Hand-colored photos recall a more innocent era of the city’s beach-going past. Photos provided by the Boca Raton Historical Society
By Ruth Santana
The crashing waves, the salty breeze, and the distant cry of seagulls — one can’t help but think of the beach when thinking of Boca Raton.
Since the city’s establishment, the coastline’s white-sand beaches and clear blue waters have attracted tourists, businesses and innovation.
The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum’s new temporary exhibit, “Life’s a Beach,” pays it homage.
Susan Gillis, the museum curator and honorary historical society member, masterminded this exhibit. With only a month to plan, decorate and source material, Gillis, along with her assistant Amanda Capote, was able to scour the museum’s extensive collection and select the best items to commemorate the city’s unique history with its coast.
“Well, it’s our mission to share Boca Raton history, and we like to make it entertaining as well as educational for people,” Gillis said.
Upon entering the room, visitors are greeted with a photo stand-in of a woman in a vintage bikini, a man in a bathing costume with seaweed for hair, and a crab. This colorful prop sets the tone of the exhibit.
Sargassum on the beach — and this man’s head — was seasonal back then as it is now.
As visitors walk around the room, they can see hand-tinted photo murals from the 1920s to the 1960s of young people enjoying the beach, a group of Army men from World War II posing for a picture, and colorful residents goofing around.
In a large glass display case near the entrance, guests can see vintage bathing suits for both men and women from the 1920s, 1930s and 1950s — loaned from the History Fort Lauderdale museum — displaying how fashion changed from the conservative swim dresses with stockings to more modern one-piece bathing suits and swim trunks.
“Seeing the vintage suits, I think, really brings home [that] people enjoyed the beach back in the 1920s and here’s the goofy suits they had to wear,” Gillis said.
The exhibit also displays pieces by Addison Mizner, an important architect and designer during the Florida boom in the 1920s. Furniture such as headboards from the Cloister Inn, a cast stone depiction of a Spanish coat of arms, and a Mediterranean-inspired light fixture are scattered around the room.
Memorabilia from once popular resorts and restaurants reflect Boca Raton’s appeal to tourists. Photos and postcards from the Cabana Club (1930-1931), Hermansen’s restaurant (1956), the Beach Club at the Boca Raton Hotel and Club (1980-1983), and Sabal Point Condominiums (1970) can be seen in a small clear box near the back of the room.
“Stuff left over from the Cabana Club … puts a perspective on the time my grandfather lived during World War II and the 1960s,” said Nicholas Special, a city resident and a Florida Atlantic University graduate student. “The history of the beach that people tend to overlook is very important to telling the city’s history.”
Although the exhibit is temporary, it is connected to some of the museum’s permanent rooms, such as the World War II, IBM and Addison Mizner exhibits, displaying how the coastline not only attracted vacationers, but also military prowess, technological advancement and architectural ingenuity.
“I think the exhibition just symbolizes what a vibrant community we have and what a committed community,” said Zoe Lanham, historical society board member and vice president of The Addison. “I hope when people visit, they are not only proud of … the history, but also … a place where future generations can come together.”
If You Go
The “Life’s a Beach” exhibit is on display until Feb. 27. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday at 71 N. Federal Highway. $12; free the first Saturday of the month. The historical society will also host events such as Mahjong on Nov. 9 and 17 and a “Guided Tour of The Boca Raton” on Nov. 10 and 24. More information on these events can be found at bocahistory.org
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