LIFELONG LEARNING Fall 2026 Catalog   

Discover the creative possibilities of working with fabric and thread. Explore color, texture, and shape to create interesting compositions. Learn hand stitching techniques or utilize your current skills. Come and learn to combine hand stitching with materials such as fabric scraps, beads, yarn, and various threads on a base of felt, allowing the visual work to have a subtle quilted effect. Choose to develop your own ideas or take inspiration from prompts shared in class. No prior stitching experience is needed! This relaxed and supportive class emphasizes creativity, experimentation, and the enjoyment of hand stitching.

Join Laura Mongiovi, Professor of Visual Art at Flagler College, for this hands-on and creative course. The instructor will bring samples of her work to show different stitching processes. Check out Laura’s visual work on her website, lauramongiovi.com.

All materials, including needles, are available to use/borrow, or participants can bring their own. A suggested materials list will be sent to participants a few weeks before the course begins. Be a part of this creative space! All are welcome.

Come celebrate English artist, David Hockney (1937-2026) by learning about his life, his art, and his artistic point of view. With Hockney's recent passing, this is the perfect time to view and discuss his work, enjoy clips of his interviews, and explore his thoughts on art. 

If you don't know David Hockney, come and learn about one of the most influential artists of the California Art movement of the 1960’s. If you do know his work, come pay tribute to a great artist! Artist Alex Whitney leads this new course as we explore a prolific artist who kept working until his death, making art in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Come learn about an important historic structure in Green Cove Springs! St. Mary’s Episcopal Church is a carpenter Gothic Church built in 1879. Situated on the banks of the St. John’s River, it is one of only 35 remaining in Florida and is scrupulously preserved with board and batten siding, hammer beam arches, carved Canterbury crosses, and beautiful stained glass windows by Frank Colgate. On February 17, 1978, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Take a 45-min tour docent led tour of this captivating and beautiful structure.

https://www.smgcs.church/

This tour free and open to all, but registration is required.
Participants mush be 18+. 

Address:
   400 St Johns Ave
   Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Tour: 11:30-12:15 pm
Check-in: 11:15 am in front of church. Look for LL signage.
Shelly Haser, director of Lifelong Learning, will be with the group for this tour.

Join Lifelong Learning for a unique guided tour of Grandview Clydesdale Farm, the home of world champion Clydesdales!

The farm, nestled in the heart of Dunnellon / Ocala, Florida, is part of the "Horse Capital of the World." The tour guides, husband and wife team Karen and Shannon Cobb, are the owners of Grandview Clydesdale Farm. Learn about the day-to-day operations of Grandview Clydesdales that include the inception of a Clydesdale's life, which is the ultra sounding of the mares for breeding, to the birth of Clydesdale foals, all the way through to winning world championships or starring in famous commercials (Perhaps this could be Budweiser?).

Access one of the largest and most successful Clydesdale farms in the world for decades. The tour also includes petting one of the world famous Clydesdales and a photo op with your own phone/camera!

There is very little walking involved. Participants will need to stand for about 30 min. The tour is approximately 90 mins., rain or shine.

There is no discount for Lifelong Learning members for this tour. Please note that once the registration is paid, Lifelong Learning cannot refund the registration fee ($40) for this tour (you may transfer the ticket to someone else if needed). Shelly Haser will be with the group for this tour, and specific information will be sent to all registered participants about 2 weeks before the tour date.

Farm Address:
10020 SW 125th Court Rd. Dunnellon, FL 34432
Tour Time: 10-11:30 AM

The farm is approximately 2 hours each way from St. Augustine. There is no food or drink sold at the farm, around the farm, or near the farm. The farm is located in a rural area. There are no restaurants, gas stations or convenience stores within 15 mins. of the farm. Bring water. There are bathrooms available at the parking area inside the farm.

The gates to the farm for the tour open at precisely 9:55 AM. There is no early entrance to the farm. There are no restrooms outside of the gates. The gates close at 10:00 AM when all the cars have entered the farm. Cars will be directed to free parking.
The tour cannot accommodate late arrivals.

Step into a bygone era and take a stroll through Green Cove Springs’ rich past — from the Old Clay County Courthouse to the gorgegous river pier and back again. Along the way, you’ll hear vivid stories of the town’s early days: lynchings at the old jail, the rise of downtown businesses, the spring that gave the city its name, the grand hotel era, the bustling days of “Little Detroit,” and the lives of prominent residents who shaped the community. During the walking tour, participants will stand in the very footsteps of photographers who once captured buildings now lost to time, viewing historic images of these sites as they appear today. The group will stop at a local business and enjoy a refreshing sample of the mystical spring water that has drawn visitors for generations. Upon the return to the historic triangle, participants are invited to visit the 1893 jail and courthouse museum on their own. Both are free and open to the public on Fridays, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. Bob Scallan, vice president and historian of the Historical Society of Orange Park, will lead the tour.

The tour meets at 9:30 AM in front of the Clay County Historical and Railroad Museum. Use street parking. The tour is approximately 90 mins. Be prepared to walk or stand for 90 mins, rain or shine. Participants are responsible for their own transportation. It is approximately 50 mins. each way from St. Augustine to Green Cove Springs. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it at one of the picnic tables by the pier at beautiful "Spring Park" along the St. Johns River after the tour.

Walking tour: 9:30-11:00 AM.

