Hear The History of Florida!

History Talks are held in the historic courtroom on the third floor of the 1916 Historic Courthouse and guests will enjoy talks through the season. Please see below for dates and talks.

Wednesday, December 4 2024

History Talks: Russell Kelley On Historic Palm Beach

Historic Palm Beach: Driving, Biking, and Walking Tours is an engaging book that takes readers on a journey through the rich history of Palm Beach. Featuring meticulously planned routes for driving, walking, and biking, this book offers detailed descriptions, historical insights, and captivating anecdotes about the island’s most iconic landmarks. Whether you’re a resident or a curious visitor, this guide provides an immersive experience into the vibrant past and scenic beauty of Palm Beach.

Wednesday, January 8 2025

History Talks: Taylor Hagood on Theodore Pratt

Taylor Hagood, Ph.D. will discuss his recently published biography of another author, Theodore Pratt: A Florida Writer’s Life. Hagood will share Pratt’s life and works amid a lively and nostalgic tour through mid-20th century Florida.

Hagood is a Professor of American Literature at Florida Atlantic University whose many books include Faulkner, Writer of Disability (winner of the C. Hugh Holman Award for Best Book in Southern Studies) and Stringbean: The Life and Murder of a Country Music Legend.

Wednesday, March 12 2025

History Talks: The Dramatic Opening of Palm Beach and the Lake Worth Region

Juno Beach Historical Society presents 'The Dramatic Opening of Palm Beach & the Lake Worth Region. As late as the mid-1880s, the region around Lake Worth was so inaccessible by land and sea that only a few dozen families dared to settle here. The opening of the 7 1/2-mile Celestial Railroad in 1889, linking the Indian River Lagoon in Jupiter to Juno on Lake Worth, served as the gateway for residents, goods, and tourists. This photo-rich presentation, largely sourced from the HSPBC archives, will include vivid before-and-after views of a transformative five-year period.

Wednesday, April 9 2025

History Talks: 105 Years of Surfing History with Tom Warnke

Tom Warnke is a local historian and the executive director of Surfing Florida Museum in West Palm Beach. He has been surfing since 1956, when his family moved to Boynton Beach. In 1966, Tom founded the surfing organization Cripple Creek Surf Club. He became president of the Palm Beach County Surfing Association, which convinced the Florida Supreme Court to strike down a local ordinance that had banned surfing in the 1960s. Tom was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame and founded Florida’s first Surfrider Foundation Chapter in Palm Beach County. Since 2021, he has been the archive coordinator for the Delray Beach Historical Society.

Exciting talk on Palm Beach County History!

Please check in on the 3rd floor of the historic courthouse.

Please bring a light sweater or jacket.

If you are a member of the HSPBC, please use your 7 digit member number when booking to receive a discount on your reservation. If you do not know your member ID number, please email Stephanie Issac at sissac@pbchistory.org.