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Welcome to the MCHS Website

Click here for the 2012 Scholarship Application

The Manatee County Historical Society (MCHS) was chartered March 18, 1946 and is the oldest local historical society. Our purpose is to collect, record and preserve the story of Manatee County.

The Society hosts 7 luncheon meetings with interesting speakers during its October-to-May program season, and records the lectures. Check out either the Programs portion of the “Society” tab or the “Events” tab, and keep an eye on the “Recent News” portion of this page.

By clicking on our History tab at the top of this page, you will find over 200 transcribed speeches, interviews and miscl. papers, along with an alphabetical list of links and troubleshooting notes. This portion of the site is being actively updated with more sources.

Additional transcribed copies of the speeches and of the oral history interviews are available for public viewing in the Eaton Collection of the Manatee County Central Library.

The Society has long had a program of identifying historical sites and events and erecting historical markers to commemorate them. Over the years, more than 50 markers have been placed.

In the mid-1960’s, the Society began copying old photographs from early families. In 1977, these completed images were turned over to the local library system. The Society’s original 6,250 historical images now form the base of the more-than-32,900 images now found on the Manatee County Library System’s internet homepage at www.mymanatee.org/library.html

The society sponsors an annual Scholarship for a Manatee County high school graduate wishing to obtain a college degree in history. A history degree is also useful for those planning a career in international business, law, public broadcasting, journalism, or diplomacy. The Society supports the Manatee Village Historical Park and the Gamble Mansion Preservation Alliance and other local historical groups.

Members participate in the annual Manatee County History Fair in conjunction with the Manatee County Historical Commission and the Board of Education.

The Society is duly registered with the Florida Department of Corporations and may be researched at their website of Sunbiz.org.

Standing by for news of Fall 2011 – Spring 2012 Programs!

Big Thank You #1 To the South Florida Museum for re-discovering the 1939-era painted plaster DeSoto Landing Plaque that was given to the Historical Society by Tampa Town author Anthony Pizzo when he spoke to our Society in 1972. The Board is currently looking for a safe storage place until it can be properly displayed. It is large and very fragile. We hope to get pictures soon(they will probably appear in the “Miscel. Papers” section under the “History” tab).

Big Thank You #2 To the ladies, past and present, of The Contemporary Club, for allowing us to copy some of their various histories, their 1930s and 1940s early yearbooks, plus poems and papers from their early Magazine. (These are already appearing in the “Miscel. Papers” section under the “History” tab

Skyway Historical Marker update!

Now that both of the historic 1950s Sunshine Skyway Bridge bronze markers have been placed at the north and south Skyway rest areas, we are beginning to plan for an official dedication ceremony. We are now in contact with USF and are planning on a big dedication ceremony sometime in the fall, when the weather is a bit cooler.