Meeting Address: 915 Walnut St (Clay County Historical and Railroad Museum) Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Look for Lifelong Learning signage. Use street parking.

https://www.visitflorida.com/listing/clay-county-historical-society/31518/ 

 

Come explore the intersection of medicine and creativity by way of a private guided tour of Mayo Clinic’s renowned private art collection at their Jacksonville medical facilities campus! Learn about the blend of visual artistry and healing philosophy through a thoughtful and engaging tour of the clinic’s impressive art collection. First, there will be a brief overview of Humanities in Medicine at Mayo Clinic, followed by a guided walking tour of the art collection.

Highlights of the tour will include a massive chandelier by world-famous glass artist Dale Chihuly, composed of more than 160 vibrantly colored pieces, and an entire hallway lined with floor-to-ceiling stained glass depicting Florida’s flora and fauna in abstract form. The tour also includes insight into the Mayo family legacy and the origins of the Mayo Clinic’s philosophy. Exhibits on Dr. W.W. Mayo and his sons illustrated how their vision grew into one of the most respected medical institutions in the world. Shelly Haser, Director of the Lifelong Learning Institute, will be with the group. Join us for this special tour and see first hand Mayo’s philosophy, “the healing process begins the moment a patient enters the front door.”

This tour meets at the MAYO CLINIC in Jacksonville. Information about detailed parking at Mayo and building location/address at Mayo will be sent to registered participants about 2 weeks before the tour. The tour is 2 hours, 10 AM-12:00 noon. Plan to meet at 9:45 AM at the Mayo Clinic (Location: TBA). Plan to stand or walk for most of the tour. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Mayo Clinic and the parking fee at Mayo (approximately $10). The Lifelong Learning registration is for the private tour. 

Take a fascinating journey to one of Florida's most historic riverfront communities, where pioneer settlers, citrus growers, entrepreneurs, and space pioneers all left their mark! Trace the story of Titusville, Florida from its origins along the Indian River through the arrival of the railroad, the citrus boom, and the transformation brought by America's Space Program. Sit back and relax as we travel by charter coach bus to Titusville to visit Space View Park and the American Space Museum through docent-led tours! 

Flagler College adjunct history professor, Justin Lawson, leads this day trip. While traveling on the bus, Justin Lawson will talk about the history of the space program and its impact in Florida. Upon arrival, we'll take a guided walking tour through Space View Park, and then a docent led-tour of all the remarkable collections of the American Space Museum, where the engineers, technicians, and support teams who helped make spaceflight possible are honored through this vast display of artifacts and personal stories. After the museum, the group will learn more by way of a guided walking tour led by Justin Lawson through the historic area highlighting many of Titusville's historic buildings and landmarks, discovering how more than 150 years of local history can still be read in the city's streets and architecture. The last 2 hours of the trip are free time; grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants in Historic Downtown Titusville, visit the North Brevard Historical Museum, revisit the space museum, or simply soak in the atmosphere of this charming Florida community situated along the Indian River. Whether you're fascinated by Florida history, America's journey into space, or simply enjoy exploring unique small towns, this day trip offers something for everyone. 

The charter bus will depart Flagler College at 8:00 am and will return to Flagler College at approximately 4:30 pm. The drive is approximately 90 min. each way from Flagler College to Titusville. The cost of this day trip includes the charter bus, entrance fees/docent tours of Space View Park and American Space Museum, Justin Lawson's talk on the bus and his tour of the historic district. See the schedule below. 

Participants should be prepared to stand or walk for about 2.5 hours total throughout the day trip. Participants must be 18+. Food and drink are permitted on the bus. Flagler College parking available only for LLI members. Non-members may use the public city parking garage or make other arrangements. Shelly Haser, director of Lifelong Learning, will be with the group during this day trip. 

Meeting point for the charter bus and return drop-off:
Flagler College, Ringhaver Student Center
Address: 50 Sevilla Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Websites:
https://spacewalkoffame.org/about-us/exhibits-events
https://www.titusville.com/

SCHEDULE
7:45-8:00 am Check in and board charter bus
8:00 am Depart from Flagler College 
8:00-9:30 am Travel to Titusville and Justin Lawson's talk
9:30/9:45 am Arrive at Space View Park 
9:45-10:45 am Space View Park tour led by docent (approx. 1 hour)
10:45-11:00 am Bus to American Space Museum/entrance to museum
11:00-12:30 pm Docent led tour at American Space Museum (90 min)
12:30-1:00 pm Guided walking tour led by Justin Lawson, highlights of Titusville's historic buildings/landmarks (approx. 30 min)
1:00-3:00 pm Free time in downtown to eat, browse, or revisit museum
2:45-3:00 pm Board charter bus
3:00 pm Depart for Flagler College
4:30/4:45 pm Arrive back at Flagler College

Mahatma Gandhi was born in Porbandar India, an unknown middle-caste Hindu. When he was assassinated on January 30, 1948, the whole world knew him as a fighter for freedom and non-violence. Filmmaker Richard Attenborough made an award-winning three-hour film about him in 1982. What made "Gandhi" (the film) so famous, and was Attenborough’s film historically accurate? It received eleven nominations at the 55th Academy Awards, winning eight, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. Flagler College religion professor, Dr. James Rowell, leads an introduction to Gandhi and the viewing of the classic film made about him, as well as his lasting legacy today. The second and third classes will show the Attenborough Film, with commentary. Don't miss this one!

