Public history takes the history lesson out of the classroom and makes it more active. University of Central Florida students in a unique partnership with Seminole County Public Schools are providing public history to the Seminole County community with a particular emphasis on interaction with K-12 students.

In July 2012, the UCF Department of History began transforming the former Student Museum and Center for Social Studies in Sanford into the Public History Center. A perfect place for history, this Romanesque revival style brick building built in 1902 serves as the focal point of cultural heritage in Sanford and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Here UCF students are learning the latest skills in museum education, museum and archival collection management, heritage tourism and exhibit creation as they develop interactive museum experiences for Seminole County students and the surrounding community.

In this museum, students are not merely observers of history, they are participants. The Pioneer Exhibit: Before the Settlement of Sanford for example, invites students into a typical Floridian log cabin and peddler’s wagon to explore and examine the contents and appreciate the responsibilities of the farmer, trader and family members. Within The Talk of the Town: Life in Early 20th Century Sanford exhibit, students are immersed in what their days would be like in the early 1900s. Never-ending chores in the house and out on the farm! A prize awaits them for their hard work at the General Store.

Other exhibit themes include geography, the Timacuan Indians, early education and the history of Crooms Academy. Teaching gardens complement the exhibits by offering opportunities to learn about Native American farming techniques, herbs, native Florida plants and antique roses. The building’s historic features bring to life early twentieth century history through its halls lined with historic photos and memorabilia.