FORUM
tours

Take a walking tour of two of Miami’s historic neighborhoods, Little Havana and Brownsville. First, HistoryMiami will lead a tour of Little Havana’s unique architecture and culture. Tour-goers will then travel to the historic Brownsville neighborhood, where they will visit the National Register listed segregation-era motel that served as the setting for the noted play and movie ‘One Night in Miami…’ A boxed lunch will be provided at the same counter where Muhammad Ali celebrated his big victory against Sonny Liston. Finally, participants will embark on a short walking tour through the Brownsville neighborhood to one of the area’s historic African American cemeteries.

‍

Explore three resting places in West Palm Beach. Travel to the mass burial site of 674 African Americans who perished in the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. Established in 1913, the “pauper’s cemetery” includes approximately 1.03 acres of land and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Learn about the post-disaster disparities and how efforts are being made to honor and preserve the site with nonprofit and City collaboration. The Okeechobee hurricane is a focal point of Zora Neal Hurston's, Their Eyes Were Watching God, a great read to set the tone for this tour!The tour will also visit Woodlawn Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in West Palm Beach. The final stop will be Evergreen Cemetery, where a local archeologist will share about the statewide program known as FPAN (Florida Public Archeology Network) and their resources and training opportunities at cemeteries statewide.

Explore two historic areas on the Loxahatchee River that tell the story of 5,000 years of history. The first tour at Jupiter’s Sawfish Bay Park, once home to indigenous people from 500 B.C., is currently home to the Jupiter Florida East Coast Railway Depot and the Aicher House (adaptive reuse in progress). The second stop is operated by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society, the waterfront lighthouse, and grounds exhibits that feature over 5,000 years of regional history. In addition to offering climbing tours of the landmark 1860 lighthouse, the site is part of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area, operated by the Bureau of Land Management. Both tours will discuss the impacts and mitigation strategies to address the effects of sea level rise.

Join us for a tour of downtown Fort Lauderdale including a visit to the oldest structure in Fort Lauderdale, the Stranahan House, home of the city's founding father, Frank Stranhan and his notable wife, Ivy. Following the visit to the Stranahan House, we will tour the New River via the City’s Water Taxi then visit historic downtown, History Fort Lauderdale, and the New River Inn. At the end of our tour we will have lunch at the House on the New River, located in the homes of the Bryan brothers who came to Fort Lauderdale with their pioneering father, Philemon Bryan, to lead local construction of Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railway.

There will be limited walking outdoors, travel outdoors on a water taxi, with portions of the tour taking place inside.

‍

Palm Beach is rich in history and architecture. Delight in a 120-minute, partially-narrated and entertaining Intracoastal Waterway sightseeing cruise of the beautiful Palm Beaches aboard Visit Palm Beach’s 50′ Catamaran ‘Motunui’! This excursion gives you the opportunity to see and learn about impressive estates from the perspective of being on the water. Attendees will also enjoy riches of a different kind, as you cruise past some of the Palm Beach’s beautiful barrier islands full of tropical flora and fauna that also call the Palm Beaches home. Enjoy all of the above in a relaxing environment that allows you to move about, take photos and enjoy the comfortable breezes. Beverages available for purchase onboard.

Looking to get a little morning exercise while enjoying West Palm Beach's charming historic districts? Rise and shine for a brisk, guided morning stroll through these residential streets just steps away from the conference hotel. The Florida Land Boom era is represented here in a concentration of architecturally significant homes in Mission and Mediterranean Revival and Frame Vernacular styles, constructed between 1921 and the mid-1930s. Enjoy numerous examples of architectural styles ranging from art moderne to craftsman bungalow as you walk through these treasured neighborhoods.

‍

Explore the rich cultural heritage of the ‘Heart and Soul’ of West Palm Beach in the Historic Northwest District. Trace the neighborhood’s history through the intricate details of historic buildings and learn about the influential figures who shaped the area's past.

Join us for a day filled with history, culture, and culinary cuisine followed by a guided tour of the redevelopment taking place in the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) district. Predominantly residential, the majority of the area is designated as a historic district. Attendees will be able to see the iconic Sunset Lounge, a historic music and entertainment venue which served as one of the premier African-American venues in the South in the 1940s and 1950s. This historic site has been renovated with interior finishings underway. The expansion includes a new two-story 7,200 square foot building with a full restaurant and bar along with other amenities. The tour will also feature the ‘Styx Promenade’ project that includes the redevelopment of several buildings reminiscent of the shotgun-style homes, once seen throughout the area, into mixed-use concepts for commercial use.

‍

Tour downtown West Palm Beach by foot and see the sites where a robust Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program has resulted in the preservation of numerous historic buildings. The concept of transferring development rights from sending (historic sites) to receiving sites (areas identified with more development potential) has been a success in both lean and robust economic times. The nuances of the process and program will be explained and a site visit to St. Ann’s Church (the most successful preservation project utilizing TDR’s) is included.

Explore the rich history and evolution of Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Attendees will gain a better understanding of preserving a historic main street by delving into the architectural, environmental, and cultural transformation of Clematis Street. This captivating walking tour will commence at the iconic 1916 Palm Beach County Courthouse building and conclude at the Clematis Centennial Fountain. Enjoy an immersive experience that promises insights into the historical events and facts that have shaped Clematis Street throughout the last century, unraveling the tales behind its most distinguished buildings.

Looking to get a little morning exercise while enjoying West Palm Beach's charming historic districts? Rise and shine for a brisk, guided morning stroll through these residential streets just steps away from the conference hotel. The Florida Land Boom era is represented here in a concentration of architecturally significant homes in Mission and Mediterranean Revival and Frame Vernacular styles, constructed between 1921 and the mid-1930s. Enjoy numerous examples of architectural styles ranging from art moderne to craftsman bungalow as you walk through these treasured neighborhoods.