Throughout this course, students will journey along with John Steinbeck and his French Poodle, Charley, as they travel across America together during 1960-1961. Their trip is captured in the book "Travels with Charley: In Search of America" by John Steinbeck. The instructor will read sections/passages that will inquire into the concepts of community, roots, regionalism, nostalgia, nomadic living, and home with the American landscape. This circuitous and reflective journey enables readers to deeply engage with the concepts of community, roots, regionalism, nostalgia, nomadic living, and home within the American landscape. This book still holds up a deeply relevant and questioning lens to American society and values more than 60 years after its conception. Join author and Flagler College alum, Paul W. Jacob (Jake),  in this reflective and engaging course.

This course explores one of the most remarkable economic transformations in American history. Over the past eight decades, Florida has evolved from a largely rural state, known for agriculture and seasonal tourism, into one of the nation's leading economic engines, driven by tourism, aerospace, real estate, healthcare, international trade, and a rapidly growing population. Join Flagler College adjunct history professor, Justin Lawson, as he explores how Florida has become one of the fastest-growing and most economically dynamic states in America in the years following World War II.

Through historic photographs, maps, advertisements, government reports, newspapers, and other primary sources, participants will examine the industries, innovations, infrastructure, and public policies that fueled Florida's extraordinary growth. The course will explore how transportation, migration, entrepreneurship, and technological innovation reshaped the Sunshine State while considering the opportunities and challenges that continue to influence Florida's economy, communities, environment, and future. Whether you are a native Floridian or someone who's moved recently to the Florida, this course is for everyone! Join us!

Very soon after the end of World War II, the East-West conflict emerged, symbolized by the so-called Iron Curtain. The four Allied powers could not agree on a common policy regarding Germany and pursued their own interests. As a result, two German states with different political and social systems were established, and Berlin remained a divided city for over forty years. For a long time, a period of mutual dislike and military buildup prevailed, which would ultimately destroy both German states in the event of a new war. With the political and societal changes of 1989 and 1990, there was a surprising turn of events that led to reunification: the former GDR joined the West German FRG. However, the reunification process did not proceed harmoniously: the UK and France were very negative, the Soviet Union was deeply divided, and only the US provided sustained support for the reunification policy of the West German Federal Republic. The aftermath of the 1989/90 reunification continues to influence history to this day, and not only in Europe. The joy over reunification that was felt everywhere at the time of change is increasingly being subjected to critical analysis. Despite more than 35 years of unity, an internal division between West and East Germans still persists.

Join Flagler College visiting German history professor, Dr. Helmut Flachenecker, for this fascinating course. Through documents and pictures, the history and aftermath of reunification are brought to life, particularly in contexts where the legacy of the Berlin Wall has brought transformations into the cultural landscape and urban space of that city.

Florida was only a piece of land until the Seminole Wars helped allowed settlers and ultimately paved the way toward statehood.  But the Seminole Wars have their uncomfortable controversies too.  It displaced the indigenous Seminole tribe from the lands they occupied for more than 100 years, and it placed escaped Black slaves who sought refuge with the Seminoles at hazard. Many Florida place names have their genesis in the Seminole Wars, as do many cities.  The Seminole Wars were America's first guerilla war against a skilled and elusive foe, and the country struggled to adapt.  In many ways, the Seminole Wars looked and felt much like America's involvement in Vietnam and Afghanistan. 

This course tells the story of both the victor and the vanquished. Come learn about Florida before 1815, the 1st Seminole War and how Andrew Jackson asserted American interests while thwarting most all the rules, the 2nd Seminole War, and finally the 3rd Seminole War and its aftermath including the path to modern Florida. Join Flagler College adjunct professor, Mark Jackson, for this captivating time in American and Florida history!

Embedded along the streets and in the towns arounds us are the echoes of victims’ voices, their stories waiting to be told. It is often easier to name a famous criminal than to recall the names of the victims, yet predators and prey are two sides of the same coin. We are intrigued by the macabre and in our quest to understand human behavior, it can be illuminating to explore the extreme end of the continuum, the one in which predators lurk. Yet, it is important to also consider the characteristics of the victims and context of the crime.

Join Flagler College Criminology professor, Dr. Kelly Vannan, for a deep dive into the study of crime, cold cases, and killers in and around Saint Johns County. Over this four-class series, be ready to discuss serial murders that happened around the region, including an infamous female serial killer, the I-95 Killer, and two unsolved murder cases that happened right here in Saint Augustine, 50 years apart. Are people born bad or made evil through circumstances? Are victims merely unlucky or is there more to it? Let’s investigate!

In what ways might your life serve as a model for others?

This course includes brief selections from the memoir genre to serve as guides for participants to craft memoir writing of their own. Memoir writing involves not only a journey through the past—the joys and tragedies, gains and losses, victories and failures—but also the writing tools of yesteryear.

As you craft your memoir, be ready to use “outdated” writing tools: pen, paper, and typewriter. Nostalgia, rather than being dismissed, will be embraced as a source of reflective creativity. Old ways of doing things will be revisited to conjure the memories of the past so that you can begin to put your own legacy on paper.

Join Flagler College Institute for Classical Education Director, Dr. Brad Rowe, in this unique writing course! This course meets two times a week for two weeks.

Join us for a screening of the documentary "River of Grass" (2025, 83 minutes), directed by New-York based artist and filmmaker Sasha Wortzel. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Wortzel, moderated by Anne Schindler, host of WJCT’s "First Coast Connect" at the Gamache Theater, Flagler College.

