Shortly after the formation of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach in 1980, founding Chairman Earl E. T. Smith gave an impassioned speech to the local governing body in which he explained the unique sense of place that the organization was formed to protect:
“The Preservation Foundation believes that the physical environment of this town – the natural terrain, the town plan, the buildings, the landscape, and the island setting – makes ours the most beautiful and unique community in this country and that this environment is one of Palm Beach’s most precious resources.”
Founding Chairman
Over the past 40 years, the Preservation Foundation has undertaken numerous projects throughout the island that protect the heritage and enhance the beauty of Palm Beach. Millions of dollars have been raised to preserve and restore historic resources like Sea Gull Cottage and Town Hall. Projects such as Pan’s Garden have fostered a deeper appreciation for the island’s botanical heritage. Most recently, the beautification project at Bradley Park transformed a 4.4-acre public park located on the town’s historic main street.
Along with special exhibitions and publications that advance scholarship on the history of Palm Beach, the Preservation Foundation offers educational programs that serve 6,000 students annually. Heritage Education outreach programs teach the concept of learning about the history and culture of the community through the medium of local architecture. Field trips to Pan’s Garden and the Little Red Schoolhouse create immersive experiences that engage the next generation of stewards. These civic contributions would not have been possible without the vision of the organization’s founders and the generous support of Palm Beach residents.
Learn more about our projects below.
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Completed in December of 2017, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach’s $2.7 million beautification project at Bradley Park was the result of a public-private partnership with the Garden Club of Palm Beach and Town of Palm Beach. The project activates a formerly underutilized 4.4-acre public park located on the town’s historic main street and showcases […] -
Since its dedication in 1989, Earl E. T. Smith Park has been a proud landmark in Palm Beach and a noteworthy illustration of the Preservation Foundation’s community-oriented goals. Located directly west of town hall, the park’s charismatic architecture and lush landscaping provide a peaceful and tranquil escape for residents to truly enjoy. -
The Preservation Foundation’s Mediterranean Revival style headquarters is the location of the organization’s architectural archives and a locale for cultural events, lectures, and special exhibitions. Programming for the 2019 – 2020 season will highlight the leadership role the Preservation Foundation serves in the community. -
The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach introduced its Heritage Education Program at Palm Beach Day Academy in 1987 to teach about the history and culture of the community through the medium of local architecture. Since that time, the program has expanded its reach and is currently offered at Palm Beach Day Academy, Palm Beach Public, […] -
Founded in 1886 as a community project, the Little Red Schoolhouse was the first schoolhouse in southeast Florida. Its first seven scholars were taught by Miss Hattie Gale, the 16-year-old daughter of the Reverend Elbridge Gale, former Professor of Horticulture at Kansas State Agriculture College who came to the Lake Worth area of Florida to be a minister and local botanist. -
Pan’s Garden is a half-acre botanical garden showcasing Florida’s native plants. As a distinctive environmental concept featuring a wetlands and uplands area, the mission of Pan’s Garden – to protect and celebrate Florida’s indigenous plants and the wildlife they support – is a guiding example of landscape stewardship. -
When Sea Gull Cottage—the oldest house in Palm Beach—was threatened with demolition in 1984, the Preservation Foundation negotiated and underwrote its relocation across the island to its original Lake Trail location. The cottage was meticulously restored in the Victorian style of the late 1800s using original photographs. Through a partnership with the Royal Poinciana Chapel, […] -
By the late eighties, Town Hall was a faded example of a municipal building. Designed in 1926 by Harvey and Clarke, it was one of the first structures landmarked in 1979. The exterior restoration in 1989 brought the historical details back to life, while the interior renovations in 2009 updated the building for use as […]