Museum of Winter Haven History

05/23/2026

The museum is closed for the Memorial Day weekend. Weekly hours will not resume until October. We catalog files and create new displays during summer.
Tours for four or more people are available by appointment year-round. 863-206-6855 Talk or Text.
Enjoy your summer! Below: Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope and Willa McGuire enjoy a bit of boating ...

05/16/2026

LAST SATURDAY BEFORE SUMMER ...
Poinsettia Park, a 600-acre proposed development on Lake F***y that never quite got off the ground. It was the 1920s boom time and there were big ideas that sometimes just didn't pan out. The late Judy Howell who lived in the area that would have been Poinsettia Park shared this brochure with the museum.
You'll find photos and other exhibits in the Museum of Winter Haven History open Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to Noon. Free and open to the public in the historic pink Woman's Club building at 660 Pope Avenue, NW. Tour of exhibits at 10 a.m.(Saturday hours only offered through May 16 then resuming in October.)
Tours for four or more people available most days year-round by appointment. 863-206-6855 talk or text.

05/08/2026

Winter Haven's first official residents were F.A.K. Harris and wife Adelle. He is remembered as the Father of Winter Haven. She most assuredly was the Mother. Whether your mother is still with us or gone to her reward, we wish you warm, wonderful memories. After all, Adelle, having sent son Bert to get some bread from the bread box only to discover a rattlesnake, shot the snake dead. Mom's are like that ... yes they are.

05/01/2026

Pictured: Legendary Winter Haven photographer Robert Dahlgren and his wife, Queena documented our city from 1912 to 1955. Dahlgren was a master of lighting and composition. Among his legacies is his work with Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope to lay out the garden's walkways and botanical plantings to produce the most beautiful and colorful photographs. Wife, Queena mastered the art of tinting black and white photographs before color film was in use. The museum features many examples of their talent.

04/29/2026

04/24/2026

We are told that circa 1949 or so there was a small lakeside business on Lake Howard near the current South Lake Howard Nature Park. It was called "Palm Island." If you remember this bit of history, please comment.
You'll find this and other Winter Haven history celebrated at the Museum of Winter Haven History. Open this Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to Noon. Special tour of exhibits at 10 a.m. The museum is located in the historic Woman's Club building at 660 Pope Avenue, N.W. Free and open to the public.
Tours for four or more people available most days by appointment. 863-206-6855 talk or text.
Come explore!

04/17/2026

Celebrating the news that Winter Haven's own Gram Parsons will be a 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee! And aren't we fortunate that Main Street Winter Haven and The Gram Parson's Derry Down have been celebrating him all along!

04/14/2026

We are having a special "Music at the Museum:"

Billy Needs a Beard
Saturday Evening, May 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Museum of Winter Haven History/Woman's Club Building
660 Pope Avenue
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Billy Needs a Beard (BNAB) was originated over 20 years ago. The genre is largely Folk-Rock inspired by music such as The Beatles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Band, Bob Dylan and the Eagles. BNAB mixes covers with original music in their sets.

Current band members are Steven Glick on lead guitar and vocals, Billy Lippy on rhythm guitar and vocals, Mike Lawson on bass and vocals, Josh Dampier on violin and Steve Greenberg on flute. The band wrote and has published three albums available on all the streaming services (Apple, Amazon, Spotify, etc.).

A free will offering will be collected. Seating is limited.
www.BillyNeedsaBeard.com

04/10/2026

Pictured is the Chubb (Lake Alfred) Railway Station circa 1910.
The Museum of Winter Haven History is open Saturday,April 11 from 9 a.m. to Noon at 660 Pope Avenue, NW. Special tour of museum exhibits at 10 a.m.
Free and open to the public, it is located in the historic "pink" Woman's Club building. Tours for four or more people are available most days by appointment: 863-206-6855 talk or text. Come explore. Social clubs, church groups, class reunions and other interested groups are cordially invited.
Join us Sunday April 12 for Music at the Museum featuring “Those Guys.” 2:30 p.m.
Photo from Jeff Davies.

04/08/2026

THIS SUNDAY AT THE MUSEUM ...
Music at the Museum - Proudly presents “THOSE GUYS"
Sunday, April 12 — 2:30 p.m.
An eclectic musical buffet performed by Steven Glick on guitar and Michael Lawson on cello and bass. Their repertoire ranges from Bach, Handel and Beethoven to The Sons of the Pioneers, Hank Williams and Elvis to Chuck Berry and the Beatles to The Great American Songbook.
Join us Sunday for “Those Guys.” Free admission and the general public is cordially invited. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. at the Museum of Winter Haven History in the historic Woman’s Club building at 660 Pope Avenue, NW, Winter Haven, 33881.
A good time is guaranteed