Blanchard House Museum
Former name
Blanchard House Museum of African History and Culture
Established2004 (2004)
Location406 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard,
Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, Florida, U.S.
Coordinates26°56′10″N 82°02′38″W / 26.9362°N 82.0439°W / 26.9362; -82.0439
TypeAfrican American history museum
FounderBernice Andrew Russell,
Martha Bireda
DirectorMartha Bireda
Websitewww.blanchardhousemuseum.org

The Blanchard House Museum is an African-American history museum in a historic former home in Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, Florida.[1][2] It specializes in African-American history of Charlotte County and Southwest Florida.

About

Exhibits at the museum cover the African American and cultural history of Charlotte County, including political, civic and religious life; founding families; education; and the Civil Rights Movement. Artifacts on display include photos, newspaper clippings, family heirlooms, and books by black writers. The Blanchard House and Museum also serves as a community center, and its offerings include a book club, seminars on African American history and culture, and leadership classes.

The museum director is Martha Bireda.[3]

History

African Americans have played a significant role in Punta Gorda's history.[4] About half of the city's founder were Black; and four Black people signed the papers incorporating the city, out of a group of 34 men.[4][5] Almost half of the city’s 15 original settlers were Black, according to a press release from the Charlotte Harbor and The Gulf Islands Visitors Bureau.

The building was named the Blanchard House and was constructed on Fitzhugh Avenue in 1925 by Joseph Blanchard, a former steamboat pilot. The Blanchard family retained ownership of the home until 1997, when it was purchased by local resident Bernice A. Russell. Russell intended to found a local Black history museum in the structure, but died in 1999. Russell's heirs donated the building to the Bernice A. Russell Community Development Corporation.[5] In 2002, the house was moved from Fitzhugh Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.[5] The location is the site of the long-demolished Gollman's Bar, a jook joint. The bar catered to Blacks and featured blues music, and was one of the few places where local African Americans could socialize publicly.[6]

The Blanchard House Museum opened in 2004, the founder is Bernice Andrew Russell (1923–1999).[4] Russell had established a traveling exhibition on African American history in the 1980s and was displayed at Punta Gorda Railroad Depot's Segregated Waiting Room, followed by a 1997 purchase of the Blanchard House with the intention of opening a museum.[4]

The building was badly damaged by Hurricane Charley shortly after its openly, and did not reopen until February 2006.[5] It was again closed due to damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Blanchard House Museum unveils new exhibit". Port Charlotte Sun-Herald. June 17, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  2. ↑ Allen-Emrich, Elaine (November 6, 2022). "Blanchard House seeks trail designation". Sun Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  3. 1 2 "Blanchard House Museum continues to teach after Ian damaged the building". FOX 4 News Fort Myers WFTX. 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Shively, Scot (2009). Punta Gorda. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-6799-0.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Kridel, Kristen (February 5, 2006). "Blanchard House reopens". Sarasota Herald Tribune. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ Massey, Bob (December 1, 2016). "BYOB—Blanchard House is bringing the blues". Florida Weekly. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
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