Manatee Heritage Days Events Scheduled At Manatee Village

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Manatee Village Historical Park has organized several special events as part of Manatee Heritage Days, Manatee County’s month-long celebration of its heritage and history in March, according to a news release.

In addition to daytime tours of the 1850 Manatee Burying Ground at the historical park, which is located at 1404 Manatee Ave. East in Bradenton, an exhibit about the history of medicine in the Village of Manatee opens in March and a digital lecture on the topic is planned.

Cemetery Tours

The 1850 Manatee Burying Ground is the oldest public cemetery in Manatee County, according to the news release. It served as the first burying ground for the Village of Manatee, which was founded in 1842 and the first established community between Tampa and Key West. The Burying Ground was in use between the village’s founding in 1850 and 1892, though a few family burials occurred there up until the 1960s.

Visitors must schedule their free daytime tours in advance by registering online here or by calling 941-749-7165. Tours will take place March 1-5 and 15-19 at 9:30 a.m. and 1030 a.m. Space is limited and only four slits will be available for each tour.

“Medicine in Manatee” Exhibit

Manatee Village Historical Park will reopen exhibit space inside the Wiggins Store that had previously been closed to the public for the “Medicine in Manatee” exhibit.

The exhibit, which will be open on the building’s second floor, will explore the history of medicine in the Village of Manatee. There’s no cost to visit the exhibit, but appointments must be scheduled in advance online here or by calling 941-749-7165.

“Medicine in Manatee” Digital Lecture

Dr. Jeffrey N. Brown, curator at Manatee Village Historical Park, for a digital lecture to supplement the new “Medicine in Manatee” exhibit.

The pre-recorded video will launch March 6 on the MVHP website and can be watched any time that day or evening. Access to the video ends at 11:59 p.m.

Those interested in viewing the lecture can sign up to receive an email with the video link online here or by calling 941-749-7165.