Desoto County Historical Society

July Member Meeting
2024-07-15 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | DeSoto Memorial Hospital – McSwain Room, 900 N Robert Ave., Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
We hope you will join us for our member meeting on Monday, July 15, at noon at DMH in the McSwain Room. Our guest speaker, Christopher Parent, Community Partnership Specialist with Empath Health/Tidewell Hospice serving DeSoto and Charlotte Counties, will conduct a Personal Legacy Writing Workshop. He will give a free workbook to each attendee plus tips on how to get started with writing your own personal legacy or to help you encourage others to write theirs.
Join us early at 11:30 If you are having lunch.

20th Anniversity of Hurricane Charley Exhibit
2024-08-03 10:00 - 14:00 | DeSoto County Library, 125 N. Hillsborough Ave., Arcadia, FL, 34255, United States
Arcadia Fl. 081804: The twisted carnage of the Arcadia water tower rests Wednesday amidst broken trees, a smashed truck and a hollowed building as the small town some 20 miles away from Punta Gorda took a powerful punch from Hurricane Charley last week. Many first responders from the Alachua County area have arrived in the southwest Florida town to lend a helping hand. Photo by Rob C. Witzel / The Gainesville Sun
We need your photographs and memories.
Help us preserve memories of Hurricane Charley. Come to the library, bring your photos, documents, testimonials, etc. This information will be scanned / recorded at the library. You do not need to leave your personal items, but you may donate them if you like. The Exhibit will be on display at the library, August 10th — 31st, 2024.

4th Annual Florida Cracker Meal
2024-09-28 17:30 - 19:30 | Pine Level United Methodist Church, 9596 NW Pine Level St, Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
Enjoy some food, fun, and a historic film at the Society’s 4th Annual Florida Cracker Meal at 5:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 28, in the Fellowship Hall of Pine Level Church, 9596 NW Pine Level St. Seating is limited. Tickets for the Florida Cracker Meal are $15.00 for adults, $8.00 for children 6–12 years, and are available at the Museum 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sept. 12, 14, and 19;
Crews Bank and Trust, Member FDIC, 2747 S.W. State Road 70; Florida Farmhouse Coffee Shop, 103 W. Oak St.;
on the Website historicdesoto.org
using PayPal; or call 863-266-5774 or email desotocountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Florida Cracker cuisine dates from when Florida was a frontier and is related to—but distinct from—Southern cooking. The buffet will include traditional Florida Cracker foods such as pork steaks, collards, black-eyed peas, tomato gravy and rice, sweet potatoes, cornmeal muffins with freshly churned butter, guava cobbler, and more.
One story that explains why native-born Floridians are called “Florida Crackers” comes from the cowman or cow hunter. To drive the herd, he cracked a cow whip over the bovines. (The whip was not used on animals or people.) The “crack” or “pop” of the whip could be heard for quite a distance, so people started saying, “Listen. Here come the Crackers.”
Also:
In honor of that tradition, those attending the event are invited to enter the Arcadia Albritton Coker Cake Contest by baking their most traditional or most creative “from scratch” cake recipes. Winners will be announced, prizes awarded, and all cakes will be plated and served. To enter the cake contest, please register by calling 863-266-5774 or email at: desotocountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

November Member Meeting
2024-11-18 11:00 - 14:00 | DeSoto Memorial Hospital – McSwain Room, 900 N Robert Ave., Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
Monthly Meeting—Monday, Nov. 18—12 noon—DMH—McSwain Room
Elect The Society’s Officers and Board of Directors
Annual elections for the Society’s officers and directors will take place during the November meeting, Mon., Nov. 18,
and they will be “installed” at the Dec. meeting: President – Adrian Cline; Vice-President – Vernon Keen; Recording Secretary
– René Collins (interim); Corresponding Secretary – Nancy Humphrey; Treasurer – Nancy “Eric” Erickson; Museum
Coordinator – Carol Mahler; and Directors – Norma Banas, Ruth Dunn, Jeff Griffis, Ellen Hutson, Stella Parker, and Luke
Wilson.
Carol Mahler will present a program on the posters Society members created in 2015 to
commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and introduce a project to gather
memories of Vietnam War veterans.
March 29, 2023 the nation recognized National Vietnam War Veterans Day on the 50th anniversary of the date the last
combat troops left South Vietnam. It was not until April 30, 1975, that NVA tanks rolled through the gate of the Presidential
Palace in Saigon, effectively ending the war. The 50th anniversary of that end of the Vietnam War is coming up on April 30,
2025. We invite the community to record stories of our local veterans from that war for a future public display. More details
and help in creating your memory poster will be available.
Come early if you want to get some lunch.

