Old Courthouse Heritage Museum

Free Kids' Crafternoon: Pirate Ship Painting
2023-06-03 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, 1 Courthouse Square, Inverness, FL, 34450, United States
Ye Old Courthouse Heritage Museum presents a Free Kids’ Crafternoon: Pirate Ship Painting.
Saturday, June 3rd from 1 pm to 3 pm, for kids ages 6 and up. All painting materials will be provided. Follow along with an instructor and a projector screen to learn how to paint a pirate ship stroke by stroke. Limited spaces. Please preregister by calling the museum between Tuesday and Saturday at (352) 341-6428. Plan time to see our temporary Florida Pirates Exhibit that will be on display in the museum. Accompanying adults must supervise your children for the duration of the event.
Event will be held on the second floor in the historic courtroom at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum located at 1 Courthouse Square Inverness, FL 34450.
Our free events for kids on the first and third Saturdays are planned to coincide with the Market at the Depot at Liberty Park down the street which takes place between 9 am and 1 pm. Make your Saturday a fun family day out in Historic Downtown Inverness.

Free Kids' Pirate Party at the Museum
2023-05-20 13:00 - 16:00
Ay mateys! Ye Old Courthouse Heritage Museum presents “Pirate Party!” This is a free event for kids. Party includes a pirate costume contest and pirate games with prizes like walking the plank and popping the cannon balloons. With dancing and pirate crafts!
Recommended for ages 3 to 14. Plan time before the party to see our temporary Florida Pirates exhibit! Limited spaces. Please RSVP in advance by calling (352) 341-6428. Accompanying adults must supervise your children for the duration of the party.
Our free events for kids are hosted on the first and third Saturdays each month on the same days as The Market at the Depot down the street at Liberty Park (which begins at 9 am). Make your Saturday a family day out in Downtown Inverness!

Free Coffee and Conversations: Dr. David Head Discusses Pirates, Privateers and Spanish Florida
2023-05-18 19:00 - 20:30
Our Free Coffee and Conversations monthly lecture series at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum is open to the community. We provide free refreshments and just ask that you RSVP at (352) 341-6428. Stop in early to see our temporary Florida Pirates exhibit in the John Murray Davis rotating gallery.
Special Thanks to our sponsors at Florida Humanities and The Citrus County Chronicle.
At May’s talk, we’ll host Dr. David Head as he presents, “Pirates, Privateers, and the Fall of Spain’s Empire: How Spanish American Independence Brought Florida to the United States.”
Over two hundred years ago, in the summer of 1817, a group of pirates and privateers invaded Amelia Island, Florida, a Spanish colony, in hopes of striking a blow for the Spanish American Revolutions. This presentation tells the stories of these revolutionary rogues and their leaders, how they planned to free Florida from Spanish rule, and how the United States intervened to stop them. David Head is an associate lecturer of history at the University of Central Florida. He has published four books, including Privateers of the Americas: Spanish American Privateering from the United States in the Early Republic, The Golden Age of Piracy: The Rise, Fall, and Enduring Popularity of Pirates, and A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution, which was a finalist for the 2020 George Washington Book Prize.
This Florida Talks program is a partnership between Florida Humanities and The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum. Funding for this program was provided by Florida Humanities and sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State,
Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

"Florida Pirates" Temporary Historical Exhibit
2023-05-06 10:00 - 2023-07-29 16:00
Did you ever wonder if pirates really buried their treasure and if there’s any nearby? What about local shipwrecks or ghost stories? Do you know the names and facts about the real pirates that wreaked havoc on the Caribbean Sea? This Summer, be our guest at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum to learn all about them! This temporary and locally made exhibit will be on display from Saturday, May 6th through Saturday, July 29th.

Free Kids' Bird Walk at Cooter Pond
2023-05-06 09:00 - 12:00
Guest host and naturalist, Alice Herden, from Citrus County Parks and Recreation will lead this fun and free bird walk for kids at Cooter Pond on the morning of Saturday, May 6, 2023 between 9 am and 12 noon. Recommended for kids of all ages. Accompanying adults must plan to supervise your children for the duration of the event. Water provided. Bring binoculars. Bird Bingo to follow in the courtroom at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum. Please call (352) 341-6428 to preregister as spaces are limited. Meet at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum at 9 am located at 1 Courthouse Square Inverness, FL 34450. Our free children’s events coincide with The Market at The Depot at Liberty Park in Downtown Inverness. Join us on first and third Saturdays for a day out in Inverness!

