PIONEER FLORIDA
MUSEUM AND VILLAGE

By  Mike Miller November 10, 2025

Pioneer Florida Museum and Village covers 21 acres of wooded hillside in Dade City, Florida. The open-air site holds ten main historic buildings, eight of which came from various Pasco County sites.

They date from the 1860s to the 1930s. The museum recreates pioneer life before 1945. Exhibits show daily routines, tools, and trades.

Trilby Depot

The buildings are linked by paths that wind through oaks and pines. The Pasco County Historical Society runs the village as a non-profit.

The Pasco County Historical Society formed in 1957. Its members sought to save local landmarks from loss. They founded the museum on April 28, 1961.

Emily Larkin, of a prominent agricultural family, donated the land that started Pioneer Village. Early efforts focused on relocating threatened structures.

The John Overstreet House arrived first. Built in the mid-1860s, it marked the start of the collections. The Trilby Depot from 1896 stood in one of Florida’s largest rail yards.

The 1913 Porter Steam Engine hauled logs for 50 years. It powered Cummer Cypress Company's sawmill in Lacoochee.

The Enterprise Church dates to 1878. Locals rebuilt it in 1903 for $500. It hosted weddings and services. The Old Lacoochee School from the 1930s shows what rural education was like. One teacher handled all the grades.

Commerce thrived in stores like C.C. Smith's from the 1920s. It served Lacoochee for 50 years. Trades like J.L. Bromley's shoe repair from 1913 highlight craftsmanship.

The Blanton Packing House opened in 1910. It shipped citrus until a 1989 freeze ended operations. Cane grinding mills demonstrate syrup making.

The museum preserves these structures, and they are connected by paths in an authentic village layout.

A Personal Memory of Historic Pasco

Several items and structures in the village are from Trilby and Lacoochee.  These tiny communities are about 8 miles north of Dade City.  They are old pioneer railroad towns on a railroad that no longer exists. A popular novel around the turn of the century was Trilby. The original name of the town was McLeod, but it was changed to Trilby in 1901 and many streets were named for characters in the novel.

Pioneer Florida Museum and Village is at 15602 Pioneer Museum Rd, Dade City, FL 33523. It lies off U.S. 301, north of town. Follow signs from the highway.

It's open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Sundays, Mondays, and most holidays. Arrive by 3:30 p.m. for full tours. Call to book group tours for 10 or more.

Self-guided walks take 1 to 2 hours. You’ll be walking over paths that cover 6.5 acres of displays. Watch for uneven ground on trails, and keep pets leashed.

The gift shop sells unique toys and a Monopoly-type game featuring Dade City businesses.

PIONEER FLORIDA
MUSEUM AND VILLAGE WEBSITE

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