Guest Speakers & Outreach Lectures
The mission of Manatee Village Historical Park is “to preserve and share the heritage of Manatee County’s founding period (1840-1918).” We present lectures on a wide range of topics related to our mission, including pioneer history in Florida, historic preservation, the history of Manatee Village Historical Park, and more!
Currently, there is no required honorarium, but donations are always appreciated.
Available Lecture Topics
Unless otherwise noted, all lectures are 45-60 minutes long. Topic requests are granted based upon speaker availability. Should a topic be unavailable, a substitute topic will be offered. Lecture topics may be added or removed from this page as new lectures are written.
Making History
Image courtesy of MVHP Staff
Learn about Manatee Village, how it got started, and what structures we have at our site that exemplify the lives of early settlers. (20-30 Minutes)
A Short History of Coloring Cloth: When the World was Dying for Color
Image courtesy of the NYC MET
Learn about the history of (discovery of) coal-tar dyes in the mid-19th century, and especially the problems with green dyes that were found to be poisonous.
Kisses and Misses
Image Courtesy of the Manatee County Public Library Digital Collection
Learn about the romantic (and not so romantic) stories from Manatee's past.
What's in a Name
The Who, Why, When, and How of Florida’s Toponyms.
Genealogy Basics
Have you wanted to get started on researching your family’s history but don’t know where to get started? Our staff can help you with some tips and tricks to get things moving.
Manatee History Day
Learn about an exciting educational program available to Manatee County students and the adult volunteer opportunities that make it possible.
Mayhem in Manatee
Image Courtesy of the Manatee County Public Library Digital Collection
Learn about the dangers and terrors of the Sarasota Vigilantes during the 1880s. It’s a presentation of “disastrous proportions"
Florida's Rise as a Winter Destination
Image Courtesy of Florida Memory Project
Discover how railroads, grand hotels, and visionary development turned Florida into the place to be during the Gilded Age
Living off the Land
Image courtesy of State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory
Explore how settlers in the mid 1800s through the early 1900s took advantage of readily available natural resources of the land and sea.
Civil War Mourning
"The Lost Found," A R Wald, courtesy of the Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College
Learn about how the 600,000 deaths during the American Civil War forced the change of mourning culture in the South.
Frontier Medicine
Image: Florida. Territorial Legislative Council. An Act to Regulate the Admission of Physicians and Surgeons to Practice in This Territory, 1824. 1824-12-30. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory.
Learn about medicinal practices and advances in the 19th century, and how pioneers made the best of their circumstances.
William Bartram
Florida's First Eco-Tourist
How Did They Do It without A/C?
Image Courtesy of Library of Congress
A Lookback at the ways Florida’s Settlers lived and worked in a challenging environment.
Preservation Begins at H.O.M.E.
The beginning and evolution of Manatee Village Historical Park.
Unveiling the Untold:
Women on the Florida Frontier
Image Courtesy of Manatee County Public Library Historic Digital Collection
Uncover the captivating yet often overlooked stories of the women who shaped the Florida frontier
Manatee County Law and Crime
Image Courtesy of Manatee County Public Library Historic Digital Collection
Explore how law and order developed during Florida’s early years.
Victorian Mourning
Image Courtesy of Library of Congress
Discover how Victorians viewed death and the unique customs that surrounded it.
Florida and The Spanish- American War of 1898
University of Florida Digital Collection
Discover Florida’s role in the Spanish-American War and how this brief conflict marked a major turning point in U.S. history
Florida Homesteading
Image Courtesy of Manatee County Public Library Historic Digital Collection
Learn how the Homestead Act of 1862 shaped Florida's history and how its practices apply to modern life.
Download the Guest Speaker Request form here.​
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Please note
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Guest speaker requests are restricted to a 20 mile radius of Manatee Village Historical Park in Bradenton, FL.
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When selecting your preferred topic, please keep in mind that each request is granted based on speaker availability. We will do our best to accommodate the date, time, and topic you prefer but, on some occasions, we may have to offer a substitute. If that is the case, you will be contacted immediately upon receipt of your application.
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Please note that presentations are offered based upon staff expertise and availability, and the availability of historical records and information relative to a given subject. The subjects offered on this list will change from time to time based upon the above. We welcome suggestions for future offerings, however, it is not the policy of Manatee Village staff to craft custom presentations upon request due to the demands this places on staff time.
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Speakers are not permitted to personally accept money or gifts that are not directed for Manatee Village Historical Park use.
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The venue is expected to provide a projector and screen for the presentation. Speakers will bring their own laptop and an HDMI cable.
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Availability varies based on upcoming events and staff schedules.
To check availability, email manatee.village@manateeclerk.com
or call 941-749-7165.