Coral Springs began as a uniquely planned "city of the future," developed by primary builder Coral Ridge Properties. The Museum of Coral Springs History highlights the efforts of Coral Ridge Properties and other elements of the early history of Coral Springs. Inside the museum, you can expect displays of salvaged items from historic buildings, mini-models, and a custom interactive touchscreen display, “Sunny.”
Real Estate Office
Originally built by Coral Ridge Properties in 1964 as a 30’x 20’ real estate sales office, it sat at the northwest intersection of Wiles Road and SR441. The location was not even in Coral Springs at the time, but Wiles was the only access into the City, which did not have a paved road, and only a Covered Bridge as a landmark further west. Coral Ridge employees would market property using the City’s Master Plan, neighborhood plats and house models from builders’ brochures. By 1966, Coral Ridge had constructed a large administration building (later used as our first City Hall) and asked if the City of Coral Springs wanted the “old building.”
First Police Station
The city moved it to 6500 Woodside Drive to use as its first administration building and in 1968, the first police station. When it was no longer big enough for their needs in 1972, the police moved out and the Jaycees used it as a clubhouse. The structure had been on borrowed land (and time) and had to be moved again to make way for construction in 1976.
Fire Training
Landmark Restoration committee members from left to right: Vice Mayor Carl Zeytoonian, Brian Hansen, John Cassidy, Sandy Cugno, unidentified, John Trout, John Lynch, Jack Lotsey, Bill Sayers and Chuck Connor.
Next stop was the city dump at 12700 NW 39th Street. While using it for smoke rescue drills, the volunteer fire department accidentally set it on fire. People took notice that the little building seemed indestructible, as it survived even this assault. The Landmark Restoration Committee formed to raise funds to restore the structure. On October 20, 1977, the building was moved yet again but this time with an accompanying parade as a flatbed truck towed it to its permanent home in Mullins Park. By March 4, 1978, it was fully restored and opened as the Mini Museum.
First Museum
As the Bicentennial surge of interest in local history waned, people forgot about the Mini Museum and it closed within a couple of years. It sat empty for over twenty years, used occasionally as a meeting room. In 2000, (another year of resurgent interest in local history) the city formed the Historical Advisory Committee, which identified the building as a landmark that should be restored to its prior status as a museum. Years of neglect had left the building in need of total restoration.
Renovations
A 2004 renovation of the space included subdivision plat maps, miniature models of some of the first structures in the city, and items of interest from the main historical archive files, and was designated a Florida Heritage Site. The Museum was renovated again in 2021, to modernize the displays and create space to honor both the original City Hall and Financial Plaza, both buildings no longer standing. The museum highlights the master plans and advertising methods that helped the city grow from a population of five to over 135,000 in 60 years. Items from the original City Hall are on display, as well as an interactive touchscreen that includes trivia. For example, did you know that the city would not allow the "golden arches" of McDonald's to be a part of their first franchise in Coral Springs? The question famously appeared in a game of Trivial Pursuit! Visit the Museum of History to see and learn more about Coral Springs.
