Lunch & Learn: Piecing Together the Past

The Bartow History Museum invites the public to its March Lunch & Learn program, Piecing Together the Past, on March 18, 2026, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Historian and researcher Allan Payton will present a powerful and deeply personal account drawn from years of research, tracing his journey to uncover the life of his great-great-grandfather, a Confederate soldier whose story was only partially preserved through family memory - known mainly for losing a leg during the war and later struggling to farm with a crude wooden prosthetic. The presentation explores the hardships faced by Civil War soldiers and highlights the critical role of archival research, family artifacts, and persistence in recovering lost history. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch and stay for discussion following the program.

Admission is free for museum members and $9 for non-members.