Birding for Seniors at Cooter Pond
2023-05-05 08:00 - 12:00
Guest host and naturalist, Alice Herden, from Citrus County Parks and Recreation will lead this activity with help from staff from The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum. Fun and free bird walk for seniors at Cooter Pond on the morning of Friday, May 5, 2023 between 8 am and 11 am. Ages 18 and up. Water provided. Bring binoculars. Bird Bingo to follow in the courtroom at the museum. Please call (352) 341-6428 to RSVP ahead. Meet at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum at 1 Courthouse Square Inverness, FL 34450 at 8 am.

Free Kids' Crafternoon: Illustration Creations
2023-04-29 13:00 - 15:00
This event has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 29th from 1 to 3 pm.

It was previously scheduled for Saturday, April 15th.

The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum presents “Illustration Creations,” a free kids’ crafternoon event in the historic courtroom. Kids should bring their favorite children’s book with their favorite pictures in it. Staff will help guide them to create a 3-D image from the story. All materials provided. Recommended for kids ages 5 and up. Limited spaces. Please preregister by calling (352) 341-6428.
This activity coincides will coincide with our new, temporary exhibit called “Young at Art” displaying longtime picture books. Our free children’s programs are hosted on the first and third Saturdays of each month to coincide with the Market at the Depot in Liberty Park. Make your Saturday a fun family day out in Inverness!

Free Coffee and Conversations: Dr. Ramona Caponegro on The Caldecott Award in Children's Literature
2023-04-26 19:00 - 20:30
Our free Coffee and Conversations lectures are open to the community and we provide free refreshments. Please RSVP at (352) 341-6428.
This year marks the 85th year of the Caldecott Medal, given for excellence in Children’s book illustrations. Dr. Caponegro will introduce the man behind the award’s name, 19th century illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Her talk will explain the importance of the Caldecott Medal by examining the work and careers of some of the winners over the award’s 85 year history. As a member of the 2023 Caldecott Medal selection committee, Dr. Caponegro will also give her insider insight into the selection process of recipients today. Ramona Caponegro is the curator of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature at the University of Florida. She is also the chair of the Phoenix Picture Book Award Committee and the past chair of the Pura Belpré Award Committee. She has published essays about children’s book awards, early readers, and representations of incarceration in books for young people and with the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, co-wrote the open-access documentary, Tell Me Another Story, about the importance of diverse picture books.

Music at the Museum: Daniel Bennet Group
2023-04-20 19:00 - 21:00
Voted “Best New Jazz in New York City,” this jazz group will bring their innovative sound all the way to Florida for an unforgettable performance. All of our concerts take place in the historic courtroom where Elvis filmed his 1961 movie, “Follow That Dream.” Doors open at 6 pm, and tickets include appetizers, soft drinks, and after hours access to see the museum. Show begins at 7 pm. Tickets to each 2023 concert are $25 or, for Citrus County Historical Society members, they are $20. Season tickets are $100 for all 4 of our 2023 shows, or $80 for Citrus County Historical Society members. For regular or season tickets to all 4 of our Spring 2023 shows, call (352) 341-6428.

Dipping Off the Docks: A Free Kids' Event at Cooter Pond
2023-04-01 09:00 - 12:00
Bring the kids to The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum at 9 am on Saturday, April 1st for a free event, “Dipping Off the Docks.” Guest hosts from Citrus County Parks and Recreation will join staff from the museum to bring kids on the 2 block walk to the pond from the museum. There, we’ll show kids how to dip nets in the pond and deposit them in buckets. We’ll return to the historic courtroom at the museum to observe and identify microorganisms from the pond under a microscope. Recommended for kids ages 5 and up. Children must be supervised by their accompanying adults for the duration of the event. This is a fun hands-on activity, but we’ll have limited supplies, and therefore limited spaces. So, we ask that that you please preregister prior to the date of the event by calling (352) 341-6428.
All of our free children’s events fall on the first and third Saturdays of each month on the same days that the City of Inverness hosts the Market at the Depot at Liberty Park from 9 am to 2 pm. Make your Saturday a fun family day out in Inverness!

A Leprechaun Limerick Loxodrome: A Free Kids' Event
2023-03-18 10:00 - 16:00
The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum presents A Leprechaun Limerick Loxodrome- a free event for kids on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

This is an announcement to kids young and old
About every Leprechaun Limerick Told
Read Clues as you see ’em
Around the museum
To find his lost post of gold.

