The Beaches Museum will host an opening night reception Oct. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. for its exhibit entitled “Shifting Sands: The Story of Mineral City.”
Although Ponte Vedra is currently recognized as a thriving resort community, it was a largely uninhabited, swamp-filled area 100 years ago, according to the museum. Due to the discovery of valuable minerals in its sands in the mid-1910s, the area became home to a mineral mining operation led by George A. Pritchard and Henry H. Buckman.
The Beaches Museum will unearth the secret history of Ponte Vedra through the upcoming exhibit, which will be filled with personal photographs depicting life in the wild Florida terrain and scenes of a vibrant mining town that stands in stark contrast to the Ponte Vedra of today. The museum will explore the life of this relatively short-lived community and its transition from mining minerals to world-class golf resorts.
This event is free to museum members with a suggested $5 donation from non-members. Light appetizers and beverages will be served. For more information, call (904) 241-5657 or visit www.beachesmuseum.org.