"RIVER OF GRASS" (2025) is a present-day reimagining of environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s celebrated book, “The Everglades: River of Grass” (1947), which forever changed the public’s understanding of the area from worthless swamps to an essential source of freshwater, enabling the ecosystem to endure, just barely, today. In the wake of a hurricane, Douglas visits filmmaker Sasha Wortzel in a dream, catalyzing a prismatic journey across the Everglades with Miccosukee educator and activist Betty Osceola. Interweaving Douglas's writing, personal narration, present-day verité, and archival footage, RIVER OF GRASS reveals how this country’s origin story haunts and inextricably shapes contemporary American life, while asking how we might weather coming storms better together. Winner of numerous awards including the Tallahassee Film Festival, Florida Filmmaker Award (2025) https://www.riverofgrassfilm.com/

Location: Ringhaver Student Center, Gamache Theater, Flagler College
Doors open and check-in: 5:40 PM
6:00-7:30 PM: Welcome, Julie Dickover, Director, Crisp Ellert Art Museum, Flagler College; Film Screening
7:30-8:00 PM: Q&A with Wortzel, moderated by Anne Schindler, host of WJCT’s "First Coast Connect"

The Gamache Theater is on the 1st floor of Ringhaver Student Center
Ringhaver Student Center, Gamache Theater, Flagler College 
Address: 50 Sevilla Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084

This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is required.
Flagler College parking is not provided for this event.
Participants must be 18+.

Be careful what you dial for! This classic 1954 American crime thriller is packed full of intrigue and suspense. Grace Kelly is at the top of her game as she is caught up in a web of murder and deception. Co-starring Ray Milland and Robert Cummings, this Alfred Hitchcock classic keeps us guessing as to the who possesses the key to solve the crime. The entire film will be screened (1 hour 45 mins.). Be prepared for a break down of the finer points during a rousing post-film discussion. Don’t miss this one!

https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2012/aug/06/alfred-hitchcock-dial-m-for-murder

 

Dr. Maureen Day is the Flagler College 2026 Cecile & Gene Usdin Judeo-Christian Lecture Series speaker. She is a sociologist and theologian who studies the influence of religious beliefs on public life, especially among Catholics. Also, Dr. Day is the co-author of, "Catholicism at a Crossroads: The Present and Future of America’s Largest Church" (2025) NY Press. Based on her book, her talk will focus on the Catholic Church being at a crossroads and the many challenges facing the church that are both internal and external to the institution. "Catholicism at a Crossroads" charts this new era of Catholic worship, belonging, and identity in America today. Using survey data with over fifty interviews with lay and ordained US Catholic leaders, the book illustrates how the church has adapted to Pope Francis’s modern papacy, the rise of religious non-affiliation, and various demographic changes including an increasing Hispanic population.

NYU Press: Catholicism at a Crossroads

A Christian church next to a pagan kiva—how can these two vastly different sacred sites coexist in the same location? Doesn’t a successful mission require the complete eradication of existing beliefs, which are demonized as “pagan”? The evangelization of the non-Christian population, rather, required a sophisticated strategy that cannot be described solely as a “successful” use of force. Coexistence and inculturation required their own rules. In many cases, the (Franciscan) missionaries would otherwise not have been able to survive or carry out their mission. Violence and coercion alone could not force a successful conversion of the indigenous population.

Using several pueblos in New Mexico and Colorado as examples, this remarkable interaction between the two religions will be examined in greater detail. In Taos, NM, for example, the kiva and the church still stand side by side today, both used by the indigenous population. In Florida, too, traces of a coexistence between the religions, at least for a time, can be found.

Join Flagler College visiting history professor, Dr. Helmut Flachenecker, as he shares this intriguing story of coexistence between the indigenous people and missionaries in the US Southwest.

The St. Augustine Surf Culture Museum explores more than a century of surfing history in St. Augustine! The museum highlights the people, places, and stories that shaped one of the region’s most vibrant coastal subcultures. Located within the historic Oldest House Museum Complex, the museum brings together oral histories, photographs, artifacts, and personal narratives to document how surfing evolved in St. Augustine, from its early beginnings to its role in the community today. Join Magen Altice, historian, Flagler College adjunct professor, and Executive Director of the St. Augustine Historical Society (SAHS), as she talks about the development and purpose of the Surf Culture Museum. Developed through extensive collaboration with the local surfing community, the museum emphasizes storytelling and shared memory as central interpretive tools. Interviews with surfers, community-driven contributions, and interactive elements create an engaging experience that celebrates both the sport and its cultural impact. By preserving these stories and making them accessible to the public, the St. Augustine Surf Culture Museum not only honors a unique aspect of regional history but also fosters a sense of pride and continuity within the community. https://staughs.com/surf-culture/

This seminar is part of the 2026-27 Lifelong Learning/St. Augustine Historical Society (SAHS) speaker series at Flagler College, Markland House.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
6:30-7:00 p.m. wine and light appetizers
7:00-7:45 p.m. speaker
8:00 p.m. event ends

Flagler College parking is included with this event. Participants must be 21+

Join us on Friday, November 13 for an evening of history, exclusive dining, and theater! Begin with a buffet dinner in the historic Ponce Dining Hall, followed by a riveting performance by Flagler College Theater students of "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," at Lewis Auditorium. The play, written by Christopher Durang, was written on commission from the McCarter Theater in Princeton, New Jersey and won the Tony Award for best play in 2013. The play reimagines characters and themes from Anton Chekhov's plays, set in a modern-day Pennsylvania farmhouse.

