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OLLI Excursion: Introduction to Boca Raton History - Boca Raton

Instructor
Susan Gillis
FX1010

Course Description

Join your fellow OLLI patrons for an excursion to the Boca Raton Historical Society in the heart of Boca Raton. Many residents of Boca Raton know little to nothing about their city. During this visit, BRHS will introduce Boca Raton's history at its Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum headquarters. This program includes a lecture overview with visuals of the history of Boca Raton from pre-Columbian times to the present by BRHS Curator and local historian Susan Gillis. Then, a guided tour of the newly renovated Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, featuring galleries dedicated to the: Pioneer Era; Addison Mizner and the Boom of the 1920s; Boca Raton During WWII; IBM Boca Raton, home of the PC; a Timeline of Boca Raton's history; plus a temporary exhibit about Pearl City, Boca Raton's historic African American community will follow. So come learn about where you call home! After the program, there are many fine restaurants in the area, so make a day of it! The deadline for registration is Friday, October 6th. Space is limited.

Course Info

  • Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Date: Tuesday, October 10
  • Location: The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, Historic Town Hall, 71 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton, FL 33432
  • Fees: Member - $30
    $100 for any combination of four events, members only
    Non-member - $35
    One-time guest pass, Member or Non-member at the door - $0.

About the Instructor

  • The Boca Raton Historical Society was founded in 1972 with the mission to collect, preserve and present artifacts relating to the history of Boca Raton. The Society operates the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum at 71 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton. The museum brings history to the community through a wide variety of programs, exhibitions, publications, and other outreach services. BRHS curator Susan Gillis has been with the museum since 2002. She has a BA in History and Anthropology and an MA in Anthropology. She is the author of eight books on local history, including "Boomtown Boca: Boca Raton in the 1920s" and "Palm Beach County During World War II".