Since its grand opening in 1994, the Matheson History Museum has been an integral part of our city’s cultural landscape, welcoming visitors from north central Florida and beyond. We strive to make the museum accessible and welcoming to all.

Museum Complex

• Matheson History Museum: The Matheson History Museum’s main exhibition gallery and Mary Ann Cofrin Exhibit Hall are housed in the former American Legion Hall, which was repurposed as a museum in 1994. All programs take place in the museum. The museum’s offices are also housed in this building, which is located at 513 East University Avenue.
• Matheson Library & Archives: Located at 418 East University Avenue in the historic Gainesville Gospel Tabernacle building, which was built in 1933, it was renovated and restored by the museum in 2016. The Matheson History Museum library collection includes more than 20,000 historic Florida postcards, 1,500 stereograph cards, and myriad maps, photographs, documents, books and artifacts.
• 1867 Matheson House: The Matheson House, one of the three oldest residences in Gainesville, was completed in 1867 by James Douglas Matheson, an emigrant from South Carolina and a prominent merchant. For more information on this historic home please visit the Matheson House page.
• Tison Tool Barn: Gifted to the museum in 1993, the Tison Tool Barn houses the extensive historic tool collection of John Mason Tison, Jr. It contains over 1,000 tools from the 1850s to the early 20th century. Please call the museum at 352-378-2280 to schedule a tour.
• Sweetwater Park: This park is located directly behind the museum and maintained jointly by the Matheson History Museum and the City of Gainesville. The museum is in the process of installing a cell phone tour which will give visitors an overview of downtown Gainesville’s history. The park is free and open to the public.

Newsletters

A quarterly newsletter is sent to all members for free. Feel free to peruse back issues to learn more about the Matheson and its programs.

• Fall 2016
• Winter 2017
• Summer 2017
• Winter 2018
• Summer 2018
• Fall 2018

Staff

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Board of Directors

Greg Young – President	Courtney Evans
Robert T. Mounts –  1st Vice President	Tina Fields
Ronnie Lovler – 2nd Vice President	Lizzie P.R.B. Jenkins
TJ Pyche – Secretary	Jon Rehm
Jason Stanford – Treasurer	E. Stanley Richardson
Jessica Mrozinske Baker, J.D.	Dulce Román
Charles Cobb, Ph.D.	Ruth Steiner, Ph.D.

Emeritus Board Members

Advisory Council

Marilyn Tubb – Chair	Lesa Holder
Barbara Anderson	Deirdre F. Houchen, Ph.D.
Jean Chalmers	Linda Kallman
Don Davis	Rebecca Nagy, Ph.D.
Bruce DeLaney	Paul Ortiz, Ph.D.
Ian Fletcher	Carla Summers
Scherwin Henry	Barbara Wingo