Friday, October 3, 2025, Noon – 1 p.m.
Florida played an active role in the Civil War as a Confederate state, becoming the third to secede from the Union in 1860. In addition to providing cattle and supplies, Florida was home to Lewis Powell, one of the conspirators in the assassination plot against President Abraham Lincoln. For over a century after his execution, Powell’s body remained separated from his skull, and the whereabouts of his skull were shrouded in mystery. Join our collections registrar, Kara Kovalev, and collections manager, Emily Coughlan, as they delve into Florida’s connections to the Civil War and the mystery of Lewis Powell’s death.
About Our Speakers
Kara Kovalev is the collections registrar at the Orange County Regional History Center, where she maintains and coordinates collections records and assists with the preservation of artifacts. She received a master’s degree in history of art and design from the Pratt Institute in 2019 and worked with collections throughout New Jersey before coming to Florida. Kara is passionate about preserving the past and using it to inform and inspire the future.
Emily Coughlan is the collections manager for the Orange County Regional History Center. Beyond her decade of museum experience, she holds a bachelor’s degree in art history with a minor in history from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, and a master’s in museum studies from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom.
Participate online or in-person. Closed caption available online.
History Center Members: Free
General Public: $5
History Center Members with lunch: $12
General Public with lunch: $17
Lunch must be ordered by 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 2.
Call 407-836-8580 with questions.
