Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum

The Heritage Museum is located at the heart of Tarpon Springs, in shady Craig Park overlooking Spring Bayou. The serene waters of the Bayou attracted the town’s very first settlers, and many wealthy northerners of the late 19th century later built their winter homes on this “Golden Crescent.” Still very much a town landmark, the bayou is the site of the annual Greek Orthodox Epiphany Celebration and cross-diving ceremony, and the winter home of numerous manatees. This beautifully renovated facility, formerly a library, has two separate wings. The History Wing contains an exhibit about the Greek community of Tarpon Springs, as well as a display of historical and modern photographs tracing the development of Tarpon Springs, a collection of Native American archaeological artifacts from local excavations, and an exhibit detailing the history of Tarpon Springs’ Women’s Club. Visitors also can view a 16-minute documentary about the local sponge industry. The Ecology Wing features the large-scale murals of Tarpon Springs artist Christopher Still. The murals are fine giclee reproductions of the series that hangs in the chambers of Florida House of Representatives, and tell the story of the state’s vivid history. Each of the murals contains many symbolic elements that introduce the people and events that shaped Florida’s history from 16th century European discovery to modern times.