Heritage Museum

Officially known as the May-Stringer Hernando Heritage Museum, this is a collection of some 11,000 Hernando County artifacts housed in the 1856 home of John May, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. May lived here with his wife Mareena and their two daughters until his death in 1858. The residence was later owned by Dr. Sheldon Stringer and eventually leased to the Hernando Historical Museum Association, Inc. for its current use.

Apart from the displays of County records and memorabilia covering a century and a half of history, the Heritage Museum is probably best known for its many annual events. Among them is the Brooksville Raid, staged during the third week of January each year. It is widely considered to be Florida's best and largest Civil War reenactment.

Other events include Heritage Days in February, Mother's Day Tea in May, the Halloween Haunted House in October, and the Candlelight Christmas Tour in December. Weekend ghost tours are also conducted throughout the year. Funds raised through such activities go toward maintenance and improvement of the museum, such as restoration of an 1885 Russell Street Train railroad dining car.

The Heritage Museum is located at 601 Museum Court, Brooksville, Florida 34601. Regular operating hours are from noon to 3pm on Tuesday through Saturday. For admission, a $5 donation is requested. Schoolchildren and scouts are admitted free of charge.