1. Venice Train Depot Photo Exhibit
  2. National Register Plaque Program
  3. Gunther Gebel-Williams Sculpture
  4. Venice Train Depot Tours
  5. Restoration of Railroad Memorabilia
  6. Joseph Lord House

2007 - 2008
Kentucky Military Institute cadets came into the Venice Train Depot from 1933 to 1970 when Venice was their winter headquarters. They came down from Lyndon, Kentucky to Venice in early January and went back to Kentucky shortly after Easter each year. VAHS is putting together a permanent display about the KMI cadets.

VAHS and QUESTERS...are working together on an exhibit of photos at the Venice Train Depot. Questers is an organization that has joined forces with the Venice Area Historical Society to promote history and historic preservation.

VAHS works with the Historic Preservation Board of Venice, Sarasota County History Center and Sarasota County Historical Commission, Friends of the Legacy Trail, Colonial Dames of America, Venice Main Street, and others to promote and preserve the history of the Venice area.

VAHS completed a permanent exhibit tribute to the Kentucky Military Institute in Venice from 1933-70.

National Register Plaque Program
This program is for individual properties that are already named to the National Register of Historic Places in the Venice area.

A photo exhibit in Waiting Room #2 at the historic Venice Train depot was completed in Feb., 2008.. There are photos of: Kentucky Military Institute Cadets at the Depot, Ringling Brothers Circus Train at Depot, and Use of Depot during W.W. II. This exhibit was funded by QUESTERS, an organizational member of the Venice Area Historical Society.

Click here to see completed projects
Gunther Gebel-Williams Sculpture
Gunther Gebel-Williams, famed wild animal trainer, was with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus for twenty years. Born in 1934, Gunther died in Venice, Florida in 2001. Former "Venice Gondolier Sun" editor, Doug Bolduc came up with the idea of a sculpture to honor the great animal trainer and began a fund towards an 8 foot sculpture. In 2002, the Venice Area Historical Society took over the project. Rollins Coakley formed a statue steering committee and it was that committee that reviewed bids from sculptors and ultimately chose ED KASPROWICZ of Apollo Beach, Florida to do the work of art.. George McLean has chaired the statue steering committee since 2003 overseeing the completion of a contract with the sculptor through to the statue's completion and arrival at the Venice Train Depot in July, 2005. Statue committee members Kim Cool, Sigrid Gebel, Betty Intagliata and Kathleen Winder and Kathleen Winder were in charge of plans for the dedication of the 8 foot bronze statue that took place on Monday, Dec. 5, 2005 at the Venice Train Depot. At that time, the Venice Area Historical Society turned over the statue to Sarasota County accepted by the county's Board of County Commissioners. Volunteers from the Pelican Pointe Ladies Garden Club give their time & expertise to the landscaping circle that surrounds the statue free of charge.
Venice Train Depot Tours
The tour is free, however donations toward the work of the Historical Society are welcomed.  For groups of ten or more, special tours can be arranged by leaving a message at (941) 412-0151. You will get a call back.

Restoration of Railroad Memorabilia and Train Depot
The original Venice Train Depot was built in 1927 by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.  Sarasota County purchased the depot site in 1999.  The restoration of the depot was a $2.3 million project that was funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Transportation, plus local funds from Sarasota County and the City of Venice.  The rehabilitation project was overseen by Sarasota County Public Works. The restoration was completed in 2003, and a dedication of the newly renovated depot was held by Sarasota County on October 24, 2003.

In 2003, the Historical Society accepted a donation of a hand car from the John Bailey family. It needed restoration, and the Society hired father/son team...Garland & Glenn Miley to restore it at a cost of $1,500.  It was turned over to Sarasota County on Oct. 24, 2003, and a dedication ceremony was held.

In Spring 2005, the Historical Society held a dedication ceremony for a 1920's era baggage cart which was purchased from a Sarasota County employee with money donated by the Venice Chapter of Questors, a historic preservation organization.  The historical society then provided the funds to restore the cart.

In November, 2005, GENE MARKOW presented the Venice Area Historical Society with a replica of the original waiting room bench at the Venice Train Depot. The materials ran the Historical Society $500 but Gene donated his many hours of labor to the Society and was made a lifetime member of VAHS.
Joseph Lord House
The Venice Area Historical Society from its fundraising activities has given a total of $6,000 towards the restoration of the Joseph Lord House.

The Joseph Lord house was moved from 211 Laguna Drive to Granada Avenue.  The City of Venice donated the lot on which it now sits and paid to have the house moved.  The house was moved on July 26, 2005 and the Historical Commission has proposed that the house be used for educational purposes, as a museum and/or for other community uses.
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