Historical Society Kicks Off Lecture Series This Weekend

On Saturday, the Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society will launch the first of five lectures that will be dedicated to furthering the public's knowledge on the city. 

The first lecture will be conducted by Dr. Brent R. Weisman, a Professor and Chair for Anthropology at the University of South Florida. Focusing on Tarpon Springs' earlier days, the first lecture is appropriately named The Prehistory and Archaeology of Tarpon Springs. 

The series, Celebrating Community: Tarpon Springs A Continuum of 125 Years, will run through March of 2013, each month hosting a different topic. 

After reaching a milestone anniversary of 125 years, the City of Tarpon Springs joined forces with the Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society to figure out the best way to celebrate. A grant was funded by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resource and the lecture series was born. 

The complete list of lectures is as follows:

• November 10 at 4 p.m.

Speaker: Ellen Uguccioni, Cultural Resources Consultant

Topic: Architecture and Development of the City

• December 1 at 4 p.m. 

Speaker: Historian and Author, Dr. Gary Mormino

Topic: America Discovers Tarpon Springs: The View from Outside

• February 16 at 4 p.m. 

Speaker: Museum Curator, Lynn Whitelaw

Topic: An Arts Legacy in Tarpon Springs: George Inness and Son 

• March 9 at 4 p.m.

Speaker: Archaeologist, Jeff Moates

Topic: Maritime Heritage of Tarpon Springs Infuses the Past with Today

According to Cyndi Tarapani, President of the Historical Society, the series will offer a one-of-a-kind education on the city and its history. 

"Maybe everybody doesn't go to all five, but I think if you went to all five you would have an unbelievable masters degree in Tarpon Springs History," Tarapani said.

Lectures will be held at 4 p.m. sharp at the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum, located at 100 Beekman Lane in Craig Park. The events are free and open to the public. A light reception will follow each lecture.