The Synopsis: “The play is set in the present day in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a farm house Vanya and his step-sister Sonia have lived in all their lives. They jointly took care of their ailing, doddering parents for many years while their movie star sister Masha was gallivanting around the world, having a life. The play takes place on a weekend when Masha shows up with a new twenty something boy toy named Spike. Vanya, Masha and Sonia were named after Chekhov characters by their college professor parents. And the play, which is a mix of comedy and drama, takes Chekhovian characters and themes, mixes them up and puts them in a blender." —Dramatic Publishing ​

"Deliriously funny! Comic acting raised to the level of high art. . . ." —The New York Times

https://www.christopherdurang.com/vanya-and-sonia-and-masha-and-spike

Before the show, enjoy a buffet dinner in the Ponce de Leon Dining Hall, a national historic landmark built in 1888 by Henry Flagler. Designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the dining hall features stunning stained-glass windows, beautifully restored to preserve their grandeur. Typically reserved for Flagler College students, and not open to the general public, this is a rare opportunity to dine in one of the most iconic settings in St. Augustine. Don’t miss this special Lifelong Learning event—a perfect blend of history and theater!

The price includes a self-serve buffet dinner at the Ponce Dining Hall, 1 ticket to the play, and a Flagler College parking pass. Shelly Haser, Director of Lifelong Learning, will be with the group for this event.

https://www.flagler.edu/about/our-history/hotel-ponce-de-leon-becomes-flagler-college

6:00 p.m. - Meet in the Ponce Rotunda to check-in, Ponce Hall Address: 74 King St, St. Augustine, FL 32084
6:15-7:00 p.m. - Enjoy a self-serve buffet dinner at the historic Ponce Dining Hall
7:00 p.m. - As a group, walk across the street to Lewis Auditorium, Flagler College
7:30 p.m. - Enjoy the performance of "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike"
The performance will end at approximately 10:00 p.m.

Participants must be 18+
Registration includes a Flagler campus parking pass for this event.
There is no discount for Lifelong Learning members for this event.

Initiated in 1905 and completed in 1912, the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway was a 128-mile engineering marvel built by Henry Flagler that connected mainland Florida to Key West. Flagler sought to connect the east coast of Florida to Key West—the closest deep water U.S. port to the Panama Canal—to capitalize on Latin American and Caribbean trade. Henry Flagler viewed the building of the Panama Canal as a business opportunity. All he had to do was build his railway through the swamps of the Everglades, across tiny islands and over miles of ocean to get to Key West. Bob Nawrocki, retired Chief Librarian of the St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library, leads this seminar on how Flagler accomplished this phenomenal job, how it affected Key West, and what eventually happened to his overseas railroad.

As the story goes, American composer R. Alex Anderson watched a hula dancer at a cocktail party in Honolulu one night in the late 1930s. He overheard someone say, “Aren’t her hands lovely?” This remark inspired Anderson to write his popular song, “Lovely Hula Hands.” The lyrics describe how the hands tell the stories of the islands…rains in the valley, winds over the cliffs, the tender meaning of aloha. While hula is lovely to watch, it is also an important part of Polynesian culture, with ancient roots that are deeply spiritual, historical, and even mythical. One cannot tell the story of hula without also telling the history of Hawai’i itself.

Join Flagler College assistant criminology professor, Dr. Kelly Vannan, for a talk of the history of hula. Dr. Vannan is an alumnus of Kamehameha Schools—a private school in Hawai’i for native Hawaiian students—as well as a current dancer in a local hula hālau (formal school for learning hula). Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about hula and Hawai’i from a native Hawaiian. As the last reigning king of the Hawaiian Islands, David Kalākaua, said, “Hula is the language of the heart, and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.”

Ready to get in the holiday spirt, circa 1940? Here is one of your favorite Christmas movies which you haven’t seen yet. "Remember the Night" is a lesser-known but much cherished holiday romantic comedy written by Preston Sturges ("The Lady Eve" and "The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek"). Leading man, Fred MacMurray, plays a NYC prosecutor who ends up bringing a shoplifter, played by Barbara Stanwyck, to his mother’s Indiana farm for the Christmas holidays. The result is funny, romantic, and filled with holiday warmth movie. "Remember the Night" gets a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.5 on the Internet Movie Base. Discover this movie gem for yourself!

Join Tom Hischak, Emeritus Professor of Performing Arts, State University of New York College at Cortland, for this unique seminar that will take you back to a Saturday afternoon at the movies in 1940. Before showing the movie, participants will view a 1940s newsreel, cartoon, and coming attractions. After the movie, stay in 1940 a little longer for a discussion led by the instructor!

Indulge in a decadent pairing that highlights the shared origins and complementary flavors of rum and chocolate. Explore how aging, barrel influence, and production techniques shape notes of caramel, spice, and richness, while carefully selected chocolates enhance and contrast each pour. Join Dr. Zac Cole, professor and program director of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Flagler College, for a guided tasting that uncovers the historical connection between sugarcane and cacao in global trade and culinary tradition. Gather at the historic Markland House at Flagler College for a warm and inviting evening celebrating rum and chocolate's depth and sweetness!

Complimentary Flagler parking is included.
Participants must be 21+.
Doors open at 5:45 pm

Come and learn how the foundation of every whiskey begins with grain! From corn-forward sweetness to spice-driven and malt-influenced expressions, discover how mash bills, fermentation, and distillation shape the character in your glass. Join Dr. Zac Cole, professor and program director of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Flagler College, for curated tasting highlighting the influence of grain selection and production methods of whiskey. Gather and relax at the historic Markland House for an engaging evening that reveals how subtle shifts in recipe and technique create dramatically different whiskey styles.

