A Landmark of Education and Community
This historic structure was the first permanent school in the Everglades and is now Broward County’s oldest existing school building. From its earliest days, the Davie School served not only as the area’s primary source of education but also as a gathering place for the community. In 1988, it was proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the Old Davie School Museum & Event Venue is a historic, cultural, social, and artistic resource, dedicated to providing educational opportunities and preserving the stories of South Florida’s pioneers. The building remains an irreplaceable link to the history of early 20th-century settlement and education in western Broward County.
A School That
Shaped a Community
The Old Davie School was the first permanent school in the Everglades, built in 1918 at a cost of just $12,000. Designed by renowned architect August Geiger, the concrete masonry vernacular building reflects a blend of Spanish, Mission, and Moorish details. Its T-shaped plan, shallow hipped roof behind a parapet wall, and keyhole entryway give it a distinctive character that still stands out today.
At the time, it was considered state-of-the-art, boasting indoor plumbing—a first for the area—and large windows carefully placed for natural light and cross-ventilation. Its solid construction not only kept classrooms cooler but also made it a safe haven; during the 1926 hurricane, residents sheltered inside, and the building is credited with saving many lives.
More Than Just
a Schoolhouse
From the beginning, the Old Davie School served as both an educational center and a community hub. Its large upstairs auditorium was a meeting place for the community, a place to host meetings, elections, dances, and other gatherings.
The school operated continuously until 1980, when a grassroots movement led by local residents—including former students and teachers of the Davie School—worked to save the original 1918 building from being turned into a bus repair shop. In 1983, the Broward County School Board donated the five-acre site to the Town of Davie for just $1, preserving a landmark that remains much as it was in 1918. The school achieved listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and has undergone restoration to return it to its original appearance.
A Living Link to
Davie’s Pioneering Past
Today, the Old Davie School continues to be a place of learning and community connection. A Pioneer Village has been developed on the property, featuring a mix of historic relocated homes and carefully crafted reproductions. Step inside restored 1920s and 1930s Florida homes and see how families lived in both pre-electric and post-electric eras.
Having always been a place where the community gathered, the Old Davie School now serves as a museum, cultural center, and event venue—hosting weddings, parties, ceremonies, and special events in one of Broward County’s most unique historic settings.
Be Part of Our Story
The Davie School Foundation was established in 1984 to preserve and restore the Davie School to its original integrity and earlier appearance. The Foundation, in conjunction with the Town of Davie, the Broward County School Board, the Soroptimist International of Davie, the Davie Historical Society and the community at large, has worked tirelessly to preserve this vital piece of Broward County’s history.
Your support helps us honor the past, engage the present, and inspire the future. Together, we can ensure that the Old Davie School Museum & Event Venue remains a place where history lives for generations to come.
The Old Davie School Museum & Event Venue is a historic, cultural, social, and artistic resource, dedicated to providing educational opportunities and preserving the stories of South Florida’s pioneers. The building remains an irreplaceable link to the history of early 20th-century settlement and education in western Broward County.