This is a St. Paddy’s Day Search that takes place at the museum recommended for kids ages 5 and up with a prize at the end. Choose a quest time with one of our staff between 10 am and 4 pm when you preregister over the phone. To sign up, call (352) 341-6428. Children must be supervised by accompanying adults for the duration of the event. Plan for an hour to complete your quest. Meet at The Old Courthouse Museum at the start time you were given- we’re that funky old building with the clocktower in Downtown Inverness- located at 1 Courthouse Square Inverness, FL 34450. Our free children’s programs are hosted on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month to coincide with the Market at the Depot held at Liberty Park, Downtown Inverness. Make your Saturday a family day out in Inverness!

Music at the Museum: Cool Corporate Cats
2023-03-16 19:00 - 21:00
These highly talented local musicians and showmen offer some of the best blues and jazz in Florida. You won’t want to miss this powerful performance with special guest saxophonist Joe Donato. All of our concerts take place in the historic courtroom where Elvis filmed his 1961 movie, “Follow That Dream.” Doors open at 6 pm, and tickets include appetizers, soft drinks, and after hours access to see the museum. Show begins at 7 pm. Tickets to each 2023 concert are $25 or, for Citrus County Historical Society members, they are $20. Season tickets are $100 for all 4 of our 2023 shows, or $80 for Citrus County Historical Society members. For regular or season tickets to all 4 of our Spring 2023 shows, call (352) 341-6428.

Free Coffee and Conversations: Gerry Mulligan Discusses "Out the Window"
2023-03-08 19:00 - 20:30
Free Coffee and Conversations lecture with Gerry Mulligan, retired publisher of The Citrus County Chronicle. He will be discussing his new book, “Out the Window: 43 Years on the Beat.” All are welcome to come and listen. Free refreshments. Please RSVP: (352) 341-6428.

The Citrus County Chronicle was a small county-seat weekly when Gerry Mulligan joined it in the late 1970’s. Over the next 43 years, he led the charge to turn the newspaper into a seven-day daily in one of the state’s fastest growing markets. Along the way he was bitten by snakes, screamed at by sheriffs, maligned by politicians and ultimately had ‘poop in his shoe’ from his own dog. Over four decades, he never once missed writing his weekly column. For more than 2,200 consecutive weeks he told the stories of his community. Some were funny, some were sad and a few put Mulligan in the hospital. In Out the Window, you can enjoy some of the best.

Citrus County Historical Society's Members Mixer
2023-03-07 18:30 - 20:30
Members of The Citrus County Historical Society at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum are invited for a members mixer on Tuesday, March 7th at 6:30 pm. We’ll host special guests from Friends of Fort Cooper to present about Fort Cooper Days- the battle reenactments of the Seminole Wars that will take place at Fort Cooper State Park Saturday, March 18th and Sunday, March 19th this 2023 year.
At the mixer, we’ll also have wine, hors d’oeuvres, and fun! Come out and meet the other members of the society. Members should RSVP to join us by calling the museum at (352) 341-6428. Folks interested in becoming members should call us, too!

"Mysteries in March"- a Live Old Style Radio Show Performance
2023-03-04 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-03-03 19:00 - 21:00
“LIVE” on Stage, three Old Style Radio Show Mysteries. Friday, March 3rd at 7 pm and Saturday, March 4th at 2 pm.
Nero Wolfe, The Saint, and Newcomer “Toffy” Matson, solve crimes before your very ears! Be part of the studio audience and watch as some of Central Florida’s Best Voice Actors solve classic whodunits.
Doors open at 6 pm. Show begins at 7 pm. Tickets are only $15 each! However, Citrus County Historical Society members save $5.00 each on all Lewis and Young Entertainment courthouse shows, and all 2023 concerts! Membership types include: Individual-$20 / Household- $30 / Corporate – $50 (all renew annually).

Turtle Trek: A Free Kids' Nature Walk at Cooter Pond
2023-03-04 09:00 - 10:00
Join us at The Old Courthouse Museum for Turtle Trek: A Free Kids’ Nature Walk at Cooter Pond on Saturday, March 4th. We’ll meet at the museum at 9 am, and promptly walk two blocks to Cooter Pond where our staff will talk about the plants and wildlife that live there. The pond is surrounded by a raised up boardwalk- a dock if you will- and birds, gators, and turtles are just about always seen there. We’ll talk about their behaviors, too. Free children’s binoculars. We host free children’s programs every first and third Saturday of the month to coincide with the Market at the Depot around the corner. Make it a family day out in Inverness!

