MOUNT DORA HISTORY MUSEUM JOINS SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE’S
15^TH ANNUAL MUSEUM DAY

Free Admission on September 21, 2019 with a downloadable Museum Day ticket

Mount Dora, FL | August 17, 2019— The Mount Dora History Museum will open its doors free of charge to all Museum Day ticket holders on Saturday September 21, 2019 as part of Smithsonian magazine’s 15^th annual Museum Day, a national celebration of boundless curiosity in which participating museums emulate the free admission policy at the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington D.C.-based museums.

Museum Day represents a nationwide commitment to access, equity and inclusion. Over 450,000 tickets were downloaded for last year’s event, and Museum Day 2019 is expected to attract more museumgoers than ever before.

This year, Museum Day will celebrate the Smithsonian Year of Music, an institution-wide initiative celebrating the Smithsonian’s vast musical collections and resources through 365 days of music-related programming. Music is not only a reflection of human creativity and innovation, but also a key method of communication and cross-cultural exchange and understanding. The Smithsonian Year of Music crosses disciplines, bringing together music-related resources in art, history, culture, science and education.

“The Smithsonian is an inspiration to museums all over the country as we seek to showcase and preserve history,” said Janet Westlake, president of the Mount Dora Historical Society.  “The Mount Dora History Museum features its early Victrola record player and pump organ from the Grandview Hotel.”  The museum, located at 450 Royellou Avenue in Mount Dora, is open from 1:00 to 4:00 pm Tuesday through Sunday.  More details are mountdorahistorymuseum.com or call the museum at 352-383-0006. 

Museum Day tickets will be available for download at Smithsonian.com/museumday beginning August 15. Visitors who present a Museum Day ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on September 21, 2019. One ticket is permitted per email address. A list of participating museums, which will be continually updated, can be found at Smithsonian.com/museumday/search.

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Bibi LeBlanc, creator of the adult coloring book, Mount Dora, FL: Someplace Special visited the museum on Friday, August 9 from 6:00-8:00 pm while enjoying “Art in the Alley.”  The Mount Dora coloring book is available for purchase at the Mount Dora History Museum.  The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  The Mount Dora History Museum is at 450 Royellou Lane in Mount Dora.  For more information, call 352-383-0006 or visit www.mountdorahistoricalsociety.org. 

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The Mount Dora Archives went live on December 21, 2018 at www.mountdoraarchives.com.  It currently contains 4 collections of photos belonging to the Mount Dora Historical Society and the manuscript, Royaliew – Florida 1882 by Anna Gertrude Rossiter Stowe.  Over time, it will contain all of the photos in the Historical Society archives, books for which the Historical Society owns the copyright, and photos gathered from the Mount Dora community. 

Community members may become involved by allowing the Historical Society to scan their personal photos for use by the Society.  Many personal and family photos document people, places, or events that are significant to Mount Dora’s history.  The originals will be returned to the owner. 

 The Mount Dora Archives is a collaboration of the Mount Dora Historical Society, the City of Mount Dora, and the Mount Dora Library Association. 

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Over 400 people enjoyed the screenings of the new documentary, “On the Shores of Lake Dora,”  in March.  The film follows several key developments in the history of Mount Dora’s waterfront with insights from local citizens Shirley Grantham, Jefferson Ray III, and Brandon Wald.  The documentarian is Matt Hyland, a graduate of Mount Dora High School and a University of Central Florida film student.  DVDs of the documentary are on sale for $20 at the history museum.