America at 250 Lecture Series
Florida’s History Through Power, People & Place
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, and in recognition of our 80th anniversary, we invite you to discover how local, state, and national history intersect — from Indigenous communities and colonial settlements to the Revolutionary War and the development of modern Florida.
Please join us in celebrating the ideals of freedom, creativity, and opportunity, the same ideals upon which this country and OMAM were founded. We hope this series will broaden your knowledge of our community and how we came together in 1776 to forge a new nation and then fought again to preserve what it stood for in the mid 20th century.
All lectures are FREE but registration is requested as spots are limited!
"Britain’s Loyal Colonies Lost: The American Revolution in Florida"
Lecture by Dr. David Head
Associate Lecturer of History, University of Central Florida
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:30pm
Ormond Memorial Art Museum Boardroom, 78 E. Granada Boulevard
Discover the often-overlooked story of East and West Florida during the Revolutionary War, when both remained loyal to Britain and became key battlegrounds in the struggle for independence. MORE INFO
“St. Augustine’s Role in the American Revolution”
Lecture by Dr. Trevor Bryant
Professor of History, Flagler College
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:30pm
Ormond Memorial Art Museum Boardroom, 78 E. Granada Boulevard
Explore how the people of St. Augustine navigated the American Revolution, balancing loyalties to Spain, Britain, and the emerging United States during a time of political uncertainty and change. MORE INFO
“Engravings of the Timucua: The Past Is Not Always What It Seems”
Lecture by Dr. Jerald T. Milanich
Curator Emeritus of Archaeology, Florida Museum of Natural History at University of Florida
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:30pm
Ormond Memorial Art Museum Boardroom, 78 E. Granada Boulevard
Learn about Ormond’s over 1,000-year-old Timucuan culture on the Halifax River through a discussion of historical 16th century engravings by Theodore de Bry. MORE INFO
"The Gilded Age of Ormond Beach: John Anderson, Joseph Price & Others"
Lecture by Alice R. Howell & Ronald L. Howell
Volusia County Historians, Reenactors & Authors
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:30pm
Ormond Memorial Art Museum Boardroom, 78 E. Granada Boulevard
Step back in time to Ormond Beach’s glamorous past, when the Ormond Hotel and The Casements welcomed America’s most influential families and helped shape the town’s golden era. MORE INFO
"The Three Chimneys Historic Site"
Walking Talk & Tour by Stacey Simmons, Laurie Taylor, and Jonathan Morgan
Ormond Beach Historical Society
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:30pm
715 W Granada Boulevard (park at 725 W Granada)
Visit the first successful British sugar plantation, sugar mill, and rum distillery in the United States, operated as part of the Swamp Settlement from about 1768 until England ceded Florida back to Spain after the Revolutionary War. MORE INFO
All lectures are FREE but registration is requested as spots are limited!
About the Series
Funding was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Additional support is provided by the Jacarlene Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities, or the Jacarlene Foundation.
