Explore the museum

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Whether it’s Native American artifacts, England’s largest colonial plantation, railroad memorabilia, or pictures of life 100 years ago, you are sure to find exhibit items to satisfy your interests! Be sure to allot at least an hour if you want to delve into the details of exhibits!

[/cs_text][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”8″ ][cs_element_column _id=”9″ ][x_blockquote cite=”” type=”center” style=”margin-left: 0px;font-family: arial narrow;margin-right: 0px;font-style: italic;font-size: 18px;color: #4682B4;”]”We had so much fun! My daughter was very intrigued by all the amazing items as were we. She especially enjoyed the scavenger hunt and winning a prize for finding all the items! We stayed and listened to the speaker which was so insightful. The staff are super nice and friendly. Great experience for our whole family!” — Trip advisor comment[/x_blockquote][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”11″ ][cs_element_column _id=”12″ ][x_blockquote cite=”” type=”center” style=”margin-left: 0px;font-family: arial narrow;margin-right: 0px;font-style: italic;font-size: 18px;color: #4682B4;”]”We had so much fun! My daughter was very intrigued by all the amazing items as were we. She especially enjoyed the scavenger hunt and winning a prize for finding all the items! We stayed and listened to the speaker which was so insightful. The staff are super nice and friendly. Great experience for our whole family!” — Trip advisor comment[/x_blockquote][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”14″ ][cs_element_column _id=”15″ ][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black;”]The Attic[/x_custom_headline][cs_text style=”box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px black;”]

[/cs_text][cs_text style=”font-size: 16px;”]The first thing visitors see upon entering the museum is a wall of items straight out of Grandma’s attic — or maybe Grandpa’s attic. See a lifeguard flag purloined by college students and returned after 50 years by a guilty conscience. Check out a banquet menu whose offerings would land the cook in jail today.[/cs_text][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”19″ ][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black;”]The Centerpiece[/x_custom_headline][cs_text style=”box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px black;”]

[/cs_text][cs_text style=”font-size: 16px;”]Located in the center of the museum is our exhibit on the founding of the ill-fated “Smyrnea Settlement” in 1768. Videos, models, artifacts tell the story of the 1400 hard-working but hapless settlers recruited by Scottish doctor Andrew Turnbull to build a large indigo “plantation.”[/cs_text][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”23″ ][cs_element_column _id=”24″ ][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black;”]The Perimeter Gallery[/x_custom_headline][cs_text style=”box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px black;”]

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Stroll down the hall surrounding the center exhibit to follow a timeline of New Smyrna History, starting with fossils and the earliest Americans and ending with a tribute to New Smyrna’s Vietnam War veterans.

Visitor favorites include

• Beautiful embroidered tapestries made through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s
• Civil War displays
• Fishing and hunting displays
• Household items from 100 years ago
• Photographs of New Smyrna in the late 1800s and early 1900s

[/cs_text][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”29″ ][cs_element_column _id=”30″ ][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black;”]The Archaeology Lab[/x_custom_headline][cs_text style=”box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px black;”]

[/cs_text][cs_text _order=”0″ style=”font-size: 16px;”]Although the lab is not open to the public, you can still peer through the window and catch a glimpse of our archaeologists at work, and see displays of local digs and finds.[/cs_text][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”34″ ][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black;”]The North Room[/x_custom_headline][cs_text style=”box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px black;”]

[/cs_text][cs_text _order=”0″ style=”font-size: 16px;”]The museum hosts special temporary exhibits here, giving local organizations or individuals a chance to showcase their collections or activities.[/cs_text][/cs_element_column][/cs_element_row][cs_element_row _id=”38″ ][cs_element_column _id=”39″ ][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black;”]Research Library[/x_custom_headline][cs_text style=”box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px black;”]

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The second floor of the museum houses the Sweett Exhibit, an extensive collection of Native American artifacts found in New Smyrna, and the Sheldon Research Library.

[/cs_text][/cs_element_column][cs_element_column _id=”43″ ][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false” class=”cs-ta-center” style=”text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px black;”]The Museum Store[/x_custom_headline][cs_text style=”box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px black;”]

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“Purchase one-of-a-kind souvenir shirts and hats, or bring your friends some delicious Minorcan condiments. Buy seeds to grow your own indigo plants. Take home a book or two about our charming little city.”

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