HISTORY
Located along the highland ridge of Lake Wales, Florida, the Lake Wales History Museum is a historical museum housed in the town’s original Mediterranean-style 1928 Atlantic Coast Line Railroad station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The organization began as a project of the 1974 Lake Wales Bicentennial Commission, and the museum was established in 1976. In 1987, the Historical Lake Wales Society, a non-profit organization became the governing authority of the Museum. The mission was to collect and preserve local history, and the first task was to establish a repository of collections from the community. From then, the organization evolved into a resource center for the public, formed an annual heritage festival called Pioneer Days, saved three additional historic buildings, three train cars, and continued to care for and celebrate Lake Wales history.
Besieged by growing financial hardships brought on by the 2008 recession, the Historic Lake Wales Society was no longer able to sustain the museum operations, and in 2015, the museum was officially reorganized under the City of Lake Wales. To date, 60% of the museum’s 20,000-item collection has been inventoried and stored in a new offsite facility.
The museum hosts 7,500 visitors annually. Guests may experience historical and changing exhibits, old train cars, speaker series, special tours and events. Visitors learn about the natural history of the Lake Wales Ridge beginning with Florida’s native people to the development of Lake Wales’ railroad, industry and residents of the 20th century. Guests may visit our newly restored 1926 Seaboard Air Line Railroad caboose, the 1916 Pullman passenger car and 1944 US Army locomotive engine.
The museum hosts Florida authors and historians for regular presentations, downtown walking and bus tours, a monthly non-fiction book club, exhibit receptions, Summer Fun Days for Families, and our annual signature event Pioneer Days Festival. The museum regularly collaborates with local businesses and nonprofits. Field trips and museum outreach programs are offered for K-12th grade school groups on a regular basis. Individuals and students older than 15 years of age are welcome to participate in our volunteer program who actively work on collections, special events and visitor services..
