Friends of Lake Wales Museum

05/31/2021

Today we remember and honor the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

05/26/2021

Come and visit us this summer! We hope to see you!

04/09/2021

Looks like fun!

03/24/2021

Busy day at the Bullard Building. Check out the gas pump out on the sidewalk!

03/02/2021

Welcome Emmanuel!

We're so excited to announce the museum has received a Florida Humanities Community Project and Duke Energy Foundation grant to create a new Lake Wales African American archive. The project will include conducting new research, collecting oral histories, and securing new donations to establish the archive. Emmanuel George, a Florida historian, has been hired to conduct intensive research for six-weeks from March 2 – April 15, 2021. Emmanuel will live and work in Lake Wales during this time, and his research will be the basis of a new, original African American exhibit at the museum in the fall of 2021. If you have a story or photos to share about the life and history of the African American people and businesses in Lake Wales, please reach out to us or visit the museum to meet Emmanuel.

02/27/2021

“Mr. Buck’s Place” in 1935 when it was called El Retiro, and the Pinewood Estate today. Looks almost the same except for the size of the oak trees!

02/25/2021

02/19/2021

We were just talking about how to save the old Pullman car at the Lake Wales History Museum! First step will be a new roof. Let us know if you have any ideas!

Chicago’s first national park site, Pullman National Monument, National Park Service, was established on February 19, 2015. The Pullman Strike of 1894 was as a nationwide railroad strike that was a turning point for US labor law. Unionization of African American workers began in 1925, when the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was founded by A. Philip Randolph. A landmark agreement in 1937 became the first major labor agreement between a company and an African American union.

In the past six years, Pullman and their many partners, like the National Park Foundation, have helped jumpstart critical projects at the park, including the establishment of a visitor center and supporting ongoing preservation of the site. Join the park this afternoon for a live anniversary event at https://fb.me/e/65C6AFeJE

Image: A park ranger holds a "Thank You" sign standing in front of a painted mural of Pullman.

02/19/2021

If you missed the wonderful presentation last night with Dr. Cheryl Howard on the history of the Green Book, check out the USA Today article that came out today.

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/travel/2021/02/19/black-history-month-inside-green-book-travel-guide/4357851001/

Out of only a handful of establishments listed in Central Florida, the old Dew Drop Inn here in Lake Wales was included in most of the Green Book editions published during the 1950s.
If you have any stories or pictures, we’d be grateful to hear from you.

02/14/2021

Happy Valentine’s Day! The museum has several buildings that need some love. We can hook you up!

Sharing a little bit of humor on this ❤️ Valentine's ❤️ Day!