PIONEER FLORIDA MUSEUM ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

In 1960, Rudolph Rhode and his sister, Miss Annie Rhode, the children of a prominent farmer in San

Antonio, gave 37 antique farm implements and tools to the Pasco County Fair Association. Such were the

humble beginnings of the Pioneer Florida Museum. On April 28, 1961 the museum was

chartered by the State of Florida as The Pioneer Florida Museum Association, Inc., with 87 charter members.

The growing collections were housed at the Pasco County Fairgrounds for many years. In 1973 Emily

Larkin donated 6.5 acres to the Museum Association in memory of her husband William Larkin. This gift

made it possible to accommodate the growing array of articles depicting early life in West Central Florida.

The Museum's picturesque site is located just north of Dade City, Florida and adjacent to the Little Everglades

Ranch which was carved from wilderness by Mr. and Mrs. Larkin. In later years the Museum grounds grew to

twenty-one acres. The museum has rescued several historic buildings, has a vast array of collections and displays, hosts special events, classes, festivals and has even hosted exhibitions from the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.