Heritage Village landmarks receive official historic designation during 50th anniversary celebration

Heritage Village landmarks receive official historic designation during 50th anniversary celebration

Pinellas County officially designated the Plant-Sumner House (1896) and the House of Seven Gables (1907) as local historic landmarks today, marking a significant milestone in Heritage Village's year-long 50th-anniversary celebration.

The "From Dedication to Designation" ceremony, held Saturday, March 28, at the 21-acre living history museum, represented the transition of these two historic homes from museum exhibits to permanently protected landmarks. The designation honors five decades of historical stewardship, beginning when the structures were first relocated to the park in 1976.

"Historic preservation is about stewardship," said Pinellas County Commission Vice Chairman Chris Latvala during his keynote address. "The places around us hold meaning, memory and identity. By preserving them, we ensure that future generations better understand where we came from and how our community has grown."

Commissioner Brian Scott, who serves as Chairman of the Historic Preservation Board, reflected on the structures' 50-year journey at Heritage Village.

"History isn't abstract-it's built into the places we can still touch and experience," said Scott. "This site shows what's possible when a community commits to saving its history: buildings are repurposed, stories endure and visitors of all ages gain a living understanding of the past."

The event takes place as the nation prepares for its 250th birthday. Heritage Village officials noted that the preservation of local history is an essential component of the larger national story.

"Moments like this remind us that national history is not only written in capitals and battlefields," said Monica Drake, Historical Museum Operations Manager. "It is also written in local places like this where everyday people built their lives."

Following the ceremony, visitors attended guided tours of the newly designated landmarks to learn about their unique architectural features and the families who lived in them over a century ago.

The 50th anniversary festivities will continue throughout 2026 with themed exhibits and the ongoing Oral History Project, which invites residents to archive their own personal testimonials of life in Pinellas County.

For a full calendar of upcoming anniversary events, visit heritagevillagefl.org/50thanniversary.

About Heritage Village Heritage Village is a 21-acre history museum and park in Largo, Florida. As part of Pinellas County's Parks & Conservation Resources Department, it is home to some of Pinellas County's oldest historic structures and offers a window into the culture and history of the region.

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