Palm Beach philanthropist Pat Johnson named Chairman of the Cornerstone Campain

The Historical Society of Palm Beach Countyhas embarked on the public phase of a capital campaign to raise $9 million for the first county-wide history museum. The Cornerstone Campaign will fund the design, construction and ongoing operation of the much-anticipated, 8,000 square-foot museum and the Society’s headquarters, scheduled to open in late 2007 inside the historic 1916 Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach.
Pat Seaton Johnson, a Palm Beach County native whose family is among the pioneers of the area, will lead the campaign with a steering committee in development that includes Marshall Criser, Katharine Dickenson, Karl Watson, George Elmore, Ted Brown, David Goodlett, Kathy Bleznak, John Murphy, Doyle Rogers, Diana Ecclestone, F. Malcolm Cunningham, Jr., Emery Newell, William Caler, William Benjamin, Richard S. Johnson, Edward Rodgers and other notable business and philanthropic leaders from all parts of the county. The Cornerstone Campaign will raise the targeted amount in three phases of $3 million each. This month the Historical Society reached its Phase One goal through prior gifts, including pledges from the organization’s board of governors, plus a $1.5 million cultural, recreational and parks bond approved by Palm Beach County voters in 2002. The majority of these funds have already been allocated to designing the museum and its exhibits, which are currently being created by Maryland-based design firm, Gallagher & Associates. To date, the company has completed approximately 75 percent of the exhibit designs and concepts. The Historical Society is now focused on Phase Two of the campaign, the majority of which will be invested in an Operating Endowment Fund that will sustain the museum’s long-term operations and programming. Major donors to the Cornerstone Campaign will be prominently recognized through naming opportunities for their individual, family or corporate contributions. The opportunities range from the naming rights to the museum and the permanent galleries, to the audio theater, interactive timeline and fiber optic map of the county’s growth, among many others.
“Most major county history museums rely heavily on support from taxpayers to sustain museum operations,” said Mrs. Johnson. “We firmly believe that the generous philanthropists in this community can—and will—step forward to create a state-of-the-art cultural and educational institution that will serve many thousands of children annually. This is our opportunity to build a great resource to celebrate our history. It will be the first of its kind in Palm Beach County—an informative, entertaining place comparable in quality and scope to the area’s most prestigious cultural institutions. The history museum is the missing component in our thriving cultural landscape. Now is the time to close the gap.”     
Mrs. Johnson and her husband, Richard, are members of one of Palm Beach County’s most prominent pioneer families. Mr. Johnson’s great grandfather moved to the area in the late 1800s and was among the first residents to live on the island of Palm Beach, while Mrs. Johnson’s family, the Seatons, moved to the area following the devastating hurricane of 1928. Each successive generation of the Johnson family has contributed to the growth and development of Palm Beach County, and they maintain a large archive of significant historical documents, journals and photographs that document their families’ lives in Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and the Glades. Mrs. Johnson also has a long history of supporting philanthropic causes in the Palm Beaches, and is particularly committed to education and health-related endeavors. She and her husband are strong supporters of the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults, the Palm Beach Membership of Hospice Foundation of Palm Beach County, Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Duke University Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center, the Junior League of the Palm Beaches and the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The county-wide history museum will enrich the lives of children and adults alike by making local history accessible, interesting and meaningful. The Historical Society has already partnered with the School District of Palm Beach County to create and implement history programming for the area’s fourth and seventh grade students. The combined programs, which are delivered to classrooms at no cost to the taxpayers, reach approximately 25,000 local students annually. The history museum will provide a critical dimension to those studies, enhancing the educational experience by bringing classroom lessons vividly to life through state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits.
The Historical Society has entered into a 30-year lease agreement with Palm Beach County to house the museum and its headquarters on the first, second and fourth floors of the 1916 Courthouse, which is currently undergoing an $18.5 million restoration. As part of its agreement, the Historical Society will offer free museum admission to all Palm Beach County residents.
The design plans feature approximately 3,000 square feet of permanent exhibits and 700 square feet of temporary exhibits, each reflecting the influence of the many cultures in Palm Beach County’s diverse history, from the earliest Native American inhabitants to the present day. A central component to the museum experience will be a visit to the seat of the county’s judicial and legislative beginnings – the courthouse’s two-story, 2,897 square foot historic courtroom, located on the third and fourth floors in the center of the building. This unique venue will offer fascinating lectures and provide children with an opportunity to participate in mock trials.
The museum’s east wing will house permanent exhibits themed around “The People” who have been integral to the area’s development. The People Gallery will feature a large theatrical diorama projecting images of notable individuals from all walks of Palm Beach County life. Kiosks and exhibits with artifacts will also contribute to unfolding the stories behind these significant and colorful characters of the past, including Pre-Columbian inhabitants, Seminole Indians, early pioneers, the business and philanthropic community, educators, and influential leaders in arts, law, medicine and politics. The opportunity to learn about the lives of these individuals will further resonate when the audio theater is built. Fascinating, first-hand accounts will be accessible through “oral histories.”
The west wing will focus on “The Place,” exploring Palm Beach County’s natural environment and the many communities that have contributed to its distinct identity. Features of this gallery include an interactive fiber optic map that will demonstrate the dramatic changes in the county, decade by decade; touch-screen computers providing virtual tours of the county; and individually-themed exhibits that will take visitors back in time to experience pioneers conquering the Everglades’ “black gold” and the lives of Gilded Age robber barons and industrial magnates. The temporary exhibit hall/rotating gallery will be located adjacent to these two permanent galleries.
“This campaign is an opportunity of a lifetime—a chance for individuals to leave a legacy of history to the community,” said Harvey E. Oyer, III, chairman of the Historical Society. “The transformation of our county from an inhospitable tropical “jungle” to a prosperous “oasis” is the stuff of legends—full of rich, colorful and inspirational stories of struggles and successes that will be illuminated through this history museum. There is no doubt that history education is a key link to the future success of our children, instilling in them a sense of pride and respect for their communities, and giving them a bigger context for life as we know it today.”