With new members and a surge of energy, the High Springs Historical Museum is working to revive its offerings and impact. 

The museum placed signs around the city to increase visibility for visitors and residents, rearranged its exhibits, added a new train depot diorama and upgraded the outside facade with historic bricks.  

Don Decker recently took over as president of the High Springs Historical Museum and said a perfect storm of new members, experienced members, and energy has helped the nonprofit gain momentum. He said a short-term goal is to grow to 40 or 50 members and then add opening hours. The museum is currently only open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the old schoolhouse next to the police station. 

“There are so many things that a historical society can do. It’s almost limitless,” Decker said. “So, there are a lot of things in the future we can do, but we do need more members.” 

Decker moved to High Springs around seven years ago, and other new members are also not lifers of High Springs. But the members like history and started diving into the story of the local area.  

The museum highlights the railroad legacy of the area, including the depot that made High Springs and employed thousands of workers. A new diorama lays the whole 15-bay depot out as it would have looked in 1949. 

High Springs was a strategic location between Jacksonville and Tampa, and Decker said the older steam engines needed plenty of maintenance. High Springs served as a mechanic’s stop along the way. Plus, the steam needed a lot of reloading for fuel and water, requiring more stops than the diesel engines that would replace it.  

Nothing remains of the old train depot, but its impact is still seen in the city. 

“Sometimes we’re focused on the railroad. But if the railroad didn’t come here, a lot of this stuff never would have happened,” Decker said. 

The museum also includes portions on the city’s marshal and first mayor, W.K. Lynn, who was shot and killed in 1899, along with the school and city development.   

Decker said the museum also wants to create special displays for holidays or community events, like the High Springs Pioneer Days Festival. He said the group partnered with St. Barts at Christmas for a display, and he aims to have a veteran-themed exhibit for Veterans Day.  

The group has reorganized the displays, but said the history keeps coming and requires more arranging. Eventually, Decker said the museum may need more space.  

When clearing out a storage room earlier in 2025, Steve Macaluso, vice president, came across a load of old bricks and decided to repurpose them. The bricks, with inscriptions in memory of railroad workers, were used to line the front sidewalk.  

“There must have been 2,000 pounds of bricks lying there,” Macaluso said.  

Just moving around displays requires members of a certain physical caliber, namely younger than older. And Decker said the group would like to increase its social media presence and provide information on the city’s history to the community. He’s confident the museum can get it done.  

“I think if we doubled our membership and they became active volunteers, this place could explode,” Decker said.