Anna Maria Island Historical Society...
With the help of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, you can take a trip back in history.
The Anna Maria Island Historical Society's [AMIHS] beautifully restored complex interprets the Island's history through its museum, City Jail, Belle Haven Cottage and the Mangrove Walk's indigenous garden.
The Anna Maria Island Historical Society was formed in 1990 by Anna Maria residents Pat Copeland and Carolyne Norwood, both reporters for the Islander newspaper.
Pat and Carolyne knew something must be done to preserve Island artifacts, which were being lost.
The non-profit, educational organization was incorporated in 1991.
Learn more about the Belle Haven Cottage Garden and the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and Museum Complex.
With all there is to see and do on beautiful Anna Maria Island, the Historical Society Museum is one you just don't want to miss!
Anna Maria Island Historical Society Mission
The mission of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society was, and still is... to collect, research, preserve, and exhibit materials relating to the early days of Anna Maria Island.
The educational program is of great importance, helping to preserve schools the heritage of this beautiful seven-mile jewel. Historical Society members visit churches and civic organizations to make the history of the Island come alive to students.
Presently housed in the museum are rare, old photographs, maps, records from the early 1900s, clippings from newspapers and videos of times past. Recently, a library was created where people can peruse archival records as well as beautifully bound copies of the original "Islander" newspapers dating from 1954 to 1990.
Displays change frequently and encourage repeat visits.
Anna Maria Island City Jail
The Anna Maria City Jail was built in 1926 and is a favorite of tourist of all ages.
A night in the jail, with its open-air, metal-bar windows, cured most troublemakers as they were nearly eaten alive by the notorious Island mosquitoes. This famous Anna Maria Island landmark has always been a popular spot for photographers. In fact, for a small donation to the museum, visitors can have their picture taken in county prison uniforms.
Over the years, there have been hundreds, if not thousands of printed postcards (featuring the Anna Maria Island jail) mailed across the country. Stop by the museum, make a donation, and then you too can send a picture home to mom of yourself locked up in the Anna Maria Island Jail!
Historic Belle Haven Cottage originally sat at the end of the City Pier from the early 1920s until 1926.
In 2000, the cottage was offered to the Island's Historical Society for free and a donation drive began to save it. The community rallied and the cottage has since been restored to a real slice-of-life home where visitors can experience turn of the century island home life.
Visit the museum's complex to learn more about Belle Haven Cottage's tale of two centuries, and don't miss touring their "Mangrove Walk" which contains flora indigenous to the Island.
For more information on the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, visit www.amihs.org.
Directions to get to the Anna Maria Island Historical Society
Take Manatee Avenue (Rt. 64) onto Anna Maria Island. Go right at the 2nd light on Gulf Drive. Go right at the next light on Marina Drive. Proceed north to the stop sign at Pine Avenue. Go right.
The museum is on your left at #402.
Hours of Operation:
- Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri., and Sat.
- November 1st through April 30th 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- May 1st through October 31th 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 941-778-0492
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