Free Coffee and Conversations: "Florida Maroons and Black Seminole Society"
2023-02-23 19:00 - 20:30
Our free Coffee and Conversations lecture series includes free coffee and light refreshments. Please RSVP at (352) 341-6428

This presentation examines the history and culture of the Florida Maroons and Black Seminoles. Dr. Anthony Dixon discusses the origins and lives of both the Maroons and their development into the Black Seminoles from the 16th through the 19th centuries. This presentation also includes an examination of the direct relationship between Black Seminoles and the growth of Florida through the Seminole Wars. Dr. Dixon is the President of Archival and Historical Research Associated and Adjunct Professor at Valencia College in Orlando. Dr. Dixon specializes in African Diaspora studies and has served as the Field Director of the African American Heritage Preservation Network. His scholarly work includes two books entitled “Florida’s Negro War; Black Seminoles and the Second Seminole War 1835-1842,” and “A Timeline of the African Diaspora Experience in Florida.”

Free Family Board Game Day
2023-02-18 13:00 - 16:00
Free Family Board Game Day at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum on Saturday, February 18, 2023. 1 to 4 pm. Games include chess, checkers, Citrusopoly, Timeline (a history game), Ticket to Ride (a game about trains), and more! Please RSVP as sometimes space fills up for our events: (352) 341-6428. Our free events for kids and families are hosted on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month to coincide with the Market at the Depot in Liberty Park on the same days. Make your day a fun day out in Downtown Inverness!

Music at the Museum: The Dave Capp Project
2023-02-16 19:00 - 21:00
The Dave Capp Project, featuring vocalist France Neil, is a ground-breaking Central Florida rhythm and blues group that will have you moving and grooving. All of our concerts take place in the historic courtroom where Elvis filmed his 1961 movie, “Follow That Dream.” Doors open at 6 pm, and tickets include appetizers, soft drinks, and after hours access to see the museum. Show begins at 7 pm. Tickets to each 2023 concert are $25 or, for Citrus County Historical Society members, they are $20. Season tickets are $100 for all 4 of our 2023 shows, or $80 for Citrus County Historical Society members. For regular or season tickets to all 4 of our Spring 2023 shows, call (352) 341-6428.

Cancelled: Masterpiece at the Museum: A Date Night
2023-02-10 18:30 - 21:30
Friday, February 10, 2023: You and your partner can create a masterpiece at the museum. The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum is hosting a date night with wine and guided painting activity. Patrons will be able to follow along step by step with local artist Vanessa Fuller-Brown and a projector screen to create a Florida painting. Tickets for Masterpiece in the Museum are $50 per couple and include after-hours access to the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum exhibits between 6:30 and 7:30 pm, appetizers, and open tabled seating. Doors open at 6:30 pm when hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks will be served until the painting activity begins at 7:30 pm. The guided activity will last for about 2 hours.

Free Kids' Corner and Crafternoon: Creating Your Own Stencils
2023-02-04 10:00 - 12:00
The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum is hosting the artists of artOasis as they present a free Kids’ Crafternoon: Creating Your Own Stencils. Kids will learn how to turn cards and pictures into gifts and keepsakes for Valentine’s Day fun. The work of artOasis artists will be on display at the museum from January through mid-March. Program is for kids ages 5 to 14. Children must be accompanied by their parents or guardians for the duration of the program, and folks should preregister their children as spaces are limited. To sign up, call (352) 341-6428. Our free children’s programs are held on the first and third Saturday of every month on the same days as the Farmer’s Market at the Depot in Downtown Inverness.

Free Reception with Artists of artOasis
2023-01-27 16:00 - 19:00
Come see the new art exhibit from artOasis in the John Murray Davis rotating gallery at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum- here until March 16th. The exhibit is called “Glimpsing Paradise: Visual Art Inspired by Visionary Poems” and includes paintings, sculptures, and more from local artist group artOasis of Citrus County. Join us for a free reception with the artists on Friday, January 27th from 4 pm to 7 pm. Refreshments provided. RSVP at (352) 341-6428.

Free Kids' Crafternoon: Map Making
2023-01-21 13:00 - 15:00
The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum presents our free Kids’ Crafternoon: Map Making. Saturday, January 21st from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Kids 5 and up can view local aerial maps over time and learn how to navigate and draw maps. As spaces are limited, we ask that you please preregister by calling (352) 341-6428. Our free kids’ programs are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month, on the same day of the Farmer’s Market at The Depot in Liberty Park.