Complimentary Flagler parking is included.
Participants must be 21+.
Doors open at 5:45 pm

Join us as Lifelong Learning and the St. Augustine Archeological Association (SAAA) host speaker Dr. Kathleen Deagan! St. Augustine has one of the longest histories of professional archaeological research in the country.  From the 1930’s to the present day, dozens of individuals, agencies and organizations have undertaken archaeological programs intended to better understand St. Augustine’s past, and to preserve the tangible remnants of that past that have survived. Today we are one of the few places in the nation with a funded archaeological ordinance, and a vibrant collaboration between avocational and professional archaeologists, students and the general public. Dr. Deagan's talk will consider how St. Augustine archaeology has evolved over the past century, highlighting some of the projects, programs and people that have influenced the shape of St. Augustine archaeology in 2026.

Location: Flagler College, Ringhaver Student Center, Virginia Room
Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
6:30-7:00 p.m. wine and light appetizers
7:00-7:45 p.m. speaker
8:00 p.m. event ends

Flagler College parking is included with this event. Participants must be 21+

Marineland opened in 1938 as the World's First Oceanarium and Underwater Film Studio. Over the years it has hosted cutting-edge research efforts and education programs while leading the zoo and aquarium community in marine mammal care and training. Celebrities from Lloyd Bridges to Clint Eastwood to Ernest Hemingway spent time at this oceanfront aquarium. Firsts in tourism, filmmaking, architecture, and conservation all took place here. Marineland has both guided and been guided by the community's relationship with the oceans. This partnership was never as important as in the past year when Marineland's future was in question. Now, on the other side of a bankruptcy, sale at auction, and 11th hour miracle, Marineland's story is one worth hearing. Join Terran McGinnis as she talks about Marineland's past, present, and future!

This seminar is part of the 2026-27 Lifelong Learning/St. Augustine Historical Society (SAHS) speaker series at Flagler College, Markland House.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
6:30-7:00 p.m. wine and light appetizers
7:00-7:45 p.m. speaker
8:00 p.m. event ends

Flagler College parking is included with this event. Participants must be 21+

Did you know that Henry Flagler's architects, Carrère and Hastings, modeled Memorial Presbyterian Church after some of Europe's most celebrated cathedrals? Or that this magnificent church was completed in less than a year?

Built by Henry Flagler as a memorial to his eldest daughter, Memorial Presbyterian Church is one of Florida's finest examples of Gilded Age architecture. The church is also home to the Flagler Mausoleum, where Flagler, his daughter, and other family members are laid to rest.

Join St. Augustine native and historian, Jay Smith, for a special guided tour to discover the history, architecture, and craftsmanship behind this extraordinary landmark. Learn about Flagler's vision for St. Augustine as you explore the church's stunning interiors, distinctive architectural features, and remarkable works of art. This exclusive tour also includes access to areas of the church that are rarely open during regular weekly tours. Meet at Memorial Presbyterian Church (do not go to Pollard Hall).

Memorial Presbyterian Church address: 32 Sevilla St, St. Augustine, FL 32084

On November 20, 1945, the twenty-two surviving representatives of the Nazi elite stood before an international military tribunal (The United States, The United Kingdom, The Soviet Union, and France) at the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany; they were charged with the systematic murder of millions of people. The Nuremberg Trials raise many questions: Why was there no summary justice for the German war criminals after the Second World War? Why was it decided to put them on trial, and who took that decision? What do the trials mean for humanity? Which legal system formed the basis for the proceedings? Why did the trials take place in Nuremberg, in Courtroom 600? How were they conducted? Waltraut Bayerlein, former Vice-President of the Nuremberg Higher Regional Court in Germany, will give an overview of the Nuremberg Trials and seek to answer these questions.

This special speaker event will be at Markland House, Flagler College. It is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Particpants must be 18+. Free Flagler College parking during the event is available across from Markland House in the Campus Service lot at the corner of King St. and MLK Blvd.

Join us for coffee and light pastries before the speaker from 10:00-10:30 AM.

Markland House address: 102 King St, St. Augustine, FL 32084

9:50 Doors open
10-10:30 Coffee and light pastries
10:30-11:30 Speaker
11:30 Event ends

 

In-classroom Experience

St. Augustine is full of ghosts and legends, or is it? While some cities like Savannah and Charleston lean in to their ghost stories, other places would rather stick to their historic roots and oral histories. Take an in-classroom visual tour with St. Augustine Historical Society’s Head Librarian, Nicole Diehm, as she shares a few ghostly tales and St. Augustine legends. The presentation "tour" begins in at Potter's Wax Museum on Cordova Street and proceeds south down to Aviles Street. A few virtual "stops" along the way include Old Powder House Inn, Casa Monica, the Spanish Military Hospital and the Kenwood. Be ready to discuss a different group of ghosts, legends, the histories behind them, and whether you see anything that goes bump in the night on the way!

• This is an in-classroom "tour." This is not a walking tour.
• If you registered for the "Walking with Ghosts and Legends, St. Augustine" walking tour, please do not register for this in-classroom virtual tour as it is the same information.

Experience the distinctive character of the Pacific Northwest, where dramatic landscapes and cooler climates create wines of remarkable purity and structure. Explore the refined elegance emerging from Oregon alongside the powerful, sun-shaped styles of Washington State. Join Dr. Zac Cole, professor and program director of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Flagler College, for a guided exploration of how volcanic soils, mountain influences, and extended growing seasons shape these expressive wines. Enjoy a relaxed and engaging evening at the historic Markland House as we uncover the craftsmanship and rising prestige of these celebrated American regions.

