Palm Harbor Museum
Where local history comes alive!
Where local history comes alive!
Local history comes alive at the Palm Harbor Museum. Once a family home and site of a citrus ladder factory, the 105-year-old Hartley House and grounds today serve as home to the Palm Harbor Museum. Our exhibits highlight local, regional, state, and national events, history, culture, and environment as it ties into our Palm Harbor and North Pinellas community. Displays allow self-guided learning and discovery experiences for visitors. Additionally, our docents enhance your personal tour experience with knowledge of our community. Children of all ages welcome. Group tours available by request. FREE Admission for all.
2043 Curlew Rd | Palm Harbor, FL 34683 | (727) 724-3054 | palmharbormuseum@outlook.com
Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays | 10 AM to 2 PM | Free Admission (We welcome donations!)
Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays | 10 AM to 2 PM | Free Admission (We welcome donations!)
Phase One Volunteer Planting Day (June 24, 2022) • Photos by Joy Katzen-Guthrie
CHANGES ARE UNDERFOOT! (Literally and Figuratively)
SAVE THE DATE of Thursday, December 8th at 2 PM for our LIVING LANDSCAPE RIBBON CUTTING with interactive outdoor classroom showcasing the important part that native species played in the social, cultural, and economic traditions of early settlers and indigenous peoples.
Yes, our Palm Harbor Museum grounds have been experiencing improvements funded by Pinellas County's MSTU grant to reintroduce Florida native plant species to complement and enhance existing Historic Specimen Plants throughout 2022, adding Florida Nature to our History. Beginning in mid-June, we trimmed trees, removed non-native palms and shrubs, and took delivery of new plants as part of landscape improvements. On our first Planting Days of June 24th and July 9th, volunteers from Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Florida Master Gardeners, Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, GFWC North Pinellas Women's Club, and from our museum and our community planted the area bordering Belcher Road and the area bordering the back entrance ramp plants generously donated by Dr. Craig Huegel from his home nursery, Hawthorn Hill Wildflowers and with plants from Sweet Bay Nursery. On our August 13th Landscape Beautification Day, 23 volunteers from Keep Pinellas Beautiful and our museum and local community removed infestation along our museum property's west fence, which was not visible when the work began. Afterward, a 15-yard dumpster trailer was filled to the brim with tree branches and invasive vines and vegetation and the fence was revealed. Everyone left smiling—a hardy crew and a highly productive day.
As our new shrubs and flowering trees evolve, improve, and mature, they will produce a native Bird Thicket, Florida Butterfly Garden, Heritage Rose Garden, Muhly Meadow, Wildflower Garden, and Pollinator Overlook. Additionally we'll add informational signage explaining how these native plants were useful to early humans and subsequent settlers to North Pinellas -- features that are being designed to appeal to all ages, backgrounds, and cultures to convey stories about our local history and enhance your experience to our museum. We want you to see and feel a sense of place and community pride — and we hope you'll be inspired to bring native plants to your own landscapes!
Yes, our Palm Harbor Museum grounds have been experiencing improvements funded by Pinellas County's MSTU grant to reintroduce Florida native plant species to complement and enhance existing Historic Specimen Plants throughout 2022, adding Florida Nature to our History. Beginning in mid-June, we trimmed trees, removed non-native palms and shrubs, and took delivery of new plants as part of landscape improvements. On our first Planting Days of June 24th and July 9th, volunteers from Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Florida Master Gardeners, Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, GFWC North Pinellas Women's Club, and from our museum and our community planted the area bordering Belcher Road and the area bordering the back entrance ramp plants generously donated by Dr. Craig Huegel from his home nursery, Hawthorn Hill Wildflowers and with plants from Sweet Bay Nursery. On our August 13th Landscape Beautification Day, 23 volunteers from Keep Pinellas Beautiful and our museum and local community removed infestation along our museum property's west fence, which was not visible when the work began. Afterward, a 15-yard dumpster trailer was filled to the brim with tree branches and invasive vines and vegetation and the fence was revealed. Everyone left smiling—a hardy crew and a highly productive day.
As our new shrubs and flowering trees evolve, improve, and mature, they will produce a native Bird Thicket, Florida Butterfly Garden, Heritage Rose Garden, Muhly Meadow, Wildflower Garden, and Pollinator Overlook. Additionally we'll add informational signage explaining how these native plants were useful to early humans and subsequent settlers to North Pinellas -- features that are being designed to appeal to all ages, backgrounds, and cultures to convey stories about our local history and enhance your experience to our museum. We want you to see and feel a sense of place and community pride — and we hope you'll be inspired to bring native plants to your own landscapes!
Second Volunteer Landscape Beautification Morning
Join us at the museum on Saturday, October 8th, from 8-11 AM as we are assisted by Keep Pinellas Beautiful in removing vines & non-native plants from the entrance area & west fence line, trimming hedges around the patio, and weeding/mulching newly installed native plant gardens around our perimeter.
- Shovels, rakes, loppers and gloves will be provided, along with water, fruit, breakfast snacks, bug repellent and sunscreen.
- Long-sleeved shirts and hats are recommended
- Closed-toe shoes are required.
Phase Two Volunteer Planting Day (July 9, 2022) • Photos by Terry Fortner
Phase Three Volunteer Landscape Beautification/Cleanup Day (August 13, 2022) • Photos by Evan Earle, Jr. & Joy Katzen-Guthrie
We are always in need of assistance hand-watering our new plants daily to nurture them, give them lots of love, and help them establish quickly. Stop by anytime to see your plants! We empower you to pull weeds, pick up debris and generally help in any way. If YOU would like to participate in future plantings and the care of our Living Landscape or other volunteer opportunities at Palm Harbor Museum, leave us a message at 727-724-3054 or email PalmHarborMuseum@outlook.com.
Come visit our pocket park at the corner of Belcher and Curlew Road in our historic Hartley House (built 1914-1919) and historic ladder factory property for picking citrus fruit. Palm Harbor Museum is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10 AM-2 PM at no charge (Donations are welcomed!) and you'll be seeing big changes in our landscape in the weeks and months ahead.
Come visit our pocket park at the corner of Belcher and Curlew Road in our historic Hartley House (built 1914-1919) and historic ladder factory property for picking citrus fruit. Palm Harbor Museum is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10 AM-2 PM at no charge (Donations are welcomed!) and you'll be seeing big changes in our landscape in the weeks and months ahead.
