Fort Lauderdale History

History Data

Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum

Fort Lauderdale Historical Society was founded in 1962 to collect, preserve and interpret the history of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. The Historical Society is progressing steadily toward the completion of an historic village that features the largest remaining collection of turn of the last century buildings remaining in Broward County. Located where Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railway crosses the New River on Riverwalk, where the city began, it includes three historic buildings, a replica of the first schoolhouse in Broward County and a modern research and collections facility.

The historic New River Inn, located in old Fort Lauderdale Village on Riverwalk, will bring your quests back to the early 1900's. The first hotel in Broward County, built in 1905, played host to Henry Flagler & Henry Ford, just to name a few! Today it is home to the Old Fort Lauderdale Museum of History.

Broward County Historical Commission

Find historical information about Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, including milestones, photo galleries, historical resources and more.

Spanish Exploration and Conquest of Native America

Hernando de Soto explored America for a seaway to China in order to trade Spain's New World gold. He followed trails that we use as highways. His records describe Native Villages along those trails at places that are cities again today. Conquest Trails in Fourteen States are presented here.