Historical Society of Palm Beach County - Who We Are - The organization maintains an active research facility in the Paramount Building in Palm Beach. The collections relate to the heritage of all communities in Palm Beach County.

Richard and Pat Johnson
Donate $1.25 Million to
Name History Museum

In 1937, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County accepted the first donations into its permanent collection. Today the Historical Society's library is comprised of several thousand books published in English, Spanish, French, and German on the history of Palm Beach County, Florida, and the Caribbean. Through photographs (nearly two million), maps, newspapers, journals, periodicals, architectural drawings, and research files the Society documents the people and events that shaped Palm Beach County.


	The Historical Society's mission is to collect, preserve, and share the history of Palm Beach County. The organization maintains an active research facility in the Paramount Building in Palm Beach. The collections, which are continually growing, relate to the heritage of all communities in Palm Beach County.

When the renovations are complete in the historic 1916 courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, the Historical Society will create a new history museum and educational resource center for all residents and visitors in Palm Beach County to enjoy.

Seminoles at
Jupiter Lighthouse

The Society will occupy the third and fourth floors of the courthouse. These floors will provide about 8,000 square feet of space-more than double the space now occupied in the Paramount Building. The recent passage of a fifty million dollar Parks and Cultural Bond issue will provide the Society $1.5 million dollars for the build-out of the space and pay for the installation of historical exhibits in the first county-wide history museum in Palm Beach County.

A Florida History Program that meets Florida Sunshine State Standards and FCAT requirements has been developed and is currently being taught to all fourth graders in the county's public school system. For more information about the Historical Society's first education program, please visit the education section of our website.

In the future, the Historical Society will develop and implement addition education programs, some of which will be joint ventures with local organizations and the Palm Beach County School District.

Women Hunting

The Historical Society is a non-profit 501©3 organization and is supported by more than seven hundred memberships, grants, donations, research fees, and fundraisers with an annual budget of over $500,000. A team of five employees and numerous volunteers work together on behalf of the Society. The Society offers a variety of programs, including slide presentations for schools and other groups, and a monthly seasonal lecture series.

Each year the Society honors a group or individual who has made significant contributions to the awareness of Palm Beach County history through the prestigious Judge Knott Award. Two events, the Archival Evening and the Preview Party for the Annual Palm Beach Winter Antiques Show, are outstanding, eagerly anticipated events held to benefit the Society.