An Honor

The museum has been given an award from the Punta Gorda Historical Advisory Board (PGHAB). Mr. John Chalifaux, president of the PGHAB and Punta Gorda Council Member Rachel Keesling presented Dr. Martha Bireda with the plaque on the morning of May 16, 2012.

The museum was given the award for preserving the historical integrity of the house's porch as it was replaced due to termite damage.

The plaque will eventually be afixed to the museum.

Heading to a National Conference

A few of the board members of the museum are heading up to St. Augustine in June. They will be attending the National Underground Railroad Conference.

This is a wonderful opportunity for the museum to gain some national exposure and to gather information that may be used in future exhibits.

This Year's Emancipation Day Celebration Event

The museum and the Charlotte County Historical Center will present Sarasota-born, local historian and author Adam Wasserman.

Mr. Wasserman will speak from his book entitled: A People's History of Florida, 1513-1876: How Africans, Seminoles, Women and Lower Class Whites Shaped the Sunshine State.

The event will take place on Saturday, May 19th from 2 - 5 PM. It will be held in the Courtroom of the Old Courthouse in Punta Gorda, FLorida.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Please join us.

Events For Black History Month

Black History Month is upon us! Here are some activites you may want to participate in this month.

February 16 - Dr. Martha Bireda, Executive Director of the Blanchard House Musem is giving a talk on the Black Seminoles at the Punta Gorda Library from 1-2 PM.

The Charlotte County Historical Center is giving guided tours of the Carl Bailey Cemetery. The cemetery is an African-American cemetery. Call the Historical Center for tour times and fees at (941) 629-7278.

Mark Your Calendars!

Our Annual

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast

"Beyond the Dream;

Expanding the Beloved Community"

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Breakfast served from 8:00 - 9:00 AM

Program begins at 9:00 AM

At the

Punta Gorda Middle School

1001 Education Ave., Punta Gorda, Florida

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Anthony Dixon

Director

Florida African-American Heritage Preservation Network

Tickets: $12 Adult

$ 6 Child (12 and under)

Tickets available from the Blanchard House Museum- for info call: (941) 575-7518

Helping Other Museums

The Blanchard House Museum is helping the Charlotte County Historical Center with their current exhibit entitled: Our Cuban Connection

The exhibit opened on August 10th and will continue through November 26, 2011.

The Charlotte County Historical Center is located at 22959 Bayshore Road, Charlotte Harbor. You can call the center at 941-629-7278 for more information.

Book Club Begins Again

Join us for the museum's book club. Our first meeting of the new season will be on October 11th at 1:00 PM.

This season we will be meeting once a month, every first Tuesday of the month at 1:00 PM.

The first book we will be discussing will be The Wedding, by Dorothy West.