Preserving History
Flagler College Solarium Renovation
The Solarium is a parlor above the rotunda of Flagler College, which was originally built in 1888 by Henry Flagler as the Hotel Ponce de Leon. Due to much-needed renovations, it was closed to the public for almost 40 years. The Lastinger Family Foundation offered a challenge gift toward the $2.3 million renovation project that was completed last year. The building – recognized as a National Historical Landmark – once again features a solarium that showcases floor-to-ceiling windows and breathtaking panoramic views of the city of St. Augustine.
University of Florida’s Norman Hall
University of Florida’s Norman Hall is a historic landmark that dates back to 1934. It is home to the UF College of Education – a space that encourages growth and prepares students to change lives through their careers as educators. After decades of wear, the aging facility needed significant updates. The Lastinger Family Foundation made a substantial donation to help UF complete the $30 million renovation project that focused on enhancing Norman Hall’s learning environment while preserving the historic value of the structure.
Memorial Presbyterian Church
The congregation of the Memorial Presbyterian Church was organized in 1824 – with the structure of the church itself dating back to 1830. This St. Augustine landmark, rich in both history and design, suffered extensive damage after Hurricane Irma in 2017. To help restore this prominent figure in the historic city’s skyline, the Lastinger Family Foundation donated funds to help with the much-needed renovations.
University of South Florida Foundation – La Florida Project
In partnership with the University of South Florida Foundation, the Lastinger Family Foundation helped finance the groundbreaking La Florida Project. This unique open-access website, also known as the Interactive Digital Archive of the Americas, combines innovative historical research and cutting-edge technology to offer a free multidisciplinary perspective of colonial Florida’s rich history. It invites researchers from around the world to explore the lives of those who shaped Florida’s past.
American Legion Post 37 Renovation
Forward March, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of the historic military heritage of the St. Augustine area, launched a capital campaign in 2013 to renovate American Legion Post 37. The Lastinger Family Foundation offered a grant to help refurbish the building originally built in 1904, which will serve as a museum depicting 450 years of St. Augustine’s military history, a welcome center for active duty military and a place where visitors can celebrate special community events.
Florida Museum of Natural History Archeological Endowment
For more than seventy-five years the Florida Museum of Natural History has offered visitors information on the archaeology of Florida and its surrounding regions, including areas in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. Nearly 2,000 archaeological sites are represented in its well-preserved collections. The Lastinger Family Foundation supported the museum with an endowment grant, enabling the gift to continue to benefit the organization well into the future.
The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation
The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation advocates for legislation and funding in support of historic preservation on behalf of Florida’s many historic sites, museums and parks. In addition, it helps educate the public on the benefits of historic preservation and provides resources to preservationists, homeowners and media representatives. By funding the strategic plan for the group’s capital campaign, the Lastinger Family Foundation became a part of strengthening the movement for historic preservation throughout the state of Florida.