The Exhibits

The Building

The Building that houses the Lake City Columbia County Historical Museum dates from about 1870. An unusual example of Southern Italianate style, it features the typical square shape and low pitched roof as the notable architectural features.

Typical of the homes of this period, the rooms are arranged symmetrically off a broad central stair hall. The upstairs bedrooms are arranged in a similar fashion. A rear servants staircase leads to the kitchen and the back porch area. Wrapped on two sides by a two-tiered veranda, the exterior features are balanced with simplicity of design.

The Military Room

This permanent exhibit is made up of artifacts and writings from the Civil War to Desert Storm. Many items such as uniforms, swords, weapons and photos are on exhibit. The museum works diligently not to celebrate war but rather tell the history of these encounters and honor those who fought for our country. Museum re-enactors also participate in the Olustee Festival and Battle Re-Enactment held each February on Presidents Day weekend.

The Sitting Room

Walk into the Sitting Room and you expect the lady of the house to appear at any moment. She might sit and take up her sewing, the basket sits next to her favorite chair. Or the children might come and gather around the kersonene lamp with their books ready for their afternoon lessons. The room is decorated in the era of the house, 1880’s, to give the visitor a look at life during the era. Many of the items in the room are from the family that lived in the house, the Vinzants.

Alligator Room

Historians tell us that there was an Indian town at the present site of Lake City as late as 1817, under a Seminole Chief by the name of HALPATTER TUSTENNUGGEE, also called Alligator. Chief Alligator gave his name to the village. This room displays a miniature Indian Village showing how they lived, worked and hunted. It is a favorite of the young and old.

The Bedroom

On the second floor of the museum is the bedroom. The bedroom is the room of a small child with toys on the floor and small dresses laid out for the day. It is also the home of our resident ghost “Cora”. The story of Cora and her occasion impish actions will make you look over your shoulder as you leave the room.

The Library

The Lake City Columbia County Historical Museum works hard to build on our history library. We encourage our founding families to add their history to our collection as well as welcome our newer families to bring their history and become a part of our community.

The Kitchen

If you love to cook check out our Kitchen. Think about what it was like to wash your families clothes on a scrub board or cook their dinner on an iron stove. And if tools are your thing check out the hallway into the kitchen, see if you can guess what they were used for.