History Fort Lauderdale, the proud steward of our city’s history by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, is celebrating its 60th Anniversary!
Continuing its mission through programs and outreach, History Fort Lauderdale presents exhibits that share the diverse stories of our community – from upcoming African American and Hispanic artists to visual tributes of impactful trailblazing female leaders to a showcase of the contributions of our LGBTQ+ advocates to local author events. History Fort Lauderdale preserves the stories of our great city so that its lessons can educate and motivate generations to come. Our people are our city, and their stories are its legacy.
“It has been an honor for History Fort Lauderdale to serve local and residents and visitors to the area since 1962 by providing historical contexts for development, housing archives, spearheading preservation initiatives, shining a spotlight on culture and offering fun, educational tours and outreach,” said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale. “It’s been an incredible anniversary year with efforts to reach larger and more diverse audiences by celebrating the significant and inspiring people, places and events that shaped our past and continue to influence the future of our vibrant city.”
This month, recognized as Native American History Month, History Fort Lauderdale presents “Chono Thlee: Sparking a New Era in Seminole Art,” a collaboration with the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. This is one of a variety of engaging multicultural experiences History Fort Lauderdale hosts year-round. Permanent exhibits include “From Dugouts to Dream Yachts,” a visual narrative weaving the story of the ever-changing use of Fort Lauderdale’s waterways by following the strokes of the first people to today’s sightseers, “The Bryans of Fort Lauderdale” which allows visitors to experience the story of the City of Fort Lauderdale as told through the pioneer family that shaped its development from an agricultural outpost in 1896 to a bustling city in the 1920s to its current status as a leading Metropolis, “Juliette Lange: A Portrait of a Mezzo Soprano,” a fashion and lifestyle glimpse of the socially prominent Fort Lauderdale resident with a lauded career as a star vocalist of musical comedy, plus “Archaeology of the New River” and a multitude of stories and photos sharing the history of other founding families of Fort Lauderdale. The nonprofit museum also hosts an artists’ collective collaborative space.
Closing out History Fort Lauderdale’s momentous diamond anniversary year, will be its signature History Makers Fundraiser on November 10. This yearly special event, which commends individuals and companies who have made an impact on the growth of the City of Fort Lauderdale, will honor Ted Drum and the Drum, Clark and Cox families. For over 70 years, Fort Lauderdale native Ted Drum and his extended family have made significant contributions to the development of the City of Fort Lauderdale through political leadership and prosperous marine, hospitality, and real estate ventures.
“As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we realize we could not have selected more deserving honorees. Not only are the Drum, Clark, and Cox families pioneers who established lasting restaurant and real estate businesses in Fort Lauderdale but also a marina that attracts and supports yachting aficionados from around the world,” said Patricia Rathburn, History Makers event chairperson and History Fort Lauderdale Board of Trustees member. “They serve as a bridge from last year’s honorees, the Denison Family and the Marine Industry Association of South Florida as we continue with plans for the establishment of a new state-of-the-art museum that will house the existing collections and provide for a permanent wing dedicated to the contributions of the marine industry in making Fort Lauderdale the Yachting Capital of the World.”
History Fort Lauderdale’s 26th annual History Makers is sponsored by 15th Street Fisheries, Lauderdale Marina, Marine Industries Association of South Florida, Lank Oil, Water Taxi of Fort Lauderdale, Hudson Capital Group, Boston Whaler, and Roschman Enterprises (Platinum sponsors), Drum Realty, Juliet Clark, Denison Family & Denison Yachting, Fratarcangeli Wealth Management, Gulf Stream Distillery, Marrinson Group, Moss & Associates and Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits (Visionary sponsors) and Cleveland Clinic, Fish’s Wholesale, Gray Robinson, Kelley Law Firm, UBS, Merrimac Ventures, Lago Mar, Walt & Ann McCrory, The Molinet Family, Nova Southeastern University, Nor-Tech, Pool Doc, Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marine Center, Soflo Boats, Stiles Corporation, Travel Host Fort Lauderdale, Tripp Scott, Stephanie Toothaker and USB (Trailblazer sponsors). Friends of sponsors include Art Bengochea, Juliet & Michael Bluestein, Cloud 9, Daoud’s Fine Jewelry, Designer Sign Systems, Egan Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward, The Restaurant People, Fanizzi & Co., Bob Golden, Hooper Construction, Gordon James, Keefe McCullough, Robert Kozich, Lauderdale Boat Yard, Alan & Susie Levan, Kate Lochrie & Captain Clay Thomas, Miller Construction, Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation, Bob Bannister, The Pillars, Ed Smoker, BBX Capital, Stephens Distributing Company, Total Marine Solutions, UStransact, LLC, Jennifer Uustal, Ted & Kathy Drum, Tastebuds, Aris Insurance Group, Carlos Suarez, Centennial Bank, Dolph & Associates, ASTA Parking and Vintage Wine Estates.
Tickets for History Fort Lauderdale’s 26th annual History Makers fundraiser are $125 each and are available to purchase online at bit.ly/HFLHistoryMakers2022.
For more information about History Fort Lauderdale, please call (954) 463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ftlhistory on Instagram @ftlhistory, on Twitter at @FTLHistory and on YouTube at youtube.com/user/FTLhistory.
