Floridaland - Amusement Park in Osprey, FL in the 1960s. Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2023-08-09 | Do you remember Floridaland? Whether you do or not, here is your chance to learn the story behind the famed “everything under the sun” roadside attraction that was located between Venice and Sarasota. The amusement park, which operated from 1964-1971, left area children, adults, and out-of-state tourists with countless cherished memories. Remember the deer park, can-can dancers, western shootouts, train rides, boat tours or the renowned porpoise shows?Venice Museum’s 2023/2024 Seasonal Exhibit, Rediscover Floridaland, features photos, artifacts, and stories behind Floridaland. Come join the fun and rediscover what made Floridaland so special to so many people during the pre-Disney era of roadside attractions! The Venice Museum is located inside the historic Triangle Inn—listed in both the Venice and National Registers of Historic Places. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; and the first and third Saturdays in October through April from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information about the exhibit, contact the museum at 941-486-2487. (Video donated by the Vail Family - VMA # 2020.22.01)
Scott Pinkerton - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-05 | ...
Micheal Pachota - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-05 | ...
Liz & Tony Maggio - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-05 | ...
Ken & Susan Heitel - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
Kathy Lehner - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
Jennifer Britton - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
Eric Robinson - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
Kelly Caldwell - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
Kathy Lehner Part 2 - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
Bob Vedder - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
CJ Fishman - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
Jeff Boone - Leadership Venice Class 2024 - Oral History Project Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2024-10-03 | ...
Old Betsy Helps Dedicate Newly Opened Fire Station 1 - Venice, FL Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2021-10-14 | Old Betsy, the City of Venice's 1926 LaFrance Fire Engine, becomes the first fire engine to pull into the newly opened Fire Station 1 in Venice, FL on October 14, 2021.
Farley Open House - April 2019 Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-06-25 | Week 13 Films for Friday: The Walter Farley House (6/26/20)Did you know a famous author wrote one of his most enduring literary pieces right here in Venice, FL? Walter Farley (author of The Black Stallion), lived in Venice from 1956-1989 in a mid-century modern structure designed by famed Sarasota architects Ralph Twitchell and Jack West. The house which sits directly on the Gulf of Mexico features cinder block walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and terrazzo floors. Here is a short video of Walter's daughter, Alice speaking about growing up in the house. It's from an April 2019 open house event sponsored by the Sarasota Architecture Foundation and attended by Venice Historical Resources staff. VERY interesting piece of local Venice history!
African American History in Venice, FL Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-06-11 | Week 11 Films for Friday: African American History in Venice, FLThis week we look at African American history in Venice through segments from the 2010 WEDU PBS documentary: Venice, Florida: Moving Forward by Looking Back.
Kentucky Military Institute Winters in Venice, FL - 1950 Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-05-28 | We decided this week to treat you to one of our best clips in the digital archives. For your viewing pleasure, enjoy this short segment featuring those boys of the Kentucky Military Institution (KMI) coming south to winter in Venice in 1950! Check out the KMI Parade Grounds (present day Centennial Park), the KMI dorms (San Marco Building), and the 1930s built Bath House (now where the Venice Beach Pavilion is located).As an added bonus, watch the famous filmmaker, Cecil B. DeMille be celebrated by the boys of KMI with a parade in his honor. Enjoy!
1971 Venice High School Basketball and Football Game Highlights Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-05-08 | Missing Venice sports? Well, here is a flashback. This week’s clip out of the collection at the Venice Division of Historical Resources is game highlights from the 1971 sports season at Venice High School. The first section is Venice Indians Basketball vs Palmetto in the Venice High School gym on Friday, January 29, 1971. The second is football highlights from the 1971 Fall Season featuring Venice High vs Bradenton Southeast, a home game for Venice at John E. Davis Memorial Stadium occurring on Friday, October 8, 1971. (Venice basketball in white and Venice football in dark uniforms) Enjoy!
John Nolen’s 1926 City Plan and the Opening of Venice, FL Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-04-30 | With the start of the reopening of Florida’s cities after the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, we thought it would be appropriate for our “Films for Friday” to look at the original planning and opening of Venice. Enjoy this short video clip from the documentary Imagining Venice and hear from Professor of Environmental Studies, Bruce Stephenson and former Venice City Councilman, John Moore give their take on Nolen’s 1926 plan for Venice. As always, once the museum reopens please feel free to come by and learn more about the origins of our wonderful and historic city!
Selected scenes of the Hollywood movie, Prestige, filmed in Venice, FL in 1931 Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-04-23 | Did you know the Myakka River in Venice, FL was a destination as a big production movie set in the 1930s? The RKO production, Prestige, was filmed here starring Ann Harding, Melvin Douglas, and directed by Tay Garrett using the Myakka River environment to depict a Malaysian jungle. Shooting started in the winter of 1931, on a stretch of the Myakka River about a quarter mile upstream from present day Snook Haven Restaurant and Park!
1991 Venice, FL Christmas Parade Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-04-17 | Week 3 Films for Friday1991 Christmas Parade and Venice Community Concert BandThis week’s film is a throwback to the days of pre-social distancing! It is the 1991 City of Venice, FL Christmas Parade with footage of downtown Venice's decorated storefronts, songs by the Venice Community Concert Band and various floats and parade performances. Enjoy this flashback!
Tarpon Fishing in Venice, FL Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-04-09 | Did you know tarpon fishing was a key element in promoting the new city of Venice, FL in the 1920s? The July 1st, 1927 Venice News states:“The Tarpon Tournament was a huge success, for it was filmed by all of the leading newsreels of the country, and is now being shown to vast audiences from coast to coast.”Posted here is a video from the Venice Division of Historical Resources’ Collection of what is believed to be one of the referenced videos shot of anglers fishing in the 1920s Tarpon Tournament in Venice, FL. To learn more about the 1920s Tarpon Tournaments in Venice, visit our seasonal exhibit, Playing in Paradise: The History of Venice Sports. Once the museum reopens, the exhibit will be hung until the end of July 2020. Enjoy!
Moving the Triangle Inn (Venice Museum) in 1991 - Venice, FL Venice, FL Division of Historical Resources 2020-04-03 | Enjoy a short time-lapse video of the 1927 Triangle Inn in Venice, FL being picked up and moved a block from 251 Nassau St. to 351 Nassau St. in November 1991!The building which was saved from demolition was bought, moved, and converted into the Venice Museum by the City of Venice which still operates it today.To learn more please stop by the museum during our open hours of Mon.-Wed. 10am-4pm and the first and third Saturdays during the season (Oct.-April) 11am-3pm. Museum is free of charge.
