Though the Historic Stranahan House Museum is temporarily closed because of COVID-19, the oldest house in Fort Lauderdale is committed to continuing to educate the community on the city’s history.
Last week, the Stranahan House started live-streaming educational programs on its Facebook page. Programs included presentations on the women’s suffrage movement and the Seminole Wars as well as a tour of one of the Stranahan House rooms. Every weekday at 11 a.m., the live streams will continue to bring stories, virtual tours and history show and tells. The streams will also be saved on the Facebook page, so those who couldn’t see them live can watch them later.
Stranahan’s executive director April Kirk says the Stranahan House previously has live-streamed educational programming to Broward County students in partnership with the school board, but this is the first time it has used Facebook to live-stream to the public. Because of the closure, the Stranahan team worked quickly to put together programs that could engage parents, students and the community during the closure.
The community has responded enthusiastically. The first program stream surpassed 1,000 views. Kirk says she has received “nonstop” emails expressing gratitude for the programs, and the online comments have been “uplifting.”
“In an uncertain turn like this, the engagement and the coming together as a community is really important and that’s what Stranahan House has always stood for,” Kirk says. “Also, the ability to share history, and learn about our past as we look for the future of a better, bigger, stronger community, I think is really special.”
Kirk says the programs will be family-friendly, while one program a week will be geared toward high schoolers and adults. She also invites viewers to email her at director@stranahanhouse.org to request that certain topics be covered. Visit facebook.com/StranahanHouse every weekday to view the streams live or to view past streams.
Here is a list of upcoming programs:
March 23: History Show and Tell: Life of South Florida Pioneer Child
March 24: Virtual Field Trip: Stranahan House Dining Room
March 25: Story Time: “She’s Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!”
March 26: Virtual Field Trip: Stranahan House Dining Room
March 27: History Hour: Stranahan Trading Post (appropriate for high school students and adults)
March 30: History Show & Tell: Pirates of South Florida
March 31: Virtual Field Trip: Stranahan House Kitchen
April 1: Story Time: “You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Pirate’s Prisoner!”
April 2: Virtual Field Trip: Stranahan House Sewing Room and Seminole Indians
April 3: History Hour: The Story of Ivy Stranahan (appropriate for high school students and adults)
Programs are subject to change. Visit stranahanhouse.org or contact info@stranahanhouse.org.
