November 19, 2020 - Explore Tarpon Springs

A new exhibit is captivating visitors to the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum as the holiday season decorations spring into view across the bay area. Museum visitors will enjoy perusing the fascinating history and customs of the Epiphany Celebration in Tarpon Springs via a series of past and present-day photos. As the largest Epiphany celebration in the United States and one of the only places outside of Greece where the holiday is observed in this manner, Tarpon Springs’ Epiphany Celebration draws thousands of visitors every January 6th. This special holiday is just one of the many ways that Greek culture has contributed to attracting visitors to experience the unique qualities of the City of Tarpon Springs. The photographs and corresponding captions will take you on an informative and nostalgic tour. Origin of Epiphany: Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian feasts. It has been celebrated since the end of the second century, before the Christmas holiday was established. It is commonly known as Twelfth Night, Twelfth Day, or the Feast of Epiphany. It means “manifestation” or “showing forth”. It is also called Theophany (“manifestation of God”), especially by Eastern Christians. It commemorates the first two occasions on which Jesus’ divinity, according to Christian belief, was manifested: when the three kings visited infant Jesus in Bethlehem, and when John the Baptist baptized him in the River Jordan. The Eastern Orthodox churches focus on Jesus’ baptism. About the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum: Explore a variety of self-guided exhibits and watch informative videos at the Tarpon Springs' Heritage Museum. In the history wing, inspect artifacts illustrating the archeological beginnings of Tarpon Springs then leap forward to the Victorian era and discover the historic homes of the Golden Crescent. Take a leisurely stroll through the Greek exhibit to learn about the rich history and culture of the local Greek community. Enjoy videos of the maritime and sponging industries and be sure to see the variety of equipment and tools used in the early days of the historic Sponge Docks. In the ecology wing, visitors learn about the beloved Florida manatee and can see how they measure up to a life-sized replica. With Tarpon Springs being a city seated between two bodies of water - Lake Tarpon and the Gulf of Mexico - the love of the water is beautifully celebrated by the large-scale, giclee prints of works by famed local artist Christopher Still revealing life above and below the water's surface. Visitors can also learn more about the GFWC Woman's Club of Tarpon Springs, founded in 1892. It is part of one of the world’s largest and oldest nonpartisan, nondenominational women’s volunteer service organizations. The Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum is open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, 18+ yrs. old; $3 per person, 18+ yrs. old for Tarpon Springs’ residents with identification; free for Tarpon Arts Members as a benefit of membership. New, temporary exhibits are introduced every year. The Heritage Museum is the main ticket sales office for Tarpon Arts. Contact the museum directly for more information on new exhibits and visit TarponArts.org.

Photos, Old and New Celebrate the History of Epiphany in Tarpon Springs