An overview and history of the railroad and the Venice Depot.

SORRY.  THIS EVENT IS FULL PER JACARANDA LIBRARY.

The Venice Depot was built 16 years after the Seaboard Railway was extended to Venice from Sarasota. Once called the most beautiful railroad station on the Seaboard rail system, this building became inextricably intertwined with the development of Venice. Spend an hour learning about the important role the Venice Depot played, from its dedication on March 27, 1927, to the delivery of a restored Ringling Circus Train Car on January 28, 2021. Meet the major players in this saga: the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Kentucky Military Institute, the Army Air Corps, and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Speaker, George W. Miller spent 28 years in the fields of computing, networking, and telecommunications at a midwestern university.  He has long had an interest in local history.  Every family vacation included a trip to a visitor center to pick up a history book or two on some local topic.  When George and his wife became full time Venice residents in 2007, it was only natural that they were drawn to the Venice Area Historical Society (VAHS).

George has served on the VAHS Board of Directors since 2009, twice serving as Treasurer.  He has been giving tours at the Historic Venice Depot since 2007 and currently chairs the Depot Committee.  In preparation for the 85th anniversary of the City of Venice and the Historic Venice Train Depot, he led the effort to upgrade the Depot exhibits.  George and his wife, Mary Huba, are currently providing leadership for the Circus Car Restoration Project.

Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice, FL  34293

Click here to register.  Deadline to register is March 8.

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Knowledgeable Society members are available to provide a variety of presentations to community groups within the Venice area to educate, enlighten, and entertain.  Each presentation addresses some aspect of Venice area history.  Donations are requested to defray costs.  Contact us for more information.