A heartwarming grand opening

People cut the ribbon during Ocala Main Street’s Heart of the Park grand opening of the American Independence Exhibit and Education Center at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, Fla. on Sunday, June 28, 2026. The Heart of the Park, headquarters for the nonprofit Ocala Main Street, is in the former American Legion building. The new exhibit is designed to be an interactive learning space where residents can explore America’s founding, connect local and national history, and gather for programs and community events throughout the year. The community hub continues to evolve, as does Ocala Main Street, which has a new executive director, Sara Lambert. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.

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Posted June 29, 2026 | By Susan Smiley-Height / Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Heading into the Fourth of July holiday, Ocala Main Street lined up several events at its headquarters and community hub, the Heart of the Park, to pay tribute to America’s 250th anniversary and to honor local history and some pretty famous local people.

In a kickoff celebration on June 28, members of The Royal Guardsmen, an Ocala rock band that had hits like “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron” and “Return of the Red Baron,” were on hand to welcome visitors to check out numerous exhibits, including one devoted to their career.

There also is a display about Fort King, with some artifacts excavated from the site, a satellite exhibit from the Black History Museum of Marion County, an exhibit for the Silver River Museum that covers the history of Silver Springs and archaeological excavations that have taken place on the Silver River.

A large temporary exhibit for America 250 takes up one part of the building and includes components such as battlefield artifacts recovered by one of the most renowned archaeologists in the country.

“Ocala Main Street is so grateful for the opportunity to host this exhibition, which is one part of a broader weeklong celebration recognizing America’s Semiquencentennial anniversary,” said Sara Lambert, Ocala Main Street’s new executive director, on Monday.

“It’s a beautiful example of our mission statement in action: to create a thriving, unique and livable downtown that enriches the community, embraces history, celebrates the arts and promotes quality events to instill a sense of place in our community. None of this would have been possible without community partnerships, both public and private, and we’re incredibly proud that they chose to support Ocala Main Street in this endeavor,” Lambert added.

Among the many displays are those for local standouts James Melton, a famed tenor and automobile collector; Newt Perry, who was known for his swimming prowess, movie work and founding the Weeki Wachee attraction; and Lamont “Monty” Pharmer, a military hero. Among the guests on Sunday were members of the Pharmer family and Newt Perry’s daughter, Delee Perry, who continues to operate the famous Perry Swim School in Ocala.

The key volunteer behind many of the exhibits is Adam Sines.

“It was such a joy to see everyone enjoy the exhibits, share stories and memories, and bring everyone together. Having invested so much of my energy into this project, it felt truly rewarding to see everyone come out for this kickoff event,” Sines said on Monday.

“Connecting our community and promoting the remarkable history right here in this community has been the guiding vision for this project. There are far too many people to thank individually, but I have to express my sincere gratitude for the guidance I received from Scott Mitchell and Brian Stoothoff, as well as the support from Beth Coleman. There are so many great things ahead as well, so I encourage everyone to learn about Ocala Main Street, to learn about the Heart of the Park and to get involved,” Sines offered.

The Heart of the Park is located at 516 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala, in Tuscawilla Park.

To learn more, call (352) 421-0047 or visit ocalamainstreet.org and heartoftheparkocala.com

RELATED EVENTS AT THE HEART OF THE PARK (unless otherwise noted):

• July 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Legacy of Literature Luncheon, also known as Martha Washington’s Summer Social, presented in partnership with the Daughters of the American Revolution, with guest speaker J. Lenora Bresler, who will present “Our Legacy of Literature: America 250 Insights into the Voices That Shaped American Thought and Culture.” $10 per person and advance RSVP is required.
• July 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Living History Day, in partnership with the city of Ocala, Fort King Heritage Foundation and Silver River Museum. At 11:30 a.m., nationally recognized historian Roger Smith will present “The 14th Colony: The American Revolution’s Best Kept Secret.” 
• July 2, 5:30 p.m. at the Marion Theatre in downtown Ocala, free showing of “The Crossing.” Starring Jeff Daniels as George Washington, the film recounts the pivotal crossing of the Delaware River and offers a cinematic portrayal of one of the most defining moments of the American Revolution.
• July 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Picnic in the Park patriotic celebration will include food trucks, vendors, live music, lawn games, family-friendly activities and a time capsule dedication. Marc Pellicano, a respected antique phonograph collector and preservationist, will present talks at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.