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Exhibitions

5 adults and 1 child in farming field

Living off the Land

Temporary Exhibit

Living Off the Land: Florida’s Pioneering Efforts to Make a Living explores the various ways settlers in the mid-1800s through the early 1900s took advantage of readily available natural resources of the land and sea.

Permanent Exhibitions

We offer several permanent exhibitions designed to present how Manatee County residents worked and lived between 1840 and 1918. These exhibits are located in the Wiggins General Store and Stephens House buildings.

One Century Plus of Ranching in Manatee

Cattle ranching exhibit. Saddles on wall and artifacts in cases.

Learn how cattle ranching grew in Florida and Manatee County.

King Wiggins Office

Vintage study room with wooden roll-top desk, swivel chair, and bookcase.

View a recreation of what King Wiggins' office possibly looked like.

Wiggins Store

Ornate antique cash register, WINE OF CARDU sign, vintage general store interior.

Experience what a general store at the turn of the 20th Century was like.

Stephens House

Historical museum exhibit with informational wall panels and a digital display.

Learn how a family lived in Florida in the early 1900s.

Online Collections and Artifact Donations

Artifact Donations

White ceramic shaving scuttle with spout and handle on wooden surface.

Are you interested in potentially donating an item?

We only accept items that date from 1840 - 1918 and prioritize items from Manatee County.

For more information please send us an email.

Online Collection

Antique metal pincers, white tag, ruler. Text "MV2022.005.009".

View images and information from a selection of our archival, book, object, and photograph collections.

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