Free Coffee and Conversations: "Finding the Treasures of the Trails" with author Max Schulman
2023-01-19 19:00 - 20:30
Coffee and Conversations: A Free Lecture Series Open to the Community.
Free refreshments.
RSVP: (352) 341-6428
1 Courthouse Square
Inverness, FL 34450
www.cccourthouse.org/events
“Finding the Treasures of the Trails” with author, Max Schulman on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 7:00 pm
MAX SCHULMAN is a retired USAF aviator and intelligence officer. His duties during a career spanning four decades took him on trails, paths, and the pavement of over 40 countries in North, Central, and South America; Europe, Southwest Asia – and several Pacific Islands. Besides navigator and electronic warfare schools, he attended land and sea survival courses specialized for winter, desert, jungle, and mountain environments. Since his retirement in early 2012, Colonel Schulman has lived in Inverness, Florida. He is a licensed Community Association Manager and consults on community development and environmental issues.

Music at the Museum: Jack Williams
2023-01-12 19:00 - 21:00
A South Carolinian, an uncommonly unique guitarist, a writer of vivid songs with a strong sense of place, and a storyteller in an old Southern tradition. All of our concerts take place in the historic courtroom where Elvis filmed his 1961 movie, “Follow That Dream.” Doors open at 6 pm, and tickets include appetizers, soft drinks, and after hours access to see the museum. Show begins at 7 pm. Tickets to each 2023 concert are $25 or, for Citrus County Historical Society members, they are $20. Season tickets are $100 for all 4 of our 2023 shows, or $80 for Citrus County Historical Society members. For regular or season tickets to all 4 of our Spring 2023 shows, call (352) 341-6428.

Free Kids' Crafternoon: Watercolor Winter Wonderland
2023-01-07 13:00 - 15:00
The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum presents a Free Kids Crafternoon: Watercolor Winter Wonderland. Saturday, January 7, 2023 from 1 pm to 3 pm. Recommended for kids ages 7 and up who will follow along with a guided painting project. Please preregister: Call (352) 341-6428. Our free kids’ programs are hosted on the first and third Saturdays of each month on the same days as the Farmer’s Market at the Depot in Downtown Inverness. Come enjoy a family day out in Inverness!

The Holiday Heist: A Free Kids' Christmastime Mystery Game at the Museum
2022-12-17 10:00 - 16:00
Join us at the museum on Saturday, December 17th for The Holiday Heist: A Free Kids’ Christmastime Mystery Game at the Museum. Kids can hunt for clues around the museum to solve a whodunnit mystery complete with Christmastime characters as suspects. Parents can choose from sessions that begin at 10 am, 12 noon or 2 pm. The game will last between 1 and 2 hours. Limited spaces. Please preregister by calling the museum at (352) 341-6428. Recommended for kids ages 7 and up. Prizes for winners. We host free programs for kids at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum every first and third Saturday to coincide with the Farmer’s Market at the Depot in Downtown Inverness on the same days. We are the history museum located in the 110-year-old courthouse- that iconic building with the clocktower in the center of town!

Live Old Time Radio Show Performance: Scary Stories at Christmas
2022-12-15 19:00 - 21:00
On Thursday, December 15th at 7 pm, The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum presents a Live Old Time Radio Show Performance recapturing the tradition of Scary Stories for Christmas. From a condensed retelling of A Christmas Carol to modern tales of frightening Yuletide events. The talented folks at Lewis and Young Entertainment offer you a seat in their studio audience for a look back at family-friendly shows, performed by gifted local actors in a similar format to what they would have been in the 1930’s and 40’s. Please CALL 352-341-6428 to reserve your seats, as space is limited or reserve seats online here: 12/15/2022: Spooky Christmas Stories Radio Show – (cccourthouse.org) (in case of a Sellout, an Encore may be scheduled) All stories are family friendly, but a little bit scary, so as always – Parental Guidance is suggested. If you would like us to provide your business or organization with radio style advertising during the show, please email us at lye@usa.com – $5.00 recommended donation for the show with all proceeds going to the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum.

Postponed to January: CCHS Monthly Board Meeting
2022-12-13 17:30 - 19:00
The Citrus County Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to the preservation and protection of the history of Citrus County.
Board meetings are held monthly on the second Tuesday of the month, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum unless otherwise specified.
