A CENTURY OF BLACK HISTORY COMMEMORATIONS
This year marks the 100th year of Black History Month which was started by Dr. Carter G. Woodson as a week-long celebration in 1926. Whether you’re a seasoned historian or simply curious, the History Center has offerings to give you insight into Black history in Central Florida.
Events
History Alive: Soul of the Sunshine State
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Meet the trailblazers who made Florida legendary—from musicians at the South Street Casino to activists who built legacies to visionaries who preserved culture in Central Florida.
Brechner Speaker Series: Entangled Histories
Sunday, February 8, 2026, 2 – 3 p.m.
Drawing on archival research, oral histories, and site-based study, Brandon Nightingale explores how his family’s story intersects with larger questions about slavery, capitalism, and the meaning of belonging in the United States.
Sensory Sunday: Celebrating Black Storytellers
Sunday, February 15, 2026, Noon – 4 p.m.
A sensory-friendly exploration celebrating Black animators and storytellers! Create stop-motion animations, experiment at drawing light tables, and star in your own animated adventure. Features reduced sound levels, quiet spaces, flexible participation, and trained staff support.
Exhibits
Special Pocket Exhibit
Altermese Bentley: A Legacy of Preserving Black History
February 21 – May 24, 2026
This pocket exhibit explores the life and legacy of Altermese Bentley, an educator and historian whose work preserved the stories of Sanford’s Black communities for future generations.
Permanent Exhibit
How Distant Seems Our Starting Place
Expand your understanding of the triumphs and tragedies of African Americans in Central Florida’s past with this ongoing exhibition. Alongside the hall, view the luminous landscape paintings of the Florida Highwaymen.
School Programs
Available throughout February 2026 for student groups.
Breaking Barriers (grades 2+)
Explore Black history in Florida through the stories of those who broke through barriers and inspired change.
Citizens & Civics (grades 6-12)
Examine how federalism, Civil Rights amendments, and the three branches of government shaped Central Florida’s history.
Florida’s Fight for Freedom (grades 4+)
Learn about Black leaders who paved the road toward equality and discover the history of Black communities from Fort Mose to Eatonville.
Ocoee Election Day Massacre of 1920 (grades 6+)
Reflect on the 1920 Ocoee Massacre, the largest incident of voting-day violence in U.S. history and explore a century of social transformation.
