Delray Beach Historical Society

Delray Beach Historical Society Preserving, celebrating and sharing the history of our Village by the Sea

June is nationally recognized as LGBTQ+ in commemoration of the uprising at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Ne...
06/12/2026

June is nationally recognized as LGBTQ+ in commemoration of the uprising at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City. On June 28 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn. The bar’s patrons fought back, and were joined by thousands of protestors including transgender and genderqueer people of color. The uprising continued for six days. The aftermath of Stonewall saw an explosion in gay unity, pride, and action. Gay social clubs in Miami, Pensacola, and Key West became more visible. In early 1970, Florida State University students started the first Gay Liberation Front chapter in the southeast. Florida, however, did not decriminalize homosexuality until 2003 after the U.S. Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas. Same-sex marriage became legal in the state in 2015.

In 2021, the City of Delray Beach held its first Pride event, coinciding with the dedication of the Pridescape painting at the intersection of NE 2nd Avenue and NE 1st Street. The installation was commissioned by AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, and the City of Delray Beach. The ribbon cutting, pictured here, was held on June 12 to commemorate the five-year anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida where 49 people were killed on June 12, 2016 (ten years ago today).

📸: 1. Gay activists gathered in Miami Beach during the 1972 Democratic Convention. Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida.
2. Ribbon cutting at the Delray Beach Pridescape intersection, June 12, 2021. City of Delray Beach.

In 1986, after eight months of construction, the City and contractors completed a road project widening Swinton Avenue. ...
06/10/2026

In 1986, after eight months of construction, the City and contractors completed a road project widening Swinton Avenue. To celebrate, Bob Redman, then owner of Doc's on the corner of Swinton and Atlantic Avenues, put up a sign in the restaurant's canted windows.

📸: "Thank God!! It's over!" sign in the windows of Doc's Soft-Serve, June 21, 1986.

*** Full house last night! Thank you Evan Orellana from Surfrider Foundation - Palm Beach County Chapter for the fascina...
06/10/2026

*** Full house last night! Thank you Evan Orellana from Surfrider Foundation - Palm Beach County Chapter for the fascinating and enlightening lecture! Thank you to all who attended. We enjoyed having you. Visit us all summer: https://delraybeachhistory.org/events/

Boca Raton Historical Society

Check out our gift shop! Great selection of summer reads, Society swag, and works by local artists.
06/09/2026

Check out our gift shop! Great selection of summer reads, Society swag, and works by local artists.

Tonight at the DBHS, along with Boca Raton Historical Society! Just a few seats left! https://delraybeachhistory.org/eve...
06/09/2026

Tonight at the DBHS, along with Boca Raton Historical Society! Just a few seats left! https://delraybeachhistory.org/events/

City of Delray Beach, Florida Government Surfrider Foundation - Palm Beach County Chapter

What a fun acquisition for the archive today! Susan Gwynn Wilder stopped by to donate a 1973-1974 handcrafted scrapbook...
06/08/2026

What a fun acquisition for the archive today! Susan Gwynn Wilder stopped by to donate a 1973-1974 handcrafted scrapbook, created by the cheerleaders of that year to honor head coach Carney Wilder. Coach of the decade!  Atlantic High School

In August 1935, George Boughton and his father, Charles, purchased the Alterep Hotel on Atlantic Avenue for $50,000 ($1....
06/04/2026

In August 1935, George Boughton and his father, Charles, purchased the Alterep Hotel on Atlantic Avenue for $50,000 ($1.2 million today). The original hotel opened in 1926. Before becoming a Florida hotelier, George Boughton managed the President Hotel and the Colton Manor Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Boughtons changed the hotel’s name to the Colony and brought new life to the hotel and to Delray Beach. While Charles Boughton died in 1942, he was able to witness his son grow the hotel into a thriving center for life in Delray Beach.

The hotel opened its doors for the winter season every January 10th starting in the 1950s. It was the social center of Delray Beach. They had gardener on staff year-round to care for the potted plants in the lobby. Rates in the late 1930s were $50 per week and included meals for two guests. There was also a liquor store adjacent to the hotel.

In 1946, George Boughton appointed his cousin, U.S. Navy Veteran John Banta as his assistant manager. In 1958, John Banta became the manager of the Colony, with his wife Maude managing food deliveries and the flower arrangements for each of the hotel’s guest rooms. Banta retired in October 1990 after 32 years as manager.

📸: The Boughtons in front of the Colony Hotel, c. 1930s.

Colony Hotel & Cabaña Club Hilary Martin Roche Jestena Boughton

We had a very special visit today from Kellly Peckels, daughter of Carolyn Kraus Cunningham, granddaughter of Bill Kraus...
06/03/2026

We had a very special visit today from Kellly Peckels, daughter of Carolyn Kraus Cunningham, granddaughter of Bill Kraus - the owner of the famed Arcade Taproom in the 1920’s & 30’s! So many memories, artifacts, and stories. 🤎

Visit the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce to see our pop-up Delray Beach “LIFE BY THE SEA” history exhibit! Fre...
06/03/2026

Visit the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce to see our pop-up Delray Beach “LIFE BY THE SEA” history exhibit! Free. Mon-Fri, 8-4!

Making history! We had the wonderful opportunity to conduct an oral history interview with Ray and Renee Priest. Ray was...
06/02/2026

Making history! We had the wonderful opportunity to conduct an oral history interview with Ray and Renee Priest. Ray was born and raised in Delray Beach and shared some fantastic stories about his family's past as Florida pioneers, and Renee talked about her life growing up in Connecticut. We certainly learned a lot!

Oral histories are an important resource in cultural heritage institutions. While traditional history often relies on official documents (like letters, government records, and newspaper clippings), oral history captures perspectives that might otherwise be lost and enhances the stories found in those traditional documents. Through video and/or audio recordings, oral histories create original, firsthand historical records rather than interpretations.

Address

3 NE 1st Street
Delray Beach, FL
33444

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm

Telephone

(561) 274-9578

Website

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