Florida Trust for Historic Preservation

Today marks the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month! Every week, we will highlight Latin American resources that have been included in Florida's 11 to Save or recognized with a Florida Preservation Award! Stay tuned!

?? Spotlight Sunday?? Delaitre Hollinger - Individual Distinguished Award (2024) A dedicated historic preservationist and community activist from Tallahassee, Delaitre Hollinger has been passionately involved in preserving Black history since he was 13 years old. His early exposure to Black history at Florida A&M University shaped his commitment to preserving and honoring the contributions of African Americans. At 16, he successfully initiated the renaming of a local baseball field in honor of two influential Southside educators, earning recognition from the Leon County Board of County Commissioners. At 17, he became the curator of the Taylor House Museum, leading efforts to have it listed on the National Register of Historic Places and securing a Florida Heritage Site historical marker. His persistence saved the Historic Casa?as House from demolition and led to its incorporation into a housing development. Hollinger founded the National Association for the Preservation of African American History and Culture in 2013, which raises awareness and advocates for the preservation of African American historic landmarks. He also founded the Florida Civil Rights Museum, Inc., the nation’s first virtual Civil Rights museum, which received significant funding from the Leon County Board of County Commissioners. His initiatives include uncovering lost graves of formerly enslaved persons, renaming Tallahassee streets to honor notable African Americans and preserving historic structures like Robinson’s Grocery Store and the Modern Cleaners Building. His efforts have been recognized by various entities, demonstrating his profound impact on the community and his unwavering dedication to preserving African American history. Congratulations! Photo 1: Delaitre Hollinger. Photo 2: Delaitre Hollinger and Jonathan Lammers stand at the site of a cemetery for enslaved persons Photo 3: Casa?as House #PreservationAwards #FloridaTrust #LeonCounty #LeonCountyFL #Leon #LeonFL #Tallahassee #TallahasseeFL #HistoricPreservation #FloridaTrust

On Monday, Florida Trust CEO & President Melissa Wyllie spoke with an historic architecture class at Florida State University about why preservation helps build communities and how we can work together to protect our shared history.

Today, St. Augustine is celebrating its 459th birthday! Founder's Day commemorates the landing of Don Pedro Menéndez de Avíles in 1565 and the establishment of the city, which became the first continuously inhabited settlement founded by Europeans in the United States. Scheduled events include an historical reenactment by Historic Florida Militia: Men of Menéndez, a procession to the Fountain of Youth archaeological space, weapons demonstrations and more! Check out this article to learn more: https://lnkd.in/e24P-Uee

?? Spotlight Sunday?? 2024 Florida's 11 to Save - Greater El-Beth-El Divine Holiness Church The Greater El-Beth-El Divine Holiness Church stands as a tribute to Jacksonville's cultural and historical heritage, particularly within the African American community. Constructed in 1911, this church has served as a cornerstone in the old Hanstown community, which, along with Sugar Hill, fostered African American life for over a century. Originally built with rusticated block walls crafted by its own members, the church symbolizes the community's self-reliance and determination during its formative years. The church continues to play a pivotal role in the community, with ongoing efforts to preserve its architectural integrity and historical significance. However, over time, numerous repairs have altered its original architectural features. The structure's roof has suffered significant deterioration, allowing water ingress that damaged interior plaster and acoustic ceiling tiles. Additionally, much of the church's once abundant stained art glass has been lost due to this roof deterioration. The nominator hopes inclusion in the 2024 Florida's 11 to Save will help galvanize the community's support for the church. Learn more about the Florida's 11 to Save! https://lnkd.in/ekccqkWg #11toSave #HistoricPreservation #FloridaTrust #thisplacematters #ElBethEl #Jacksonville #JacksonvilleFL #Duval #DuvalFL

