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Last update: 1/30/2023

Welcome to our website!

Hours of Operation:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday: 10:00AM to 3:00PM (Closed Wednesday & Sunday).

Displays are changed often so return if you have not visited in a few months.

Admission $3.00, Kids under 13 years old are free.

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The Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology is a research and teaching institution located at 307 S.E. 26^th Terrace, Ocala, Florida, on the McPherson County Government Complex.

Mail Address: Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology, P.O. Box 4383 Ocala FL 34478

Our displays, exhibits and programs cover 13,000 years of human history in this wonderful county.

Our Museum's Grand Opening was on September 18^th, 2011 and we have now modified several areas in the museum since the opening, so be sure and stop by to see the "Changes".

Thank you for your interest in our area's wonderful history and heritage!

Mail Address: P.O. Box 4383 Ocala FL 34478

Physical Address: 307 SE 26th Ter, Ocala, FL 34471 352-236-5245

Recent Changes:

From the Ocala Police Department's Facebook Page:

During #BlackHistoryMonth, the Ocala Police Department has agreed to loan the historic badge of Ocala Town Marshal Burrell Dawkins to the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology. This badge is one of a kind and has immense historical significance for both the police department and the Ocala community. We are honored and excited to share this historical badge with a local museum and commemorate Black History Month in such a meaningful way.

ABOUT DAWKINS: On March 1, 1881, Dawkins was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man in the downtown square. The 38-year-old African American was the first known law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty in the history of Ocala.

Dawkins was first elected as Town Marshal in 1869, at the age of 26. Among other things, the town marshal's duties were to arrest anyone drunk in public, arrest those who use profane or obscene language in a boisterous manner, and maintain the street lamps.

After Dawkins' death, the city council passed a resolution that stated, "Whereas it has pleased Almighty God, the power of the universe, to take from our midst Marshal Burrell Dawkins while performing the duties of his office resolved that although we bow to the decree of Providence we feel we have lost in him a faithful and upright officer. Resolve that we tender our condolences to the family of the deceased for the irreparable loss they have sustained."

ABOUT THE BADGE: It's believed that Marshal Burrell Dawkins was wearing this badge when shot in 1873. A report explains that a man rode his horse into the lobby of the Ocala Hotel and when Marshal Dawkins tried to remove him, he shot the Marshal. Dawkins survived the shot and continued to serve as town marshal until he was fatally shot while on duty on March 1, 1881.

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We would like to thank Mark Anderson of Marion County Public Relations for the article and pictures recently taken.

https://www.marionfl.org/Home/Components/News/News/12832/622 See theNEw Pictures below.

See our future Scheduled Events: http://marioncountyarchaeology.com/mcmha/Lectures.htm

Future Lectures:

The next Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology program is on Sunday, March 18, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Green Clover Hall, 319 SE 26th Terr., at the McPherson Governmental Complex property. Cynthia Graham-Wilson – Marion County author/historian on topic of early Marion County Black Residents and Businesses. Following will be a reception with refreshments and tours at the museum, 307 SE 26th Terr., Ocala, FL 34471.

All Programs 3rd Sunday of odd months, at 2 p.m. in Green Clover Hall at 319 SE 26^th Ter. All programs admission are free to members and $5 to nonmembers. Individual and family memberships available for sale at events. For information, please call the museum at (352) 236-5245. Be sure to check out the museum store. We have gotten new items and have recently received a new shipment of museum T-shirts that include size XXL

The museum’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/MarionCountyMuseumofHistoryandArchaeology/

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Volunteer at the Museum: Call 352-236-5245 and ask about volunteering at the museum. You can pick you days and hours you want to volunteer and will be taught with “On the Job Training” about Marion County’s History.

The county is supplying the building and much of the utilities/maintenance, but many expenses and cost for the displays will be from local donations.

Donations can be made to The Marion County Historical Association (a 501-c(3) Corporation- any donation is tax deductible).

Saturday, 8/10/19 at the Fort King National Historical Landmark, the Fort King Heritage Association presented to the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology a leather bound multipage reproduction copy of the hand written minutes of the first Marion County Commission meeting that took place in the fort on Friday, February 20, 1846. You can actually read the cursive script that was hand written on that day.

FKHA Board members Bill McCall, Diane Trice and Robin Corsiglia presented to the Marion County Museum of History and Archaeology trustees Zack Pagels, Vanessa Thomas, and Judy Delk.

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