Complimentary Flagler parking is included.
Participants must be 21+.
Doors open at 5:45 pm

Join Florida author, Killian Wolf, as she talks about how we preserve landmarks, documents, and artifacts, but often lose the lives behind them. Drawing connections between community history and individual experience, she invites attendees to consider their own role in preserving the narratives that define families, communities, and places like St. Augustine. Blending historical perspective with practical guidance, this talk offers a meaningful starting point for those who want to ensure their experiences and histories are not lost.

With a background in archaeology and historic preservation, Killian Wolf approaches personal history as something just as fragile and valuable as any physical artifact. In this talk, she explores how everyday lives shape the historical record, why so many personal stories disappear within a generation or two, and how oral histories can be responsibly documented and preserved.

This seminar is part of the 2026-27 Lifelong Learning/St. Augustine Historical Society (SAHS) speaker series at Flagler College, Markland House.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
6:30-7:00 p.m. wine and light appetizers
7:00-7:45 p.m. speaker
8:00 p.m. event ends Flagler College parking is included with this event.

Participants must be 21+

This ASL intermediate course bridges basic conversations with advanced fluency.

Participants will move beyond simple questions and go deeper into expanding their vocabulary for story-telling and expressing abstract ideas. The course includes how to use spatial handshapes to describe the size, shape, and movement of objects or actions while expanding knowledge about Deaf Culture and community. Join ASL instructor, Rex Moers, in this engaging course! An interpreter (spoken English/ASL) is present at the first class. The remaining 3 classes are entirely through ASL.

Pre-requisite: Participants must know ASL finger spelling and be able to have basic conversations.
Participants must be 18+.

There seems to be something about Medieval European castles that continue to hold a great fascination to this day, even though many of them now exist only as ruins. Popular castle adaptations such as Neuschwanstein or the Cinderella Castle at Disney World contribute to their immense popularity outside of Europe. However, medieval fortifications vary greatly in size, significance, and historical value. Castle designs were continually reimagined and adapted to the latest weapons of attack until powerful cannons necessitated a new defensive concept in the form of fortresses. The Castillo de San Marcos is a great example of one such ‘new’ fortress from the early modern period.

This course provides insights into early medieval structures made of stone and wood. A focus of the examples will be on Central Europe, extending to the largest medieval brick castle, Marienburg - belonging to the Teutonic Order - in what is now northern Poland. Also, the various functions of a castle will be explained; defense was only one of many its purposes. Come learn about 19th-century castle romanticism. Wealthy European entrepreneurs rebuilt former castle ruins and adapted them to the tastes of the time. Not every castle that looks “medieval” actually dates back to the Middle Ages! Be swept away to another place and time with visiting German history professor, Dr. Helmut Flackenecher, in a course that is sure to expand or reimagine your thinking about Medieval European castles!

Join us as we explore the lives and careers of four leading men from the Golden Age of movie making: Marlon Brando, Cary Grant, James Stewart, and John Wayne. These actors were leading men in some of the greatest films ever made. Collectively, they starred in dozens of classic films. Their memorable performances were in a variety of films involving high-drama, suspense, intrigue, crime, comedy, compassion, westerns and more. Each class session will focus on one of the actors and include lecture, analysis, film clips and discussion. Step back in time to a different era in Hollywood when these four men were the movie stars!

Discover why colored pencil artists are falling in love with pastel mat paper! This sanded surface grabs pigment differently than paper, letting you build deep, velvety color and blend in ways that paper just can’t match. Learn how the tooth of pastel mat changes your approach: laying down foundational layers, building color through repeated passes, blending with solvents or burnishing tools, and using the board’s texture to your advantage for both bold areas and fine detail.

Join artist Liz Monaco in this new twist on using colored pencils! The course topics include choosing the right pastel mat (weight, color, and texture options), layering techniques specific to sanded surfaces, blending methods, working with the paper’s natural color as part of your composition, and creating depth and luminosity through strategic layering. There is a guided project to practice each technique on a finished piece. This course is best suited for artists who already have some colored pencil experience and want to expand into a new surface that rewards patience with stunning depth and color saturation.

Click Here for Supplies

Develop or sharpen your drawing skills! This course is open to beginners and experienced folks alike and focuses on basic drawing techniques by concentrating on the elements of descriptive drawing through observation. Be prepared to develop the qualities of line and volume with a full range of values. The course will also cover linear perspective and compositional design. There will be regular critiques. Come join artist, David Ouellette, for this informative course!

NOTE: This class meets for 2 hours each week for 6 weeks.

Drawing I Materials and Supplies List

This class is for artists of all levels, from fresh newcomers to seasoned professionals! Learn the essence of reductive figure drawing, advancing your ability to build form through observation and color. Create 3D art on a 2D surface by focusing on figure-ground relationships. Let your personal creativity flourish in this relaxed and engaging setting. Join artist Alex Whitney in this popular course! 

• A model is present for this class, and there is an additional model fee ($30) for this class.
• Supplies are not included. (Don’t bring supplies to the first class. We will discuss the supply list on the first night.)

SUPPLIES LIST 

Calling all artists and Impressionism enthusiasts--take an adventure into the historic world of painting. Come learn the free expression of the original Impressionist! We will review their work and what they said about painting. We will explore their influence on modern art.

Bring the lessons of Impressionism to life by making your own paintings. Explore brush strokes. Explore color—how to see it, how to mix it, and how to use it. Find out what exploring space means in painting. Join artist Alex Whitney for this unique art course!

