Ivy Stranahan 145th Birthday Tea at History Fort Lauderdale

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History Fort Lauderdale

Ivy Stranahan 145th Birthday Tea at History Fort Lauderdale

History Fort Lauderdale invites the community to celebrate the life and legacy of pioneering educator, philanthropist and founder Ivy Stranahan during its Ivy Stranahan Birthday Tea at noon on Tuesday, February 24 in the historic New River Inn. The tea event commemorates what would have been Ivy Stranahan’s 145th birthday and honors her lasting contributions to education, preservation, and the cultural foundation of Fort Lauderdale. Guests will enjoy an elegant afternoon of tea, crumpets and light bites in one of the city’s most iconic historic landmarks with special guest Mary Cromartie Morris.

As an outspoken advocate for the Seminole Tribe, Stranahan taught them English, was responsible for building their first school and instilled practical skills such as how to use a sewing machine. Her humanitarian efforts eventually helped the Seminoles to set themselves up as a business, allowing them to organize themselves as the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. in 1957. In 1911, she helped to found and initially lead the Fort Lauderdale Woman's Club. In 1916, Stranahan served as the first president of the Women’s Suffrage Association of Florida and later founded the local Audubon Society and was active in the Fort Lauderdale Garden Club continuing to oppose the growing commercialization of her beloved city. She organized the first group of Camp Fire Girls in the city and was a member of the exclusive 1919 Study Club. She is credited with founding the first Broward Red Cross Chapter in 1918 and was treasurer for Provident Hospital which served the Black community before Broward General was integrated. She was also a founder of the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society in 1962.

Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to view a curated selection of objects and artifacts from the Stranahan Collection, including photographs, personal papers and letters, ledgers, clothing and accessories, books, and ephemera donated by Ivy Stranahan to History Fort Lauderdale. The display offers a unique and intimate glimpse into her life, work, and enduring legacy. Mary Cromartie Morris, Ivy Stranahan’s niece, will provide attendees with a meaningful family connection to the woman whose influence continues to shape the Fort Lauderdale community.

In honor of Ivy Stranahan’s birthday, all gifts made through February 24, 2026, will be matched, doubling the impact of donations in support of History Fort Lauderdale’s mission to preserve and share the stories that define the city’s past, present, and future.

History Fort Lauderdale offers a variety of engaging multicultural experiences throughout the year. It seeks to bring awareness to the community through both traveling exhibits and multiple permanent displays including “Women Trailblazers,” “Fort Lauderdale – the Early Years,” “Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward,” “From Dugouts to Dream Yachts: The Story of Boatbuilding Along the New River,” “Seminole Arts & Culture,” “New River Archaeology,” “Viva Fort Lauderdale: Celebrating Hispanic Art & Culture,” “The Growth and History of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office,” and “Take PRIDE, a Retrospective on LGBTQ Life in South Florida.”

History Fort Lauderdale is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with docent-guided tours offered daily at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Group walking tours are available upon special request. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors; and $7 for students (through age 22 with a valid student ID). Admission is free for members, military personnel, and children aged six and under. Tickets are available online at HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets.

Tickets for the Ivy Stranahan Birthday Tea are $125 each and include a Sustainer Individual Membership to History Fort Lauderdale with free entrance to the 1905 New River Inn Museum,

free entrance to special exhibit opening and programming events, four free museum guest passes, a 10% Museum Store discount, an annual Southeastern Reciprocal Membership and a North American Reciprocal Membership for family (includes free admission to hundreds of museums nationwide).

Attendance is limited. RSVP at bit.ly/IvyBirthdayTea2026 or contact Patricia Zeiler at pzeiler@flhc.org or (954) 463-4431.