Programs & Events
The Museum offers a number of recurring programs throughout the year
Special Programs and Events
Stay Tuned for Upcoming Special Events.
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Monthly Programs
History at High Noon Programs
The Museum features casual monthly lunchtime talks by local experts on a variety of topics. Please note the location of each lecture as the presentation site may change from month to month. Below you can find our upcoming topics. These programs are free and open to the public.
Historical Resources and Land Conservation in Florida: Past and Present
Tuesday March 24, 2026: Noon - 12:45 p.m.
Please join us at The Grove Museum where Brandon Ackermann from the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research will discuss the history of public lands conservation in Florida. During this talk he will highlight how the Division of Historical Resources protects cultural resources across the State of Florida.
The Grove Museum
902 N. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
From the Frontier to the Front Page: Florida & the Spanish-American War
Tuesday April 28, 2026: Noon - 12:45 p.m.
Please join us at Mission San Luis where William Turner, Curator of Education at the Museum of Florida History, will discuss the significant role Florida played in the Spanish-American War. Specifically, he will examine how the war helped transform Florida by making it the focus of both national and international attention leading to increased economic development and growth.
Mission San Luis2021 Mission Rd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
Lighting Up the Past: Preserving Florida's Historic Lighthouses
Tuesday May 26, 2026: Noon - 12:45 p.m.
Please join us at Mission San Luis for a special talk celebrating Historic Preservation Month. Ken Smith, the President of the Florida Lighthouse Association, will share key stories of preservation efforts throughout the State of Florida to restore and protect Florida's 30 remaining historic lighthouses.Mission San Luis
2021 Mission Rd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
Rogues and Raiders: Famous Pirates in Florida History
Tuesday June 23, 2026: Noon - 12:45 p.m.
Please join us at the Union Bank Museum and meet our new Chief Curator, Bartholomew Delcamp, who will be hosting a talk centered around the fascinating role played by pirates in Florida History since the 16th century. At the height of pirate activity, an estimated 5,000 pirates sailed the waters of Florida's coasts. This talk will explore the stories of some of the most famous of them such as Henry Jennings, Charles Vane, and Samuel Bellamy.
Union Bank Museum
219 Apalachee Pkwy.
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
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Annual Programs
20th of May — Emancipation in Florida
The Knott House Museum and the John G. Riley Museum host an annual celebration of the 20th of May. Learn more about this event and other community activities here.
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved people in the rebelling Southern states. More than two years later, on May 10, 1865, Union General Edward McCook arrived in Tallahassee to take possession of the city from Southern forces. General McCook established his headquarters at the Hagner House, now known as the Knott House. On May 20, he declared the Emancipation Proclamation in effect. Formerly enslaved people celebrated this announcement with a picnic at Bull Pond, today's Lake Ella. Annually since 1865, communities in Tallahassee have celebrated May 20th as Emancipation Day.
Florida History Day
Sponsored by the Museum of Florida History, Florida History Day is an annual, statewide activity that enhances the teaching and learning of history in middle and high schools. Florida joins 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and international schools in East and South Asia as an affiliate of National History Day® (NHD). NHD promotes history in the classroom by offering students the resources and support to do original research about people, ideas, and events of the past. Learn more about Florida History Day here.