December Member Meeting
2024-12-16 11:30 - 14:00 | DeSoto Memorial Hospital – McSwain Room, 900 N Robert Ave., Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
Member Meeting:
Monday, December 16
DeSoto Memorial Hospital — McSwain Room
Room open at 11:30 a.m.
Meeting 12 noon
David Williams, DeSoto County Property Appraiser, will install the 2025 officers and board.
Thanks to Adrian for arranging a concert for us for our Dec. meeting by the DeSoto Middle School choir!
WE THANK YOU for your past support…and hope you will continue to support us in the coming year.
We hope you will join us for our Member Meeting on Monday, December 16 at 11:30 a.m. in the McSwain Room, DMH.

Show support for your new Board members and your Historical Society.
Celebrate the inauguration of our officers and directors.
Enjoy music by DeSoto Middle School Choir
Pay your dues for 2025.

Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Parade
2025-01-20 10:00 - 17:00 | Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, 101 S. Orange Ave, Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade will start at 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 20, 2025, at the intersection of S. Orange Ave. and Magnolia St. in front of the Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, proceeding south and then west on Martin Luther King, Jr., St. to the Louis C. Anderson, Sr. Park, 320 SW M.L.K. Jr St., Arcadia, FL 34266, where a bazaar will be held until 5 p.m.

January Member Meeting
2025-01-20 11:30 - 14:00 | DeSoto Memorial Hospital – McSwain Room, 900 N Robert Ave., Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
Cynthia Langston will speak about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his effect on her life. A retired educator and administrator of the DeSoto County School District, the Rev. Langston is also the pastor of Ivy Chapel AME Church in Nocatee. Lunch is available for purchase in the hospital cafeteria at 11:30 a.m.

Hop on, Hop off! I Spy Desoto Bus
2025-04-19 09:00 - 15:00 | FL
HOP ON, HOP OFF I SPY DESOTO BUS: Park at one of the designated locations and catch the FREE transportation bus! FUN, LEARNING & EXPLORATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Hop on the FREE DeSoto Magic School Bus for an unforgettable I Spy Adventure the whole family will love! As you ride between exciting Suncoast Remake Learning Days events, you’ll explore local history, uncover fascinating stories, and spot landmarks along the way.
Click here to Download a “I Spy Desoto Bus” Coloring sheet! Color and bring it along for chance to win a free t-shirt!

Krissy Constantino - The Historic Heard Opera House
2025-04-21 11:30 - 17:00 | DeSoto Memorial Hospital – McSwain Room, 900 N Robert Ave., Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
The DeSoto County Historical Society invites you to enjoy a presentation by Krissy Constantino about the Historic Heard Opera House at: Noon, on Mon., Apr. 21, in the McSwain Room of DeSoto Memorial Hospital, 900 N. Robert Ave., in Arcadia.
You may buy your lunch in the cafeteria at 11 :30 a.m. and eat it in the McSwain Room before the presentation begins.
For more information, please call 863-266-5774 or desotocountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Sensational: Florida Native Plants That The Pioneers Used.
2025-04-23 15:00 - 17:00 | Arcadia Housing Authority, 7 Booker T. Washington Ave., Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
When the pioneers arrived in Florida, they found no grocery stores or hardware shops or department stores.
So they looked for what they needed in nature. This is your chance to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell native plants, and learn how the pioneers used them, and more.
And take home a free Florida native plant!
P.O. Box 1824, Arcadia, FL 34265
863-266-5774
desotocountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
www.historicdesoto.org
And we’re on Facebook, too!