Supplies are not included. (Don’t bring supplies to the first class. We will discuss the supply list on the first night.)

SUPPLIES LIST

This course explores the religious and cultural milieu of Jews and Christians in 1st century Palestine. Within the narrow chronological and geographical framework, many swirling winds combined to create a maelstrom of seismic religious and cultural changes for both Jews and Christians--changes that have endured into the 21st century. Various religious and political factions within ancient Judaism (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and Herodians) maneuvered early in that century for positions of influence. Yet, they were unable to escape the devasting Roman destruction of the Temple, the institution at the very core of their religious and cultural world. Jesus of Nazareth also appeared on the scene and his followers championed a new way. Soon, however, there was a parting of the two ways. Thus, the earliest forms of Jewish/Christian relations are examined in this course with an eye towards better understanding these two ancient religious traditions in our modern world.

Join Dr. Buzz Brookman for this fascinating course!

Come and explore some of the central concepts, ideas and principles of the American constitutional regime available in the writings of the Founding Fathers.
Course topics include: 

• The teaching of Truths in the Declaration of Independence
• The “problem of democracy” 
• The failure of the Articles of Confederation 
• The Founders understanding of “federalism” 
• Anti-Federalists
• The Federalist (The Federalist Papers) 
• Reflection and Choice: Hamilton and “the new science of politics”
• Madison’s remedy in the teaching of the large commercial republic 
• Public morality (character) and popular government
• The Constitution as a mixture of “federal and national” principles
• John Marshall and “the expounding” of the Constitution
• Founding principles revisited: crisis and challenge 

Suggested readings: Selections from The Federalist, selected anti-federalist writings, the Declaration of Independence, and other material provided by the instructor. Most material will be available online.

This is great course to take in conjunction with the US Semiquincentennial, 2026!

Join artist David Ouelette and learn about the art of the Aegean Culture including the palaces, paintings and sculpture of the Cycladic islands, Crete and Mycenae. Study Ancient Greek art from the emerging Geometric and Archaic periods, the Early and High Classical Greek periods through Hellenistic times. The course further includes Roman art, with its many influences from the Republic, and into the Early, High and Late Empirical time.

Are you ready to learn the ancient art of Tai Chi Chuan?

The Beginning Form First Third (B1) Tai Chi Chuan Series is designed for everyone. Regardless of previous knowledge and experience, you can learn the art and science of Tai Chi while meeting new friends, and refreshing the mind and bodies. This program will give an in depth understanding of the principles of Tai Chi so that you can practice for the rest of your life. Now is the perfect time to start and fall in love with this ancient art.

First third of the Cheng Man Ching short form.

A tiny crustacean, the shrimp, had an oversized impact on St. Augustine. Some even say that St. Augustine is the birthplace of Florida's commercial shrimping industry! Dozens of shrimp boats operated from St. Augustine from the 1920s until the late 1940s, and the shrimp trawlers worked ocean water columns around the Florida coast. After the 1940s the trawlers followed the shrimp to the Gulf Coast. During this time, St. Augustine remained a center of shrimp boat construction with boatyards, ancillary businesses, and fish houses for processing the shrimp catch. However, by the end of the 1980s even those businesses died out. Bob Nawrocki, retired Chief Librarian of the St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library, delves into the St. Augustine shrimping history, the families involved, and the building of the legendary shrimp trawlers. Take a step back in time to another era when the St. Augustine area was the shrimping capital!

This is a 4-week course. The fourth and final class will meet at the St. Augustine Lighthouse where the group will explore the "Shrimpin’ Ain’t Easy" permanent exhibit located on the second floor of the Keepers’ House. Admission to the exhibit is part of the course.

Brewing beer and pressing wine are storied traditions in Europe going back centuries. Both beverages were among the most widespread in the Middle Ages, especially since water sources were often contaminated and their consumption could lead to fatal diseases. Using monasteries and towns in Franconia, a region in southern Germany, as examples, the production and distribution of beer and wine will be presented in more detail as an important part of that part of Germany's regional cultural history. 

Highlights of the course include: Beer and wine production in a monastery, the oldest breweries in the world, the unique relationships of vineyards owned by monasteries or universities, wine as a financial foundation, beer and wine ordinances in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Times, and “Faith and Fun”: Pilgrimage and beer drinking – The Kreuzberg Experiences.

Both Hollywood and moviegoers have been fascinated with blonde actresses on the screen since the silent era. Sometimes these blondes were sultry (Mae West, Lana Turner, Marilyn Monroe), sometimes chipper and optimistic (Shirley Temple, Doris Day), some were musical (Betty Grable, Alice Faye), and there were also blonde comics (Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Betty Hutton). Join us as we look at the Hollywood blondes from silent movies into the 1960s, hearing about their lives and watching scenes from their movies. What made them all indelible Hollywood stars?

Join Tom Hischak, Emeritus Professor of Performing Arts, State University of New York College at Cortland, for this fascinating course!

Escape into the vivid world of pigments with our exclusive course on transparent watercolor techniques. Embrace the joy of painting as you learn to explore and understand the unique characteristics, possibilities, and limitations of the vibrant watercolor medium.

This course provides insight into the special papers, pigments, and brushes employed thus enriching your artwork and expanding your understanding. Regular critiques ensure your steady growth while immersive demonstrations breathe inspiration into your journey as an artist. The creative power of your brushstrokes will brighten your watercolors with the intrigue of transparency in landscape portrayal.

Students are responsible for their own supplies. Click the link below for a printable list.

Watercolor Materials and Supplies