Sanford Museum

10/10/2026

This is probably one of our favorite hay art pieces yet!

🌾🎃 HAY ART SEASON IS HERE & WE NEED YOUR HELP TO NAME THAT CHARACTER! 🎨✨

Sanford, it’s time to get creative! Our amazing Parks and Recreation team has been hard at work crafting this year’s Halloween holiday-themed hay art display. You might recognize the inspiration behind this mischievous character... but we want YOU to give it an official name!

This year’s masterpiece was cleverly created by Billie Jean Puleo and Eric Griffin from our Parks & Rec Department! 👏👏

🎁 CONTEST DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER:

Drop your best, most creative name in the comments below!

Vote for your favorites! The comment with the most likes will become the official winning name (subject to City approval).

The Prize: The winner receives an official City of Sanford T-shirt! 👕✨

🗓 Deadline to Enter: Monday, October 5th at Noon.

📸 Snap a Selfie!
Stop by the corner of Park Avenue and 1st Street in Historic Downtown Sanford to check out the display and grab a picture with our festive hay art!

Now, the big question... What should we name this mischievous character? Drop your ideas below! 👇🎃

09/30/2026

Did you know yesterday was the City's 149th birthday? The Sanford Historical Society did!

Thank you so much to our dear friends at the Historical Society for working to preserve Sanford history! :)

Happy 149th birthday, Sanford! 🎂

On this day in 1877, Sanford was officially incorporated. Ten years later, this is what First Street looked like, looking toward Sanford Avenue.

Take a look at that sandy street, the wooden storefronts, and the horse and wagon waiting near the palms. This photo was taken in 1887, before the fire that would reshape downtown, when most buildings were built of wood.

Next year we celebrate 150 years, and we can't wait to share the milestone with you. Until then, tell us in the comments: what is your favorite piece of Sanford history?

09/22/2026

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Have you got your tickets yet?

SEE YOU SATURDAY!

09/11/2026

This September 11th, we at the Sanford Museum remember Mr. Mannie "Mannie Boy" Leroy Clark.

Recently published in the My Sanford Herald ( ) was a wonderful article about Mr. Mannie Clark, written by Mr. Octavius “Ocky” Clark, Mannie's nephew.

You can read the article online at the Herald's website to learn more about Mr. Clark from his own family's perspective.

From The Sanford Herald, October 7, 2001:
"A native of Sanford, Clark attended and graduated from Crooms Academy (1966). Clark was employed in the first building of the World Trade Center that was hit by an airplane on Sept. 11, 2001."

Via his FindAGrave:
"Mr. Clark was the head supervisor of Security in the First Tower, covering floors 86-100. The airplane that struck the First Tower struck the same side of the building where his office was located on the 93rd floor."

Shared image is from a pamphlet created for his memorial service in Sanford.
If you have any stories or memories of Mr. Clark that you would like to share, please comment below or reach out to us to schedule an oral history recording - your stories matter!

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09/01/2026

This photo was taken, we believe, during the opening of our Gary Taylor Sports Exhibit! However, previous staff and volunteers did not label this photo - do you recognize these folks?

Hometown Hero, Buddy Lake, is the gentleman in the striped shirt on the far right!

Let us know in the comments if you know the other two people! We would love to identify them!

08/18/2026

Today we are sharing a parade float made by local Sanford women celebrating the then newly acquired women's right to vote in the United States.

Standing in the very back, dressed as Lady Liberty, is Dr. Herberta Ann Leonardy, one of the very first female lawyers in the state of Florida. Dr. Leonardy was a graduate of Stetson University (there is a scholarship in her honor).

She was also a member of the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a president of the Sanford Woman's Club and a professor at the University of Miami.

She was a staunch advocate of women's rights, including the right to vote!