In the past few months, I’ve rambled around the state and visited this and that and the other museum along the way. Both here and in Oklahoma – Florida Talks and Oklahoma’s Territorial Speakers – I’ve been fortunate to visit different parts of each state as part of the speaker’s bureau. Requests come in for one of my presentations and off I drive to another location.

It’s a pleasure to leave South Florida and drive across the state. And to take advantage of the journey to see what each new area offers. First choice is the local museums and historical societies. I really need to add natural areas to the itineraries.

Earlier this year I was invited to speak at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum of Inverness, Florida. This former courthouse in the center of town was built in 1912 and saved from demolition for a new life as a museum in 2000. The exhibits in galleries around the center rotunda wonderfully tell the story of the community including occupations such as citrus, fishing, turpentine.

Other topics included are archeology, architecture, and the environment and the local springs

. Another gallery is for exhibits of the work of local artists. I loved this artwork by local sculptor, Brenda Spilios.

The little ballerina with curly black hair and saddle shoes reminds me of Saturday mornings of my youth.

Upstairs, the original courtroom tells the story of Elvis Presley’s visit to Inverness and serves as the public space for speakers and other programs. In 1961, Elvis Presley came to Citrus County to film an early movie, “Follow That Dream.” The story follows a family of drifters who come to Florida and break down alongside a newly built highway. They decide to “homestead” the area. The film ends with the family on trial in the Citrus County Courthouse, now the museum.

The architects and engineers who restored the building had no historical photographs of the interior. They relied on stills from the movie production to recreate the 1912 courtroom.

On these forays around the state, I also make a shopping stop or two. I was amazed by this flock of seagulls in a parking lot. Someone said he thought they came for leftover French fries from the neighboring MacDonald’s.

More recently, while Constant Companion and I were in Fort Pierce we made time to visit the St. Lucie County Regional History Center. This is a much larger building, actually 2 buildings including a historic house moved to the location. Again, the exhibits were beautifully done, engaging, and informative. I’m in inveterate non-label reader and I think I read every one!

The archeology exhibits seemed bring the most pride to our guide.

I enjoyed seeming the representation of life and culture of the Seminole.

Also among the meandering path of exhibitions were occupations – of course, citrus and cow hunters,

a walk through the old shops in town, and an introduction to the local families.

We were shown the neighboring Gardner House where we could see how early families lived in this area of Florida.

I’m always looking for new museum experiences. From time-to-time I find ideas that I can apply to projects I’m involved with. Sometimes I’m overly critical (it’s the work I’ve done for so many years). Other times I am complimentary. Let’s see what I see next, or draw out of past experiences.