unique.

We are deeply thankful for the volunteers, donors, board members, staff, partners, and community members who have supported the museum over the past 50 years. Because of you, Lake Wales history continues to be preserved and shared for future generations.

As we celebrate the past 50 years, we look forward to continuing to preserve and share Lake Wales history while creating new memories for generations to come. Thank you for being part of our story.

Here's to the next 50 years and beyond!

Photos courtesy of the City of Lake Wales and the Lake Wales History Museum.

07/04/2026

Happy Birthday to us! 🎉

Lake Wales History Museum's 50th Anniversary Celebration!

🚧 Please note the museum parking lot will be closed during the celebration. Please park along the train tracks and in nearby public parking areas.

Join us from 12:00 to 3:00 pm for a patriotic afternoon featuring free hot dogs, birthday cake, music, games, a mayoral proclamation, and more as we celebrate 50 years of preserving Lake Wales history!

Thank you for helping us make this milestone celebration a success!

07/03/2026

Tomorrow’s the day… we're turning 50!

❤️🤍💙

Join us for an afternoon of history, hometown pride, patriotic fun, and a birthday celebration as we mark the Lake Wales History Museum's 50th Anniversary!

FREE hot dogs, punch, DJ, birthday cake (1 pm), games, and family fun!

⭐ 1:00 PM – Mayoral Proclamation & Rededication Ceremony
⭐ 2:00 PM – Tour of the Mimi Hardman Collections & Research Center

Saturday, July 4 | 12:00 – 3:00 pm

Bring your friends, bring your family, and help us celebrate 50 years of preserving and sharing Lake Wales history!

06/27/2026

🩸 The myoneblood Big Red Bus is at the museum today!

Stop by, donate blood, and help make a difference in our community. Every donation can help save lives. ❤️

We’re open until 3 pm today. We hope to see you here!

06/25/2026

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of attending the Polk County Historical Association's Annual Meeting & Pioneer Luncheon, where four exceptional individuals were recognized as 2026 Polk County Pioneers, including our very own Sharon Horton Kurschner!

We were proud to honor Sharon as our 2025 Pioneer of the Year during the 49th Annual Pioneer Days Festival, and we're thrilled to see her receive this well-deserved countywide recognition.

A lifelong Lake Wales resident with deep family roots dating back to the 1920s, Sharon has dedicated her life to serving the community she loves. After earning degrees from Emory at Oxford, Stetson University, and the University of South Florida, she spent more than 30 years shaping the lives of local students as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal within Polk County Public Schools. Beyond her career in education, Sharon has generously shared her time and talents through organizations such as the Rotary Club of Lake Wales, the Historic Lake Wales Society, the Lake Wales Depot Commission, and First Baptist Church. Her impact on generations of students and her unwavering commitment to Lake Wales make this recognition especially meaningful.

We’re equally delighted that fellow Lake Wales resident and community powerhouse Robin Gibson was also honored as a Polk County Pioneer. Through decades of public service, historic preservation, community redevelopment, and educational leadership, Robin has played an instrumental role in shaping the Lake Wales we know today.

Congratulations to Sharon, Robin, and all of the 2026 Polk County Pioneers! Thank you for preserving our history, strengthening our community, and inspiring future generations.

To hear Sharon share her memories and experiences, watch her full interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9rKTdUmuyU

Select photographs courtesy of the City of Lake Wales.

Address

325 S Scenic Highway
Lake Wales, FL
33853

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 3pm
Wednesday	10am - 3pm
Thursday	10am - 3pm
Friday	10am - 3pm
Saturday	10am - 3pm

Telephone

+18636761759

Website

http://www.lakewaleshistory.org/

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