The Palm Beach County History Museum

This panel thanking the Board of County Commissioners on the fencing around the construction site was unveiled August 17, 2004 in conjunction with the unveiling of student artwork also installed on the fencing.

The Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum is scheduled to open in March 2008. Headquarters for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County will be in the Court House, and space has been allocated for offices and a countywide history museum.

Commissioners and officials gather together at the unveiling of the Court House Construction Fence Artwork Project on August 17, 2004. Pictured above (l to r): Dale Hedricks, of Hedrick Brothers Construction, Commissioner Warren Newell, Commissioner Karen Marcus, Commissioner Addie Greene, Commissioner Jeff Koons, Rick Gonzalez, of REG Architects, Harvey Oyer, president of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

The museum, which will have free admission, will include 3,000 sq. ft. of permanent gallery space featuring state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits designed for children and adults. The exhibits will reflect history from our region’s earliest Native Americans to the county’s present cultural diversity. A highlight of the building will be the restoration of the original old courtroom which played a significant role in the Palm Beach County’s legislative and judicial history.

The goal of the Cornerstone Campaign is to raise $9 million for the design, construction and ongoing operation of the museum. Due to generous donations, $5.7 million has already been raised. Some of the naming opportunities for donors include contributions to the rotating and permanent galleries, exhibits, the audio theater, interactive timeline and fiber optic map of the county’s growth.