Pioneer Day 2026
2026-03-28 09:00 - 15:00 | Turner Agri-Civic Center, 2250 NE Roan St., Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
The DeSoto County Historical Society’s 22nd Annual Pioneer Day and BBQ showcases the history and heritage of southwest Florida from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sat., March 28, 2026, at the Turner Agri-Civic Center, 2250 NE Roan St., with the Arcadia American Legion sponsored Antique Tractor and Hit & Miss Engine Show plus Hotrod and Classic Car Show.
This year’s festival will commemorate the centennial anniversary of Arcadia City Hall, J. L. Jones Building, and Plaza Hotel and celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Independence.
Fun for the whole family includes bodacious barbecue, luscious strawberry shortcake, and other tasty treats; demonstrations of old-fashioned skills and crafts; arts and crafts, legendary characters; musical entertainment; traditional Florida Cracker cow camp and whip crackers; classic 1924 LaFrance firetruck and fire hose demonstration with an exhibit about the 1905 fire that destroyed downtown Arcadia; Florida authors and artists; a free “hands-on history” area with time-honored tasks, vintage games, fossil dig, and more.
For more information, call 863-266-5774 or send an email message to desotocountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com or check out our Pioneer Day page.

Hop on, Hop off! I Spy Desoto Bus
2026-04-18 09:00 - 15:00 | FL
FREE BUS RIDES ~ FREE SNACKS ~ FREE ACTIVITIES!
HOP ON, HOP OFF I SPY DESOTO BUS: Park at one of the designated locations and catch the FREE transportation bus! FUN, LEARNING & EXPLORATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Hop on the FREE DeSoto Magic School Bus for an unforgettable I Spy Adventure the whole family will love! As you ride between exciting Suncoast Remake Learning Days events, you’ll explore local history, uncover fascinating stories, and spot landmarks along the way.
Designated Stops
Park at one of the designated locations and hop on the FREE I Spy DeSoto Bus! Enjoy learning about local history along the ride on a fun-filled family adventure.
Events at DeSoto County Library, 125 N Hillsborough Ave.

Color Me Beautiful | Spring Remix, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
A Look Within, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Activate the Future: The Next Chapter Starts Here, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Create Mosaic Art at the Library! 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Events Elsewhere
Everyday Science, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
The McSwain Center, 16 S Volusia Ave.
Arts and Crafts Fun and Learning, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 304 W Myrtle St.
Cake Creators, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Church of Christ, 710 SW Martin Luther King St.
Football & Cheer Clinic, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Richard Bowers Jr Stadium, 1175 SW Hillsborough Ave.
Casa San Juan Bosco Family Fest, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Casa San Juan Bosco, 2358 SE Arnold Andrews Ave.
Together in Teal: A Child Safety Day, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Walt Brewer Sport Complex, 1347 Hargraves St.
STEM Day at SFSC, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
South Florida State College, DeSoto, 2251 NE Turner Ave.
Crack the Case with DCSO, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, 208 E Cypress St.
For more information, call 863-266-5774 or send an email message to
desotocountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Grand Reopening and Ribbon Cutting of the Historic John Morgan Ingraham House
2026-05-01 10:00 - 12:00 | John Morgan Ingraham House Museum, 300 N Monroe Ave., Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
In celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary The DeSoto County Historical Society would like to invite you to the Grand Reopening and Ribbon Cutting of the Historic John Morgan Ingraham House
– at –
300 North Monroe Ave
– on –
Friday, May 1, 2026,
10:00am
Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tours Provided

The Arcadia Rodeo: A July 4th Tradition
2026-07-04 10:00 - 15:00 | FL
Please share your Arcadia rodeo memorabilia for the DeSoto County Historical Society’s exhibit “The Arcadia Rodeo: A July 4th Tradition” at the Arcadia Main Street Office, 17 N. Polk Ave., from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on July 4. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Memorabilia may be brought to the Main street office between 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 3, or between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 4. Memorabilia may be picked up between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on July 4, or between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Monday, July 6.
The Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo actually began with a July 4th Celebration organized by the Arcadia American Legion K-Post 11 on July 4, 1929. The exhibition and demonstration of the everyday skills and techniques used by our local cattlemen was such a success, that K-Post 11 started the first Arcadia Rodeo held on November 11-12, 1929. And the rest of the story, as they say, is history.
The July 11, 1929, “Arcadian” reported that “The program of sports during the day was an interesting and varied lot. The amount and quality of new talent in the numerous events came as a surprise to those in charge, and out of this has come a proposition to put on a real rodeo
exhibition here some time later in the year, probably next fall.”
The July 4th Rodeo continued as as an Arcadia tradition until 2012.

5th Annual Florida Cracker Meal
2026-10-03 17:30 - 19:30 | Pine Level United Methodist Church, 9596 NW Pine Level St, Arcadia, FL, 34266, United States
Date & Time: Saturday, Oct. 3rd
Location: Pine Level Church, Fellowship Hall, 9695 NW Pine Level St.
