The Palm Coast Historical Society was formed in 2000, at a time when Palm Coast was still a young city and much of its early history remained undocumented. As development accelerated and founding residents aged, there was a growing awareness that the city’s story—its land, people, and early experiences—needed to be recorded while firsthand memories and materials were still available.
In response, the City Council appointed Margaret Davies and Art Dycke as the city’s first Co-Historians. Their initial goals were both practical and urgent: to begin collecting and organizing historical materials, to establish funding and community support, and to secure a permanent home for a future museum.
Early Challenges and the Search for a Home
From the beginning, the Society’s work was shaped as much by limitation as by ambition. Although the City appointed volunteer Co-Historians and provided temporary space at City Hall, the Society had no permanent home. Early collections—including photographs, newspaper clippings, oral history recordings, and materials transferred from ITT—were stored wherever space could be found, often under tight constraints.
By late 2001, growing demands on City Hall space forced the Society to vacate its temporary work area. Collections were moved into a rented, climate-controlled storage unit, preserving the materials but making them inaccessible to the public. This challenge underscored a recurring concern voiced by the Society’s historians: preservation without access limited the ability to fulfill the Society’s educational mission.
During this period, the Society actively sought public support and funding. Appeals were made to the City Council, emphasizing that Palm Coast’s history was still fragile and that firsthand accounts, documents, and memories needed to be collected before they were lost. Early grant funding—while modest—helped sustain basic operations and storage costs, but fell short of providing a publicly accessible space. As one early appeal noted, history “hidden away is no knowledge at all.”
Early Efforts and Foundations
During its early years, the Society focused on gathering documents, photographs, oral histories, and personal accounts from residents who had witnessed Palm Coast’s transformation from undeveloped land into a planned community. Newsletters, public talks, and community outreach became essential tools for both building a historical record and engaging the public in preservation efforts.
Without a permanent physical location, much of this work relied on volunteer effort and informal spaces. Despite these limitations, the Society steadily expanded its collections and visibility, laying the groundwork for a more formal historical organization.
Recording History as It Happened
A defining feature of the Society’s early work was its emphasis on documenting history in real time. Rather than waiting for anniversaries or retrospectives, the Society sought to capture everyday experiences as Palm Coast was still taking shape. This included identifying early milestones—such as the first homes, businesses, and residents—as well as collecting letters and recollections from those who navigated unpaved roads, limited services, and a lifestyle that bridged rural and suburban life.
This approach reflected an understanding that small details, often overlooked, would one day provide essential context for understanding how the city developed.
Growth and Continuity
Over the years, the Society’s original priorities—collection, organization, and public engagement—remained constant, even as leadership evolved. Art Dycke continued to shape the Society’s direction for more than two decades, later serving as Co-Historian alongside Elaine Studnicki. Together, they helped guide the Society from its formative years into a more structured organization with an established public presence.
A major milestone was achieved with the establishment of a permanent home at Holland Park, fulfilling one of the Society’s earliest goals and providing a dedicated space for exhibits, research, and community engagement.
Looking Forward
Now, more than twenty-five years after its formation, the Palm Coast Historical Society continues the work envisioned by its founders. By preserving historical materials, interpreting the city’s past, and making that history accessible to the public, the Society ensures that Palm Coast’s story is not only remembered, but shared with future generations.