Florida Maritime Museum

06/19/2026

From the FMM Collection FMM2007.01.02:
Check out this interesting piece of tech! These are flashlight glasses. Bulbs are on the two ends of the glasses with a nose piece in the center. Would you wear these fashionable, handy flashlight glasses? Let’s be honest, they don’t look any more silly than today’s high-tech “smart glasses!”

06/17/2026

All Manatee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller offices will be closed on Friday, June 19. FMM staff will be out of office and will return to our normal hours on Monday.

In observance of Juneteenth, the Office of Angel Colonneso, Esq, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County, will be closed on Friday, June 19.

06/17/2026

During the American Revolution, the East and West Florida colonies remained loyal to the King. In fact, the Florida colonies became a refuge for Loyalists leaving the rebellious colonies. While most Loyalists went places that were easier to travel to such as Canada, thousands still came to Florida. Most of the Florida Loyalists came from the nearby southern colonies such as South Carolina. Britain also offered land grants to those settling in Florida which encouraged Loyalists to make Florida their home during the war. The image above is of Governor of East Florida, Patrick Tonyn, who helped make Florida a refuge for those loyal to the British crown, by offering land grants.

Check out some of the articles down below to learn more about loyalism in Florida during the American Revolution.

Read more about the Loyalists in Florida: https://allthingsliberty.com/2018/05/william-taylor-loyalist-refugee-in-east-florida/
Read more about British Land Grants: https://www.floridamemory.com/discover/historical_records/spanishlandgrants/wpa3.php
Read more about Patrick Tonyn’s governorship: https://allthingsliberty.com/2018/03/patrick-tonyn-britains-most-effective-revolutionary-era-royal-governor/

Image Credit: Painting of the Governor of East Florida Patrick Tonyn. 1774 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. , accessed 2 June 2026.

06/15/2026

Join the FMM crew! Do you have a passion for marketing and an interest in history? This is the perfect job for you! Click the link below for more information. The job application closes on 6/29/2026 at 11:59 PM!
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/manatee/jobs/5377257/marketing-volunteer-coordinator-fmm?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

06/15/2026

Come see us at Palmetto Historical Park on Thursday! Details in the post below.

Join Florida Maritime Museum on Thursday, June 18th from 9AM-12PM at Palmetto Historical Park for story time and a craft! Madi will read the book, “The Sea Knows” at 9:30am, 10:30am, and 11:30am. To pair with the story, they also have the materials to make your own jellyfish. No registration is required, craft materials are first come, first served.

This event is held here onsite at Palmetto Historical Park, 515 10th Ave W, Palmetto, FL 34221.

06/13/2026

Join us for Music on the Porch TODAY from 2-4pm at the Cortez Cultural Center! You can park at FMM and follow the signs over the bridge to the event. Our restrooms will be available as well (follow the signs).

06/10/2026

Join us TOMORROW at the Manatee County Agricultural Museum for Make It Take It from 9AM-12PM! We will be hosting Show n’ Shell storytime, and there will be many fun ocean themed activities to complete.

Children cannot be left unattended. No reservations are required, but entry will be limited at the door once capacity is met—first come, first served!

06/09/2026

Join us at Palmetto Historical Park on Thursday, June 18th from 9AM-12PM for storytime and a craft! We will read the book, “The Sea Knows” at 9:30am, 10:30am, and 11:30am. To pair with the story, we will also have the materials to make your own jellyfish. No registration is required, craft materials are first come, first served.

Palmetto Historical Park’s Address: 515 10th Ave W, Palmetto, FL 34221

06/07/2026

Did you know that Florida had a role in the American Revolution? Leading up to the 250th anniversary of the United States, we will be sharing some fun facts about Florida’s unique place in our country’s history. Today, we’re focusing on St. Augustine during the Revolutionary War.

The British controlled Florida for 20 years, in this time they divided Florida into two colonies: East Florida and West Florida. These colonies remained loyal to the king. St. Augustine’s stone fort, the Castillo de San Marcos, even housed high profile American prisoners, including three signers of the Declaration of Independence- Thomas Heyward, Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge.

St. Augustine is also the site of a significant Loyalist shipwreck, the Storm Wreck. The Storm Wreck happened on December 31, 1782 when Loyalists from South Carolina were trying to seek refuge in St. Augustine. The ship wrecked after running aground on a sandbar just off the coast. The site was filled with hundreds of artifacts that help to tell us more about what life was like during the American Revolution. It was even added to the National Register of Historic Places because of its significance.

To learn more about the artifacts uncovered from this wreck, check out the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum’s page about it: https://www.staugustinelighthouse.org/tag/storm-wreck/

Image Credit: Prockter, J. Map of East and West Florida, 1760. 1760. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. , accessed 20 May 2026.