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Support the
Lake Wales
History Museum
Mimi Hardman Legacy Fund
Events, Exhibits & Programs
museum membership
Become a Volunteer
Mimi Hardman Legacy Fund
It’s the beginning of a new chapter of historic preservation in Lake Wales, and we hope you will be a part of it. The Friends of the Lake Wales History Museum is dedicated to saving Lake Wales history, and with your support, our first project is complete—the restoration of the 1916 Seaboard Airline Freight Station. This building now houses the Mimi Hardman Collections and Research Center to properly store our collections, provide public access, and honor Mimi Hardman. This building opened to the public on January 23, 2021.
At the dedication ceremony for this new building, we shared news of the Mimi Hardman Legacy Fund. This is the new, dedicated place to give funds to help the museum continue to care for collections, restore and preserve the museum’s historic sites, and promote others to participate in historic preservation.
Create an internship program
to help museum staff care for, inventory and conserve collections of the museum. The collection includes items such as military uniforms from WWI, beautiful Victorian quilts, decorative arts & furniture, historic maps of Lake Wales, railroad lanterns, local artwork, thousands of photographs, and a world of history from the people and places of Lake Wales.
Restore and open the Historic Stuart House
located at 300 East Central Avenue. The Historic Stuart House was built in 1920 by one of the town’s founders, Edward Crosland Stuart, who invested in industrial real estate and businesses in Lake Wales, Florida from 1889 to the early 20th century, most significantly, the Lake Wales Land Company. The Historic Stuart House is the only historic house museum in Lake Wales. The museum plans to restore and open the Historic Stuart House to the public and display interpretive exhibits about the Stuart and other Lake Wales families including new research about the African American community, the lifestyles of Lake Wales pioneers in the early 20-century, and significant architectural styles of the Lake Wales historic districts.
Foster the next generation of community leaders
Will you please help us continue to save history
and make a donation to the new Mimi Hardman Legacy Fund today? We need you to be a part of the museum’s future because history is happening! Thank you for your support. A gift in any amount is welcome and appreciated.
museum membership
Become a Member
Membership contributions are a cornerstone of the Lake Wales History Museum, and your donation makes a difference. Knowing you contributed to the preservation of the community’s history is rewarding in itself, however; you’ll also receive special benefits made available only to members. Members receive complimentary museum admission year-round, advance notice of programs, exhibits, and special events, and invitations to Members-Only events.
There’s a Membership Level that’s right for you, it’s tax deductible and affordable. Join Today!
Benefits for all member levels:
Complimentary admission to the museum
Subscription to the Lake Wales History Museum e-newsletter
Advanced notice and selected discounts on programs and event tickets
Invitations to Member-Only events
Time Travelers reciprocal membership
Free admission and discounts at more than 250 historical sites and museums in the US and 25 organizations in Florida. LEARN MORE
Named listing in the annual report
FRIEND
$20
Basic membership benefits for one person
DUO
$35
Basic membership benefits for two persons
SUPPORTER
$50
Basic membership benefits for two persons and all children or grandchildren under the age of 18
BENEFACTOR
$100
SUPPORTER level benefits PLUS two complimentary tickets to the new annual Mimi Hardman Collections and Reserach Center open house
SUSTAINER
$250
BENEFACTOR level benefits PLUS two complimentary tickets to the History Bus Tour
PIONEER
$500
SUSTAINER level benefits PLUS an invitation for two to the Director’s Annual Luncheon
PATRON
$1,000
PIONEER level benefits PLUS a private guided tour of the museum and Mimi Hardman Collections and Research Center for up to 15 guests
*All memberships are valid for one year. Additional contributions to the Lake Wales History Museum, Inc. are welcome and considered outside your membership fees. The Lake Wales History Museum, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.
Become a Volunteer
Are you looking for a way to give back to the community and use your skills and talents? Do you love history, sharing stories, and being with others? From greeting guests to helping in collections, volunteers are needed in every area of the museum. Your time is a vital part of the museum and helps us so much. We would love to have your volunteer with us!
Volunteers are needed to help answer the phone, greet visitors, work in the collections, on events, historic preservation projects, exhibit installations, and more. The museum is self-guided, but we encourage questions from visitors as they experience the exhibits.
To volunteer, please fill out and return the Volunteer Form or contact Julya Lizarralde, Curator of Public Programs for more information at 863-676-1759 or jlizarralde@lakewaleshistory.org.
Thank you to
Our Sponsors
