Communication Builds Our Community

History Speaker Series to Feature Local Author

Florida and Ridge Area's Unique History to be Discussed

The Lake Wales History Museum will resume its popular speaker series with a presentation on Florida's past presented by guest speaker and local historian Robert Connors. Connors is the author of several books including "The Florida Saga," a historic novel documenting the long, tortured history of the Sunshine State.

The History Museum holds a wealth of information about the Lake Wales area, ranging from pre-Columbian canoes carved by Native Americans from whole trees, to the story of the development of the area's railroads, citrus, and tourism industries.

During recent years the museum's speaker series has hosted a number of gifted speakers, historians and story-tellers from across the state, funded in part by Florida Humanities. It is operated by a not-for-profit organization, Lake Wales History Museum, as a public service.

The origins of Lake Wales as a "Garden City." involved several famous Americans including Edward Bok and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.

Connors will address a variety of events that occured in the Lake Wales area and other parts of the state.

The event will take place in the museum's original "freight room," which was used to handle and store the bags and supplies of early Lake Wales residents when the building was the town's principal train station.

The museum is located at 325 South Scenic Highway in Lake Wales. The presentation will begin at 6:00 pm and will be followed by a reception and book-signing for those wishing to purchase a book. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the museum.

 

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