More than 75 people representing history-based organizations spanning 11 counties gathered at Sydonie Mansion in Mount Dora this week for the final 2026 meeting of the Central Florida Museum Sharing Symposium.

Hosted by the Zellwood Historical Society, Museum and Library on this go around, the symposium brings together historical, heritage and genealogical societies, museums, historic preservation agencies, veterans’ organizations and other nonprofits dedicated to preserving history and providing educational opportunities for such efforts. That includes groups from Lake, Sumter, Marion, Orange, Citrus and more.

The group meets three times a year at rotating venues, giving participating organizations an opportunity to promote upcoming programs, exchange ideas and discuss common concerns, including funding, preservation, volunteer recruitment and event planning.

Master of Ceremonies Bob Grenier, a local author, Tavares city council member, longtime Lake County historian and member of the Lake County Historical Society, said the gatherings help organizations with similar missions build relationships and amplify the importance of their work.

“We’re going to continue to make noise out there,” Grenier said, emphasizing that historic preservation remains important now and for the future.

Jerry Peacock, Mike Cross and Paul Pardee kicked off the morning with the presentation of the colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Kelly Close and the National Anthem, beautifully sung by Jason Barrett.

Throughout the meeting, representatives from participating organizations took turns sharing news about their museums, preservation efforts, programs and upcoming events.

The format allowed attendees to learn from one another and potentially find solutions to challenges many small historical organizations face.

Afterwards, the meeting’s featured guest was Ruben Acosta, deputy state historic preservation officer and chief of the Bureau of Historic Preservation for the Florida Division of Historical Resources.

Acosta outlined programs and assistance available through the state, including grants, educational classes, resources and historic designations of buildings, sites, objects, structures and cemeteries that are 50 years or older. He encouraged representatives to contact the bureau to explore opportunities suited to their organizations’ individual missions and needs.

State resources can also help groups address specialized preservation projects, such as identifying and properly cleaning historic gravesites.

Acosta called everyone in attendance “keepers of knowledge and history,” adding that his department, whose mission includes preservation, is there to help organizations throughout the state with the same.

“We exist to help you guys carry out your missions, as well,” he said.

With that, the very setting of this week’s symposium provided an example of why preservation efforts matter.

Sydonie Mansion was established in 1883 and extensively remodeled in the early 1900s as a winter retreat for James Laughlin, whose family was connected to Pittsburgh’s Jones and Laughlin Steel Co.

The sprawling Mediterranean Revival mansion contains 42 rooms, 13 fireplaces and more than 22,000 square feet.

Charlie Andrews, speaking on behalf of the Zellwood Historical Society, Museum and Library, welcomed attendees and offered a history of the estate. He also thanked current owners Clark and Amy Frogley and their family for opening the mansion to the group.

“Our socks have been knocked off by this gorgeous building,” Andrews said.

The mansion survived periods of changing ownership, institutional use and deterioration before previous owners Dick and Carla Durante began restoring it in the late 1990s. The Frogleys purchased the property in 2014 and have continued its restoration, then opened it for tours and events, a tremendous labor of love.

“This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Amy said, explaining that it took 2 1/2 years just to sift through and uncover everything, let alone restore and work to maintain it.

Before attendees toured the mansion, Amy spoke about her family’s efforts to preserve the historic property and the difficulties they encountered while searching for guidance and assistance at local levels. She said she is encouraged that preservation groups now have greater access to experts, programs and other resources.

She was also impressed by so many fellow historians sitting on the porch of her family’s mansion at one time. She said it’s encouraging that they are working collectively in many ways to find interest and funding to get things restored to their original state and not replace pieces with more modern options, since that defeats the purpose of historical preservation.

“They are historic buildings; you don’t destroy them to share them,” she said.

She also stressed that preservation is not simply about protecting old buildings or artifacts but about ensuring future generations can understand and appreciate the people, places and events that came before them.

Before inviting everyone inside, she encouraged their passions.

“Go get those historical missions in place,” she said.

The Central Florida Museum Sharing Symposium will reconvene in February at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum in Inverness.

For more information on meetings and upcoming events, visit the “Friends of Central Florida History” page on Facebook.

Photos: Roxanne Brown & Mike Cross