Florida is home to over 600 historical societies, preservation organizations, and heritage groups. From major institutions in Tallahassee, Miami, and Tampa to small-town societies preserving local heritage, these organizations maintain vital connections to Florida's rich past.
Featured Historical Societies
Historical Society of Bay County
Location: Panama City, FL
Historical Society of Palm Beach County
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Historical Society of Sarasota County
Location: Sarasota, FL
Pensacola Historical Society
Location: Pensacola, FL
Founded: 1933
Documents America's first Spanish settlement and five flags that flew over Pensacola
Amelia Island Museum of History
Location: Fernandina Beach, FL
Apalachicola Area Historical Society
Location: Apalachicola, FL
Archer Historical Society Museum
Location: Archer, FL
Bensen House
Location: Grant, FL
Boca Raton Historical Society
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton History Museum
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Bonita Springs Historical Society
Location: Bonita Springs, FL
Founded: 1984
Bronson–Mulholland House
Location: Palatka, FL
Cedar Key Historical Museum
Location: Cedar Key, FL
Founded: 1977
Cedar Key Historical Society
Location: Cedar Key, FL
Charlotte County Historical Society
Location: Punta Gorda, FL
Founded: 1969
Citrus County Historical Society
Location: Inverness, FL
Clay County Historical Museum
Location: Green Cove Springs, FL
Clearwater Historical Society
Location: Clearwater, FL
Clifford House (Eustis, Florida)
Location: Eustis, FL
Conrad Center
Location: DeLeon Springs, FL
Dade Heritage Trust
Location: Miami, FL
Founded: 1972
David G. Raney House
Location: Apalachicola, FL
Dayton History
Location: Dayton, FL
Founded: 1896
DeLand Historical Society
Location: DeLand, FL
DeLand House Museum
Location: DeLand, FL
Founded: 1990
Depot Museum
Location: Perry, FL
Dunedin Historical Society
Location: Dunedin, FL
Founded: 1970
Edgewater Historical Society
Location: Edgewater, FL
Elliott Museum
Location: Stuart, FL
Founded: 1961
Flagler County Historical Society
Location: Bunnell, FL
Florida Historical Society
Location: Cocoa, FL
Founded: 1856
Florida's oldest existing cultural organization, maintaining archives, publishing Florida history research, and operating the Library of Florida History
Website: floridahistoricalsociety.org
Florida Museum of Natural History
Location: Gainesville, FL
Founded: 1891
State's official natural history museum with extensive holdings on Florida archaeology, paleontology, and ecology. Documents human habitation from Paleoindian cultures forward
Website: floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Fort Lauderdale History Center
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Founded: 1962
González–Álvarez House
Location: St. Augustine, FL
Hernando Historical Museum Association
Location: Brooksville, FL
Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables
Location: Coral Gables, FL
History of Diving Museum
Location: Islamorada, FL
Founded: 2005
HistoryMiami Museum
Location: Miami, FL
Founded: 1940
Smithsonian Affiliate exploring South Florida's multicultural heritage through exhibits, educational programs, and extensive archives documenting Miami's transformation from frontier to international city
Website: historymiami.org
Indian River County Historical Society
Location: Vero Beach, FL
Kester Cottages
Location: Kissimmee, FL
Key West Shipwreck Museum
Location: Key West, FL
Founded: 1990
Interprets Key West's 19th-century wrecking industry when salvaging shipwrecks made city America's richest per capita. Features artifacts from 1856 wreck of Isaac Allerton. The museum offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore local history through carefully curated exhibits, artifacts, and educational programs
Lady Lake Historical Society Museum
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Lake County Historical Society
Location: Tavares, FL
Lake Mary Chamber of Commerce Building
Location: Lake Mary, FL
Lemon Bay Historical Society
Location: Englewood, FL
Founded: 1985
Loxahatchee River Historical Society
Location: Jupiter, FL
Founded: 1972
Manatee County Historical Society
Location: Bradenton, FL
Founded: 1965
Mandarin Store and Post Office
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Founded: 1870
Matheson History Museum
Location: Gainesville, FL
Founded: 1994
Merrill House (Florida)
Location: Tarpon Springs, FL
Founded: 1896
Miami County Historical & Genealogical Society
Location: Piqua, FL
Micanopy Historical Society
Location: Micanopy, FL
Micanopy Historical Society Museum
Location: Micanopy, FL
Mount Dora History Museum
Location: Mount Dora, FL
Founded: 1978
Museum of Local History (Milton, Florida)
Location: Milton, FL
Founded: 1988
Museum of the Apopkans
Location: Apopka, FL
Founded: 1968
Naples Historical Society
Location: Naples, FL
Founded: 1962
New Smyrna Museum of History
Location: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Founded: 2003
North Brevard Historical Museum
Location: Titusville, FL
Founded: 1989
Old Fort Meade School House
Location: Fort Meade, FL
Founded: 1887
Old Pompano Fire Station
Location: Pompano Beach, FL
Founded: 1928
Orange County Regional History Center
Location: Orlando, FL
Founded: 1942
Palm Coast Historical Society
Location: Palm Coast, FL
Palm Cottage (Naples, Florida)
Location: Naples, FL
Palm Harbor Museum
Location: Palm Harbor, FL
Founded: 1998
Plumb House (Clearwater, Florida)
Location: Clearwater, FL
Founded: 1896
Polk County Historical Museum
Location: Bartow, FL
Founded: 1998
Port St. Lucie Historical Society
Location: Port St. Lucie, FL
Samuel Baker House (Elfers, Florida)
Location: Elfers, FL
Founded: 1918
Sanford Historical Society
Location: Sanford, FL
Seminole Historical Society
Location: Seminole, FL
Smyth County Historical Society & Museum
Location: Marion, FL
Founded: 1961
South Brevard Historical Society
Location: Melbourne, FL
Founded: 1966
Southeast Volusia Historical Society
Location: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Founded: 1982
Southwest Florida Historical Society
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Founded: 1963
St. Augustine Historical Society
Location: St. Augustine, FL
Founded: 1883
Preserves the history of America's oldest continuously occupied European settlement. Operates research library, museum, and historic buildings documenting 450+ years of St
Website: staugustinehistoricalsociety.org
St. Lucie County Historical Society
Location: Fort Pierce, FL
Founded: 1952
Tallahassee Historical Society
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Founded: 1933
Tampa Bay History Center
Location: Tampa, FL
Founded: 2009
Comprehensive museum exploring 12,000 years of Tampa Bay area history
Website: tampabayhistorycenter.org
Venice Area Historical Society
Location: Venice, FL
Founded: 1991
Walton County Heritage Museum
Location: DeFuniak Springs, FL
Founded: 2002
West Pasco Historical Society Museum and Library
Location: New Port Richey, FL
Founded: 1983
William H. Waterhouse House
Location: Maitland, FL
Founded: 1884
Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
Location: Winter Garden, FL
Founded: 1990
Winter Park Historical Association
Location: Winter Park, FL
Ximenez-Fatio House
Location: St. Augustine, FL
Founded: 1798
Submit a Society
Know of other Florida historical societies? Help us expand this directory by submitting organizations you're familiar with.
Submit a Society →Additional Florida History Resources
- Florida Historical Society - Statewide history organization
- Florida Division of Historical Resources - State historic preservation office
- Florida State Archives - State archives in Tallahassee