The Interlachen Historical Society is dedicated to the appreciation of Interlachen's past and the preservation and restoration of Interlachen's historic buildings.  

The Interlachen Museum is open every Saturday from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M. and by appointment.

The Society meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7 P.M. at Interlachen Hall to present programs and speakers about the history of Interlachen and the West Putnam County area. Interlachen Hall is located at the corner of Commonwealth, Washington and Atlantic Avenues. 

Membership is open to all who have an interest in history.  The cost is $5.00 per person or $10.00 for a family, per year.  For Information on the Society or membership contact, Jean Russell, President at (386) 684-0103

or write to: Membership Chairman, PO Box 1493, Interlachen, FL 32148.

You may reach the Society's Historian, Mary Lou Dawson at (386) 684-4885 or LMDawson1@windstream.net

The Interlachen Historical Society has published a history of our town:     

    Interlachen Memories                                

Interlachen Memories, the history of Interlachen, is now available.  To order online go to the "History Book" section on this web site. It costs $24.95 plus postage and handling, or you can download a book to your computer for $9.95 and of course you can buy it in the museum at Interlachen Hall and it is available at THE Interlachen town hall.  

Below is the book description from the cover: 

Interlachen, Florida is located in north Florida, in western Putnam County.  Interlachen has a benevolent climate, numerous lakes, many old homes and buildings, and friendly people.  This book chronicles the development of the Interlachen area from its earliest days as a tourist, citrus, mining and railroad center into the 21^st century.

Abundant photographs dating from the 1890s to the present; some never before published, enhance the book.  The well researched chronological history is supplemented with journals, diaries and essays written by Interlachen residents over the years.  These first hand accounts let the reader see history through the eyes of the people who lived it and makes the chronological history more intimate.

The Historical Society of Interlachen has published this book so that the rich history of this wonderful town can be preserved.

 About the authors:  Lynn E. Dawson is a historian who has authored two books including A Better Past, a family history. Lynn is a graduate of the University of Florida, has taught History in the Putnam County schools, worked as a Meteorologist, an Oceanographer and as a Protective Investigator for the State of Florida.

Mary Lou Dawson is Lynn’s wife and shares his interest in history. She is a frequent lecturer on Interlachen History and a charter member and past president of the Interlachen Historical Society and is currently the Society’s Historian.

The Dawson's have lived in Interlachen since 1979.  They have pored over so many pictures and articles about Interlachen that they feel as though they actually know the people portrayed in the book and it is their hope that the reader will also feel a connection and affection for the pioneers of Interlachen.  

                        Events

The Fourth of July:  Interlachen Hall and the museum are open every year on the 4th of July and was again open on the 4th of July, 2010. Please stop in and cool off as you look at the interesting displays. You may also want to go upstairs and watch the "Baby Crawl"

Below: Former presidents Harriette Cannon and Mary Lou Dawson, Historian along with Allan Cannon on the Historical Society's float July 4, 2005.

Two well written articles about Interlachen were in the Putnam County Welcome Magazine. Mr. Jack Owen wrote about the prize-winning Interlachen Band members and their Director Nick Albanese who were invited to perform in the acclaimed Westminster Abbey's Summer Concert Program in London, England in July 2007. He also wrote about Lynn and Mary Lou Dawson and their work on the book Interlachen Memories.

The Society has sponsored a number of interesting events over the past 25 years. We continue to have John Sikorski and his One Man Road Show twice a year (Spring and Fall.). If you would like an antique or collectable appraised watch the newspaper or come to this site to see when our next show will take place.

Another well attended show is our annual quilt show put on by a local quilting group, the Stitchen Sisters. Even if you are not a quilter you will find plenty of interesting things which will amaze you. The last 3 took place in November 2008,2009 and 2010. Stay tuned to see when the next one will be held in Interlachen Hall.

Election of officers for 2011 were held at the December 2010 meeting. Our current leaders follow;

President - Jean Russell                                                Secretary - Sue Paper

Vice President - Mary Lou Dawson                               Treasurer - Virginia Neal

Board of Directors

Historian - Mary Lou Dawson   

Accessions Chair - Sue Paper

                 John LaHert

                 Sue Nicosia

                 Frances Whittier