Today is National Book Day! Are you looking for book suggestions? Scroll no further! Below you will find just a few of the award-winning books that were recognized with Florida Preservation Awards in the category of Preservation Communications/Media. Listed by year awarded. ?? 2017: Hotel Ponce de Leon: the Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Flagler's Gilded Age Palace by Leslee Keys. The author recounts the complicated construction of the hotel — the first major structure to be built entirely of poured concrete — and the efforts to preserve it and restore it to its former glory. ?? 2021: Building Eden: The Beginning of Miami-Dade County's Visionary Park System, edited by Rocco Ceo. This book captures the history and beauty of the formation and development of Miami-Dade's Heritage Parks and the people who shaped them. ?? 2022: The Nine Lives of Florida's Famous Key Marco Cat, by Austin J. Bell. The book explores nine periods in the life of this intriguing wooden carving, first discovered by anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing in 1896. ?? 2023: Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage: Landmarks for the Future (Bicentennial Edition) by Wayne Wood. This new edition of Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage aims to inspire appreciation for Jacksonville's historic buildings and to provide a deeper understanding of the city's architectural history. To learn more about the Florida Preservation Awards and our award winners, visit https://lnkd.in/eP2S6KYw #NationalBookDay #Bookworm #HistoricPreservation #PreservationAwards #FloridaTrust

Last chance to join us for our Insider's Tour: Miami Beach, September 12-14! Today is the last day to register, but there's still some time left! Sign up now at: https://lnkd.in/eJuDq4dB ??A sunset cruise: Sail on the historic boat Mizner’s Dream, taking in the beauty of Miami by sea. This beautifully restored yacht is named after prominent Florida architect Addison Mizner. ??Architecture tours: These guided tours will take you through the heart of the Art Deco Historic District and alongside mid-century landmarks from the 1950s and 1960s. ???A hard-hat tour of the Raleigh Hotel: Gain exclusive access to the ongoing restoration of the iconic Raleigh Hotel, guided by experts involved in the project. ???A private tour of the Wolfsonian Museum: Enjoy a personalized exploration of the Wolfsonian Museum, which houses an impressive collection of art and design from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. — and more! Don't miss this opportunity to explore the heart of Miami Beach!

Opa-locka’s stunning Company Administration Building, one of the 2021 Florida's 11 to Save, is almost ready to shine again! ???? This Moorish Revival icon, known for its domes and minarets, is undergoing restoration and will soon open as a cultural and community center. The city commission voted unanimously to approve this $1.6 million restoration project last year, breathing new life into the building and downtown Opa-locka. We can't wait to see the results! Read more at: https://lnkd.in/g2Tf6BbY Photo: Amelia Orjuela Da Silva/The Miami Times #11toSave #Opalocka #OpalockaFL #MiamiDade #MoorishRevival #ArabianNights #ThisPlaceMatters #HistoricPreservation

Happy Labor Day! The Florida Trust office will remain closed in observance of the holiday. We'll be back on Tuesday, September 3! In the meantime, please enjoy this boating scene from Sarasota on Labor Day 1968 (Florida Memory).

?? Spotlight Sunday?? Daniel "Dan" Friend - Individual Distinguished Award (2024) Dan Friend’s volunteer work has significantly contributed to the recognition and preservation of his community’s military history. As a volunteer with the DeLand Historic Trust, Inc., he led the creation of the Wall of Honor and Veterans Plaza in Bill Dreggors Park, commemorating local veterans who served in WWI and WWII. He coordinates Memorial and Veterans Day observances with local Veterans of Foreign Wars’ chapters and serves as the curator and guide for the military exhibits at DeLand’s Memorial Hospital and Military Museum. His displays, including a collection of sailing ships, reflect his devotion to the museum’s care and improvement. Friend has also worked on projects to restore and maintain veterans’ headstones in local cemeteries, notably raising the neglected headstones of Black veterans in DeLand’s Union Cemetery. Friend’s most notable achievement is his effort to bring the war tugboat ST479 Tiger back to DeLand from Stockholm, Sweden. Through the DeLand Army Tugboat Preservation Group, which he founded in 2012, Dan overcame numerous challenges to return the Tiger to Lake Beresford, where it was originally built. Learn more about this year's award winners at https://lnkd.in/dY-jMnF7 #PreservationAwards #FloridaTrust #VolusiaCounty #VolusiaCountyFL #Volusia #VolusiaFL #DeLand #DeLandFL #MilitaryHistory #WallofHonor #Veterans #WWII #Tugboat #HistoricPreservation #FloridaTrust