Draft:Lake Wales History Museum

The Lake Wales History Museum is a history museum located in Lake Wales, Florida. Established in 1976, it is housed in the town’s former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad station, built in 1928. The museum consists of exhibits presenting Lake Wales and regional history from pre-Columbian to present eras.

History
The Lake Wales History Museum was initiated by the 1974 Lake Wales Bicentennial Commission, led by Mimi Hardman. The objective was to transform the vacant Atlantic Coast Line Railroad station into a museum and cultural arts center for the people of Lake Wales. The museum was officially established and dedicated on July 4, 1976, as a department of the City of Lake Wales and opened under the name Lake Wales Depot Museum. In 1987, the Historic Lake Wales Society took over as the governing authority and general operator of the museum.

Pioneer Days
Pioneer Days first began in 1976 as an annual one-day event held on the last Saturday in October or the first Saturday in November to celebrate the community of Lake Wales' history and its earliest pioneer settlers. The event is currently held on the last weekend in October.