VERO BEACH — Acknowledging community interest in the continuation of its annual Florida Humanities Series, the Emerson Center will present a new group of speakers for 2012-2013, in partnership with the Florida Humanities Council.
Acclaimed speakers and performers in six programs will be presented between October 2012 and April 2013, with lectures and performances relating to Florida history and issues.
Admission to each is complimentary, and all performances will begin at 7 p.m. on their respective Thursday evenings.
The series is sponsored in part by Marine Bank & Trust.
October is National Humanities Month.
The premiere speaker of the series will be archaeologist Robert Carr, who will present Finding Bimini: Ponce de Leon’s Florida on Thursday, October 25.
Robert Carr, an American archaeologist and the current executive director of The Archaeological and Historical Conservancy, Inc., has been the principal investigator for numerous excavations and projects in Miami, Okeechobee, Eleuthera, Bahamas, Glades County, Broward County, and Miami-Dade County, as well as an archaeological survey of Okeechobee Lake.
In 1513, Ponce de Leon sailed from Puerto Rico to discover and claim Bimini for the King of Spain. Popular misconceptions taught Ponce de Leon’s destination as Bimini in the Bahamas.
However, historical documents reveal that Bimini was actually Florida.
In this presentation, Carr will examine both prehistoric and early historic contacts between Florida, the Bahamas, Cuba, and the mystery of the Fountain of Youth.
Funding for these programs was provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the Florida Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The capacity of the Emerson Center is more than 800.
Free admission will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis, and no tickets are required.
Reserved seating for season ticket holders of the Celebrated Speakers Series will be offered with prior telephone arrangements.
The Emerson Center is handicapped-accessible and is conveniently located at 1590 27th Ave. on the SE corner of 16th St. and 27th Ave. in Vero Beach.
For more information, please call (772) 778-5249.