- July 12, 2026
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As the country's 250th anniversary approached, Sarasota County Libraries and Historical Resources staff wanted to offer something both national and local, said Sarasota County History Center Manager Josh Goodman.
That was how they settled on the idea of a comparative timeline.Â
The timeline display, spanning over 30 feet in length with all of its panels placed side by side, drew "practically all" of its Sarasota images from the history center, says Programs and Outreach Specialist Meg Lepak.
The timeline was on view during the America250 Celebration at Selby Library, held July 11, an event which also featured offerings including live music, presentations by author Doug Alderson and a community art project.
"For an event like this, it was really an awesome opportunity to use a big national event and say, 'How do we take this and understand it from a local position?" Lepak said.Â
Goodman said he doesn't know how many hours he spent on research for the timeline, but it was "definitely a big focus for a couple of months."
The history center has over 400 manuscript collections and online collections available through its website, and is responsible for historic preservations efforts locally,
Lepak said that, with a background in ancient history, the event was a chance for her to learn something new.Â
"I think one of the the coolest things to see is how we both follow and defy national trends in Sarasota during the 1930s, when the rest of the country was going through its huge depression," she said. "We also had a depression, but I think we got out of it in such a unique way, because we're so tourism-based in this area. You wouldn't expect us to be so resilient in this time of national poverty, but there is a lot of resilience."
Goodman says the library system's celebration of the country's 250th anniversary is year-round.Â
He notes the fall theme of its Florida History Lecture Series is also America250. The timeline will also go to other county libraries.
