Manatee Village Historical Park

06/03/2026

Our limited-edition 50 Years at the Village commemorative T-shirts are now available in the gift shop. Quantities are limited, so be sure to grab yours while supplies last!

Gift shop hours:
• Monday–Friday: 9 AM–3 PM
• 2nd & 4th Saturdays: 9 AM–3 PM

Show your support for Manatee Village Historical Park and help us celebrate 50 years of preserving local history!

06/03/2026

Our 50 Years at the Village celebration is quickly approaching, and we need your help!

We are looking for volunteers to assist specifically in the crafts station! This would be perfect for teens looking to get volunteer hours during the summer. We may also have openings at other stations throughout the event, so if you are interested in helping in a different area, please reach out to see where you might be a good fit.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Please note: all volunteers are required to complete a background check.

06/02/2026

History Highlight
In honor of our upcoming 50th anniversary on July 4th, our first History Highlight of each month through July will feature the historic buildings on our site. This month, we are featuring the Bunker Hill Schoolhouse.

In the late 1980s, after successfully relocating and renovating three historic buildings (the 1887 Church, the 1860 Courthouse, and the Stephens House) the Manatee County Historical Commission realized an essential element was missing from their efforts to depict community life in a pioneer settlement. For early settlers in rural areas, a one-room schoolhouse served not only as an educational space but also as a hub for community social life, hosting religious and civic gatherings.

The Historical Commission began their quest to find a one-room schoolhouse. During their search, they discovered a building that had been converted into a home and later used as a shed. This building was Bunker Hill School, constructed in 1908, which served the community of northeast Manatee County.

Benjamin D. Gullett, a long-time teacher and education supervisor, acquired the building in 1929, when it was no longer in use. He relocated the school to his property in Duette, where it functioned as his home. His daughter, Sallie Gullett Bradley, inherited the house and used it as her residence. In 1989, the Historical Commission obtained the home from Sallie as a memorial to her father, trading a new storage shed for the schoolhouse.

The restoration required hundreds of hours of volunteer labor. Volunteers repaired and replaced walls, interior and exterior siding, windows, doors, floors, and the roof. Desks and benches were crafted by volunteer craftsman, George Finken. Each desk bears the name of a Manatee County teacher whose family or friends contributed funds to purchase materials for the desks.

Historical Commission Members observe Bunker Hill Restoration, Mar. 1990, courtesy of Manatee County Public Library Digital Collection.
Schoolhouse Undergoing Renovations, 1989.
Interior of Schoolhouse Undergoing Renovations, 1989.
Teacher and Students Infront of Bunker Hill School, c. 1924, courtesy of Manatee County Public Library Digital Collection

06/01/2026

This is Linda and Gary Sweetman, who were married on December 30, 1977, in the 1887 Church. They were the 12th couple to be married in the church after its relocation to our site.

Over the years, hundreds of couples have shared their special day with us, and for our 50 Years at the Village celebration, we invite you to renew your vows in our historic 1887 Church to share yet another special day with us!

Registered couples will receive a 15-minute time slot on July 11, 2026, for their vow renewal ceremony. After your time slot, stay and enjoy the celebration with entertainment, food trucks, hands-on activities, crafts, and cupcakes (while supplies last)!

Were you married in the 1887 church? We’d especially love to hear your story and welcome you back for this special event!

Share your wedding photos in the comments below.

05/29/2026

The homes of the late 19th and early 20th century have so much character!

If you could live in one of these homes, which would you choose?

1) M.O. Thomas Residence on Marcy Street, c. 1895-1905.
2) Manatee County Home (unknown owner), c. 1910-1915.
3) S.S. Lamb Residence, 1900.
4) William R. Whitaker Residence, c. 1900-1905.
All photos Courtesy of Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection

05/28/2026

Cemetery Spotlight: Daniel Lloyd

Daniel Lloyd was born in England in 1837. At the young age of 10, he ran away from home and worked on ships, repairing sails throughout his adolescence. While his ship was being repaired on the Florida reefs, he met Adelaide Cunliffe.

Daniel knew he no longer wanted to be a sailor and followed Adelaide back to her family's home along the Braden River. As Adelaide's father, James, was also from England, he took a liking to Daniel quickly. In 1868, Daniel and Adelaide got married and had three children together. Although it is unknown how Adelaide passed away or where she is buried, by 1881 Daniel had remarried to Hannah Parks, and they had six children together.

Daniel is buried in plot #18 in the 1850 Manatee Burying Ground, surrounded by his second wife and children.

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

Yayy!! We loved having you and we are glad you enjoyed your visit!!

05/27/2026

Is this your hand?
In 1988, the Manatee County Historical Commission invited 144 children to participate in a unique project, tracing their hands for a commemorative quilt displayed in the Wiggins Store at Manatee Village Historical Park.

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we invite everyone whose handprints are featured on this quilt to join us for our 50 Years at the Village celebration on July 11th from 10 AM – 2 PM where the quilt will be on display during the event. We ask that all participants whose handprints are on the quilt gather at the display at 11 AM for a special group photo!

Please help us spread the word! Please see slide three for names of those on the quilt. For any questions, please contact [email protected]

05/26/2026

History Highlight:

Edwin S. Hubbard was born in May 1861 in Middletown, Connecticut. According to family accounts, Edwin was described as a wanderer and eventually found himself in Jacksonville while visiting his uncle. He decided to stay in Florida and became an express messenger between Jacksonville and Cedar Key.

In 1888, Edwin arrived in Terra Ceia and immediately knew it was home. In the mid-1890s, he married Mary A. McCoy who was also from Middletown, Connecticut. Shortly after their marriage, Edwin built a store and dock near their home on Bayshore Drive. Residents visited the store to purchase supplies such as seeds, fertilizer, and ice.

Edwin wore many hats throughout his life. He was known as a fruit and vegetable grower, store owner, former trustee for the Terra Ceia Public School District, and Sunday school superintendent.

Edwin and Mary had four children who grew up in the Hubbard home and around the family store. Their home burned down in the 1940s, and another house was later built on the same property. Edwin passed away in 1949 while still living in Terra Ceia.

Hubbard Store and Dock, 1900
Hubbard Store on Left Side of Bayshore Drive, c. 1900-1915
Hubbard House and Dock, c. 1900-1910.
Interior of Hubbard Store, 1900.
Courtesy of Manatee County Public Library Historical Digital Collection
Edwin S. Hubbard, May 5, 1897, Courtesy of The Florida Agriculturist.