Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum — Attraction in West Palm Beach

I love this little museum so much. To start with it is housed on the first floor of the Neoclassical 1916 Palm Beach Courthouse. Architectural features of the building include oak paneling, mosaic tile hallways, maple floors, and a two story courtroom with balcony and skylights. When it was built it was called "the handsomest" in Florida. Soon after it was built however it was forced to expand to meet the needs of the growing community. One expansion took place in 1927 but the worst one was a 5.5 million dollar wraparound that covered building in 1969. A new larger courthouse was built across the street in 1995. Preservationists then worked to restore this building and the first thing they removed was the wraparound. After many years a multi million dollar restoration of this building was completed in 2008 and the history museum opened. After you visit the museum be sure to explore the quaint courthouse. The balcony contains exhibits on Florida law and it's history.

The first floor history museum contains three galleries. The people gallery examines more than 100 people who made contributions to Palm Beach. Some of the exhibits focus on the Seminoles, pioneers, and business leaders in the community. The place gallery focuses on the animals and ecology of Palm Beach. I really enjoyed the Barefoot Mailman exhibit. The Barefoot Mailmen were US postal workers who delivered the mail in the 1850's by walking barefoot on the beach from Palm Beach to Miami. One of the mailmen mysteriously disappeared at the Hillsboro Lighthouse. There is also a gallery for temporary exhibits. The current one is Building Paradise: Addison Mizner's Legacy. The exhibit explores architect Addison Mizner whose Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture can be seen throughout Palm Beach and Boca Raton. It's on display until June 29th.

In addition to operating the museum the Historical Society also offers many events throughout the year which includes lectures and history tours. You can find a listing of their events on their website. Entrance is free to the museum and you can find meter parking outside. This museum is a historical treasure that everyone should visit...

Thank you Richard and Pat Johnson, Palm Beach History Museum and Palm Beach Historical Society for having the foresight, fortitude, and vision to trust us in 2021, when the society hosted Haitian descent Josephine Alexandra Barbot.

The event was held thanks to Jeremy Johnson’s vision and in celebration of Haitian Heritage Month and Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

The Historical Society of Palm Beach County held during Covid a virtual “Meet the Artist” Reception for the exhibit, Tell Me About Haiti, by Haitian artist Alexandra Barbot.

Alexandra shared her inspiration for her art as well as the story behind these pieces. This event was open to the public.

The exhibit was featured in the historic courtroom on the third floor of the 1916 Historic Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, at the Richard and Pat Palm Beach County History Museum.

The images depict the history of the island come alive through the paintings and portraits from the time of the Queen and Kings of the Tainos at the discovery of the island, to the prestigious Kingdom of Henry Christophe in the northern part of the island. Limited-edition prints are available...

As a local resident who deeply values the preservation and dissemination of our region's history, I cannot praise the Palm Beach County Historical Society enough for their commendable efforts. The Society is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to explore and understand the captivating history of Palm Beach County. The Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum offers a captivating journey through time, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the stories, events, and people that have shaped our community. The old courtroom is a true gem, the preserved architecture and attention to detail are truly impressive. The staff and volunteers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, always ready to share their expertise and answer any questions. Overall I highly recommend a stop into this museum to history enthusiasts and the general...