Halifax Historical Museum in Daytona Beach, FL
The Halifax Historical Museum, conveniently located on Beach Street, is an excellent way for visitors to get a good look at the interesting history of the Daytona Beach/Halifax area. The museum is the brainchild of the Halifax Historical Society, first organized in 1949, and strives to “gather and preserve the history of the Halifax River area and present it to the public in an interesting and educational manner.”
The museum is housed in a building in the downtown historic district that once belonged to the Merchant’s Bank; a stately edifice that is indicative of the architecture of old Florida. It holds a large number of treasures significant to the history of Central Florida in general and the museum is lovingly tended by members of the Halifax Historical Society, making it a wonderful place to visit and a good break from the noise and crowds of the beaches.
A number of fascinating permanent exhibits grace the galleries at the expansive Merchant’s Bank Building. These include displays with titles such as The Racing Zone, Spanish and British Plantation Eras, Native Americans/Timucuans, Pioneer Life, Victorian Households, Volusia County Lifeguards, Handmade Surfboards, Resort Hotels of Yesteryear, The Civil War in Florida, The Spanish American War and World War I, World War II in Europe (with connections to Florida), and World War II in the Pacific.
Famous area residents who are profiled at the Halifax Historical Museum include Thomas Robert Ames, a major benefactor to the historical society; Mary McLeod Bethune, African American educator, business woman, and visionary; Charles Burgoyne, a wealthy entrepreneur who helped build the city; Lawson Diggett, local model maker, writer, and photographer; Bill McCoy, a colorful local character and infamous “rum runner”; playwright Harrison Rhodes; Josie Rogers, the first woman doctor in Daytona and the first and only female mayor of the city; and baseball player Jackie Robinson.
Some additional exhibits appear only seasonally and only for a short amount of time – usually about 2 to 3 months, and other exhibits fashioned from artifacts in the archival collection of the museum also change from time to time.
The museum employs a small staff that supervises a much larger staff of Halifax Historical Society volunteers that tend to the grounds and building, work in the archives, greet visitors, do office work, handle public relations, and perform other necessary tasks within the organization. The society also encourages local individuals and families to become museum members and most of the funds collected for this purpose are contributed to operating expenses for the museum.
The Halifax Historical Museum boasts a lovely gift shop that sells a variety of items including books, collectibles, glassware, antiques, jewelry, china, and a few souvenir-type knick knacks.
The museum is open daily on Tuesday through Saturday.
There is a small admission fee. Children under 12 are admitted free on
Thursday and Saturday. Group tours are available upon request.
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