Delivered by knowledgeable docents and staff of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, historic lectures can be added to group tours or provided at appropriate venues to groups large and small.
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse – Honored as a National Historic Landmark, the Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse has guided mariners along the Florida coast for more than 130 years. First lit in 1887, the 175-foot-tall brick lighthouse is widely considered one of the most authentic and complete historic lighthouse facilities in the country. Learn all about the fascinating history of the tallest lighthouse in Florida, conveniently located right here in Volusia County.
Timucua of Northeast Florida – Consisting of various tribes that shared a common language, the Timucua inhabited most of what is today Central and North Florida. What is a shell midden? How do you pronounce Timucua? How did they live? Where are they now? These questions and many more will be answered in this in-depth presentation about some of our state’s earliest residents.
Spirit of the Greatest Generation – A presentation that celebrates, commemorates, and appreciates the contribution of the Greatest Generation. This is a fast-paced look at the changes and accomplishments of the Greatest Generation.
Florida Cracker Architecture – Constructed in the 1880s, the Pacetti Hotel is a perfect example of cracker architecture, featuring raised floors, local materials, large windows, and a shaded front porch. Come learn how Florida’s turn-of-the-century pioneers dealt with the rugged Florida outdoors in a time before centralized air conditioning became the norm.
Three Lighthouses of Volusia County – With a particular emphasis on Volusia County’s three major lighthouses: the present Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the 1835 Mosquito Inlet Lighthouse, and the Volusia Bar Lighthouse on the St. John’s River at the entrance to Lake George.
Plantation History and the Second Seminole War in Volusia County – From the British Period of Florida history through the Second Seminole War, plantation economy thrived throughout Volusia County. The skirmishes that took place between 1835 and 1842 across the state of Florida ended many of the local plantations. With a focus on the history of the sites where ruins can still be accessed, this presentation takes an in-depth look at the farming community, the positive and negative interactions with the indigenous population, as well as the outcomes for the local farmers.
Civil War Skirmish at Mosquito Inlet – Investigate historic Civil War events in Florida including the Union’s blockade of Florida ports, Confederate sympathizers and smugglers, how an escaped slave helped destroy a salt works in Oak Hill, and New Smyrna’s historic Civil War skirmish in 1862.
Filibustering to Cuba – This unique presentation focuses on Florida’s role in both the Cuban War of Independence and regional and national events leading up to and during the Spanish American War. Learn the fascinating history of the gunrunning steamship, The Commodore, and the role that Ponce Inlet Lighthouse played in developing Stephen Crane’s American classic short story, The Open Boat.
Seminole Raid at Mosquito Inlet – Guests will learn how the US government’s unfair treatment of Native Americans sparked the Second Seminole War, how a Seminole raiding party attacked and destroyed sugar plantations along the Halifax River, and how that same group tried to burn down the original Mosquito (now Ponce de Leon) Inlet Lighthouse in December 1835.
The Cincinnati Reds and the Pacetti Hotel – After being sold out of the Pacetti family, the historic building eventually came under the ownership of Louis Nippert, owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. In this entertaining historical study, visitors will get the opportunity to enjoy a photographic narrative of some of the most famous baseball players in history as they took time off luxuriating at the Pacetti Hotel.
