In honor of International Museum Day, three historic sites in Venice invite families to come explore the rich historical resources these institutions provide to the community.

In keeping with this year’s theme of “Hyperconnected Museums: New Approaches, New Publics,” the Venice Museum & Archives in the Triangle Inn, 351 Nassau St. S.; Lord-Higel House, 409 Granada Ave.; and Historic Venice Train Depot, 303 E. Venice Ave.; are reaching out to area residents and families outside of the historic area of Venice so these “new publics” can discover the benefits of these museums.

This free event takes place on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each site will be open and offer activities for the whole family. A free trolley shuttle will run continuously between the three sites, allowing visitors to start at any site and get on and off to visit each museum.
The Venice Museum & Archives will offer balsa wood kits for kids to make their own World War II-era fighter planes like the ones that used to be at the Venice Army Air Base, design and create a shark tooth necklace, and have a photo op for social media with “Dr. Fred Albee and Bertha Palmer.”
Venice Heritage Inc. will give tours and information on the Lord-Higel House, the second-oldest house in Sarasota County, and have basket-weaving demonstrators and period games for kids.
The Venice Area Historical Society, with "railroad" people on the Depot campus, will present children’s storytime readings about trains, provide presentations on the secrets of the train depot restoration, and offer a scavenger hunt on features about the Rollins Coakley Railroad Park.
For more information, call the Venice Museum at 941-486-2487.