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Your Guide to Polk County History

The Polk County History Center offers a variety of guided and self‑guided experiences that bring local history to life. Whether you prefer exploring architecture, walking through historic cemeteries or discovering heritage sites at your own pace, these tours help you connect with the people, places and stories that shaped Polk County.

Staff Guided Tours

Join our team for guided experiences that highlight Polk County’s architectural heritage and historic cemeteries. All staff‑guided tours are free and open to the public.

Architectural Tour

Discover the neoclassical features that define the Polk County History Center during a guided tour led by our education team. Learn how architect E.C. Hosford designed the historic courthouse and shaped one of Polk County’s most recognizable landmarks.

Tour Time: 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month

Cost: Free; no reservation required

Location: 100 E. Main St. in Bartow.

Cemetery Tours

Explore the stories of Polk County’s earliest settlers and Black pioneers through rotating tours of the Oak Hill and Evergreen Cemeteries. Please note that grounds are uneven; please wear appropriate footwear.

Tour Time: Tours are held at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, October through April. Check the calendar for tour location.

Cost: Free; no reservation required

Oak Hill Cemetery Tour

Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, Oak Hill Cemetery preserves the memory of Polk County’s pioneer families. The tour begins with a one‑mile walk that includes historic landmarks along the route.

Meeting location: Polk County History Center, 100 E. Main St., Bartow.

Evergreen Cemetery Tour

Designated as a Polk County Heritage Site, Evergreen Cemetery honors the legacies of Black pioneers who shaped the region through agriculture, military service, and community leadership.

Meeting location: Enter the via Highway 60 W., just past the intersection of Baker Avenue and West Main Street. The cemetery is across from Thunder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, at 1425 W. Main St., Bartow.

Self-Guided Tours

Explore Polk County at your own pace with self‑guided experiences that highlight local heritage, landmarks and cultural history.

Polk County Heritage Trail

Follow this countywide trail to discover more than 150 years of local history. The Polk County Heritage Trail connects significant landmarks, cultural sites and stories that shaped Polk County’s development.

Begin Exploring

Polk County Citrus Label Tour

Polk County’s citrus heritage comes to life through the Polk County Citrus Label Tour. The tour highlights the colorful labels once used to market locally grown fruit. Created during the height of Florida’s citrus industry, these labels offer a look at the growers, communities and artistry that shaped the region’s agricultural identity.

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Tours

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Your Guide to Polk County History

Staff Guided Tours

Self-Guided Tours