Polk County History Center & Genealogical Library — Attraction in Bartow

The Polk County History Center is located in the historic 1908 Courthouse located on Main Street in Bartow. I love this trend of turning these historic courthouses into history museums when their cities outgrow the space. These old courthouses are designed in an elegant Neoclassical design. They also made courthouses into museums in Orlando and West Palm Beach. The 1908 courthouse in Bartow served as the Polk County Courthouse from 1908 until 1987. In 1988 the building was turned into the Polk County History Center and Genealogical Research Library. In 1989 the courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Admission to the museum is free and there is free street parking. You start your self guided tour with a video exhibition guide. The museum has 11 permanent and four temporary galleries over two floors.On the first floor is a gift shop and 7 galleries that cover history from the pioneers to the industrialists. Displays include what school was like at the turn of the century, early 1900's women's fashion, World Series championships, area landmarks, fishing, lost attractions, historic Dixie Hwy, Publix, Coke a Cola, trains, the citrus industry, cattle ranching, pioneers, and African-Americans in early Polk County.

On the second floor there are two restored courtrooms, one from 1908 and one from 1926, the genealogical library, displays about Polk County's military history and the paleo Indians including, a dugout canoe from 400-570 AD, an arts and culture gallery, and displays about women's suffrage, In the temporary gallery they were having a quilt exhibit.

I love that the courthouse is rumored to be haunted. A lady in white has been reported on the second and third floors and screams have been heard in the basement. Some guests have reported cold spots. As you walk around the galleries it is not too difficult to imagine that this building is haunted.

I had a very nice time exploring the museums collection of fossils, clothing, military relics, and household items. The Polk County History Center is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. This is a really great museum with a wide range of items s that will appeal to everyone and it's free. Come out and learn about the history of Polk County and...

Polk county History Center was awesome it shows so much history of this area and how a lot of things around the world affected us and so many people that are such a big impact all over the world came from this area Polk county Florida it's amazing you guys got to come out and see it if you're living Florida or if it's something that you're down here to have a good time and check all the areas this is one of them you can come and check the history of it or if you're a local come out and check it out it's really really nice there is no cost to it. I have more stuff posted on to our page and Facebook under the same name adventures with the Riveras. Check out the pictures and go to my page on Facebook so you can see more because I am limited right here and I am limited on the videos. Well this is Johnny signing up for another adventure on to my next and only if you follow me you will be up to date on...

MY LIFE HAS BEEN ENRICHED . . . by the many offerings of Polk County's History Center & Genealogical Library. They've assisted me with family research, have enlightened me about many historical aspects of our county - one of which was a FREE historical walking tour of OAKHILL CEMETERY (if interested - I've added a review there + many photos) and secondly a wonderful conversation with historian and author of the book, "Communities of the Kathleen Area (Images of America)" which I immediately check out (book can be Inter Library Loaned via Lake Wales Library System) by Lois Sherrouse-Murphy. I've toured the History Center top to bottom with my 4 year old grandson, Oliver . . . and know that I'll return...