Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, Inc.

11/09/2026

💫2026 11 TO SAVE SPOTLIGHT💫

Flagler-Era Railway Depots - St. Augustine, St. Johns County - Built 1906 & 1930

The Carpenter’s Shop Depot and Trolley Ticket Depot are tangible remnants of the transformative era shaped by Henry Flagler and the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway—an era that redefined the economic, cultural and physical landscape of Florida’s east coast. These structures embody the expansion of rail infrastructure that made St. Augustine a premier tourist destination and enabled the growth of surrounding agricultural communities.

For over 40 years (1984–2024), both structures resided on property owned by the St. Augustine–St. Johns County Airport Authority. With the sale of that property for hotel development, the buildings faced imminent demolition until a potential plan to relocate them to Hastings Main Street was proposed. The nominator hopes that relocation of the Carpenter’s Shop Depot will allow it to be rehabilitated as a trailhead amenity station and Trolley Ticket Depot to become museum space that tells the story of Hastings’ agricultural and transportation roots.

11/06/2026

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation continues to advance a sweeping and damaging proposal to rewrite the regulations for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The historic preservation provisions in the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (Senate Bill S. 5653) refer to proposed changes under Title III of the bill that alter the National Historic Preservation Act and Section 106 review. If implemented, these new rules would dramatically diminish the effectiveness of the NHPA and the current legal protections for historic and cultural places.

We stand with myriad other local, state and national preservation organizations who oppose this significant weakening of preservation law. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act protects historic resources and sacred spaces – and the proposed changes would drastically and negatively impact historic and cultural places across our country.

A first vote is expected on November 9. Take action now by calling your senators and asking them to Vote No on the Section 106 Changes in S. 5653.

*Here’s what you can do*
➡️ Tell Your Senators: Protect Community Voices and Historic Places. Send a letter now:https://ow.ly/EKL15104mes
➡️ Review the materials in the National Trust for Historic Preservation Section 106 Toolkit for more on the issue and how you can help: https://ow.ly/bucs5104mew
➡️ Learn more about the Rally for History, Culture and Sovereignty Monday in Washington, D.C.: https://ow.ly/9hhS5104met

11/04/2026

Join us for a Lunch & Learn with Andrew K. Frank, Director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Center, for a conversation exploring the Center’s work to deepen understanding of Native American and Indigenous histories, cultures and communities.

You can register to join us for the free event at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nabX4n_aRCGdEAukyN9a8g

10/30/2026

A cemetery can be an archive hiding in plain sight.

Look beyond the names and dates. Notice the carved details, ironwork, monuments, landscaping and symbols. Each one can offer a clue about the person, family or community being remembered.

📍Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, a historical African-American cemetery established in Archer circa 1875. The burial ground originally accompanied Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church, a post-Civil War church built by formerly enslaved African-Americans, and is believed to be the final resting place for many who worked on the Cottonwood or Haile plantations nearby. Local families continued use of the hallowed grounds through the 20th century so that at least 80 known burials make up the site.

10/26/2026

Join the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation for a free webinar about the work to save Gullah/Geechee burial grounds in Nassau County.

Gullah/Geechee Nation Representative Glenda Simmons Jenkins (FL) and Sarah Miller, Florida Public Archaeology Network regional director, will share their ongoing efforts to document and protect these culturally significant burial grounds while amplifying the needs of the descendant families and communities connected to them.

Register Today! https://ow.ly/B3GN5100h7j

More than historic sites, these sacred burial grounds serve as monuments that hold generations of memory, cultural tradition and connection to place. This webinar will explore the work happening on the ground, the importance of community-led preservation, and why protecting Gullah/Geechee burial grounds is essential to accurately recording Florida’s history.

Photo credit: Claire Heddles, Jacksonville Today https://jaxtoday.org/2022/09/20/gullah-geechee-families-fight-to-protect-burial-sites-in-nassau-countys-wildlight-development/

10/23/2026

Historic cemeteries are outdoor archives & museums.

Regular care can help prevent damage, slow deterioration and keep these places accessible for future generations. But cleaning a historic cemetery is not simply about making it look better. It is about caring for the history that remains. We are proud to be part of that work.

📍Archer Cemetery in Gainesville

10/22/2026

Help Us Plan Our 2027 Lunch & Learns!

We're already planning next year's Lunch & Learn lineup, and we want to hear from YOU! What topics would you like to explore in the world of historic preservation?

Fill out our quick form and tell us what you'd like to learn about in 2027!

Our Lunch & Learns offer free, specialized sessions led by experts on Florida history, historic preservation, historic tax credits and more. Sessions are livestreamed, making it easy for members across the state to participate! What topics would you like us to cover next? From preserving historic pl...

10/21/2026

Join us tomorrow, October 22 for a Zoom Lunch & Learn with Sage from Project Poramor & Alessandro Rustico who has BA and PhD in Classical Archaeology, with extensive experience in
excavations in Sicily and Southern Italy.

Register Now! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Bj31LRAAQYCcwzXwHkLm8g

Join the Florida Trust for a 10-day Cultural Odyssey through Sicily in September 202, exploring historic places, incredible food and centuries of preservation and culture.

Looking for a truly unforgettable holiday gift? Give the gift of Sicily.

10/19/2026

A cemetery is more than a place where we remember the dead. It is a place where history remains.

Behind every name, date and weathered marker is a story about the people who built Florida, shaped its communities and called these places home.

📍Bosque Bello Cemetery in Fernandina Beach. Dates back to 1813.

You can help add a local cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places.

Bosque Bello Cemetery in Fernandina Beach was nominated by the state, and the state has recommended it to the National Park Service for consideration.

Here’s how you can help. Send an email supporting Bosque Bello’s nomination.

Read for Details Here:
https://ow.ly/bncM50ZXKfX

10/16/2026

PRESERVE FLORIDA session submissions are now open

The Florida Trust is hosting Preserve Florida, a two-day preservation conference in Orlando, FL, May 20 & 21. Want to share your story with preservationists around the state?

Submit a session proposal today https://ow.ly/n4ey50ZXJEV