Rui Farias, Director of St. Petersburg Museum of History talks expansion, upcoming exhibits, and historical preservation.
By STEVE TRAIMAN
Photos courtesy St. Petersburg Museum of History
What were your three biggest successes in your prior business career?
I will always be extremely grateful to Rodney Marsh (President/Head Coach) and Cornelia Corbett (Owner) for taking a chance on a 23-year-old and allowing me to be part of the original Tampa Bay Rowdies. I spent six fantastic years there in media and marketing, and I’m proud to be a small part of the growth of soccer in the Tampa Bay area. After the Rowdies I was hired by the Suncoasters to handle the media and marketing for the Festival of States. They were an incredible organization who worked tirelessly to promote St. Pete. If you can believe it, our job was to transform a sleepy, empty downtown into a playground for visitors and residents. I think my biggest prior success was in the classroom. For nearly 20 years prior to coming to the Museum of History full time, I taught Florida History and U.S. History, as well as coached soccer at St. Petersburg High. I can’t begin to explain the feeling I get when the parents of former students stop me in the grocery store and tell me how much of a role I played in their child’s education. I still shake my head because I consider myself a storyteller, not a real teacher.
What are your prime responsibilities at the Museum?
I am lucky to have a Board of Trustees that truly care about protecting our city’s history and growing the Museum of History. I work with the Board and its committees to charter the course of the Museum of History as we continue to grow. I also oversee a small, but very talented staff that is dedicated to preserving and presenting our area’s history. We’re all in it together when it comes to exhibit and event planning, marketing, outreach, research and even leading historic trolley tours throughout the city. But one of my main responsibilities is raising money. It’s an expensive venture to maintain a museum – especially one that collects and preserves tens of thousands of artifacts. We are the archival depository of St. Pete’s history, and it is funded through donations and grants. Whether it’s purchasing supplies or maintaining climate-controlled storage facilities, it is the generosity of the community that enables us to keep our history protected.
Why did this Museum job appeal to you?
I love this museum. We moved here in 1967 and I grew up in downtown St. Pete. Nearly every Saturday I would ride my bike to the Museum of History, pay my 25 cents and take a trip back through time for a couple hours. Once a history geek, always a history geek. I was honored to be asked to join the Board and even more humbled to be named Executive Director. There is no better dream job for me.
What do you think are St. Pete’s biggest opportunities?
We have become the epicenter of arts and culture in the South, and as we continue to add more museums, galleries and arts centers, it won’t be long until the rest of the nation starts to wonder what’s going on here. Business leaders, politicians and the community have created an amazing quality of life here. We can’t pass up this chance to wisely manage our growth and continue along this path. I think the key is to enhance what is naturally spectacular about our area – the parks, beaches, water and warm sunshine. We are still Florida, and Florida has always been a fantasy, a land of dreams.
What are St. Pete’s biggest challenges?
To properly manage its growth and protect its past. Yes, we need the modernization of the city, but let’s not forget that generations of visitors, millions of visitors, thought we were pretty cool before the recent renaissance. There has to be a better way to incorporate St. Pete’s rich history into the amazing growth we are witnessing now. Which by the way strangely resembles what happened to this town in the 1920s.
What’s new and next?
The St. Petersburg Museum of History turned 100 on February 11. And like the Sunshine City, we are also experiencing a renaissance, a period of growth. I wasn’t there of course, but because of the current changes and additions, it feels like the 100th year is as hectic and busy as our first. We are proud to partner with the group led by Ryan Griffin and Blake Thompson in the opening of our new cafe – Perry’s Porch. Named in honor of C. Perry Snell, it will incorporate the spectacular era of 1920s St. Pete with lots of outdoor seating and waterfront views. We are renovating and updating the existing galleries to enhance the visitor experience as they stroll through our community’s history. And if that wasn’t enough, we’re preparing for a historic 11,000 square foot expansion.
How will this expansion project make a difference in the community?
Our planned expansion will tie in our entire county – not just St. Petersburg. The ground floor will hold the official Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Welcome Center, providing the millions of annual visitors to The Pier everything they’ll want to know about our part of paradise.
But what really excites me is what we’re building above it. A 4,000 square foot gallery space that will house our showcase exhibit – Explore Florida! This interactive exhibit will share the history of the Sunshine State, but more importantly our role in that history. Not only will this exhibit entertain and educate visitors of all ages, it allows us to keep our precious artifacts on display well above flood levels. Speaking of educating, we’re working closely with Pinellas County Schools to make sure the exhibit covers historical events in educational standards – a living textbook for students and teachers. And of course, I can’t forget the Flight Deck, our rooftop terrace. A spectacular view of the city skyline, marinas and The Pier, this space will be the perfect venue for everything from weddings to holiday parties.
What do you love about living in Paradise?
I spent my childhood downtown at the Pier, Northshore Pool and the Dime Beach. As I got older, weekends meant exploring Ft. DeSoto, its beaches and Pass-a-Grille. Now, I make it a point to drive to work along Coffee Pot Bayou and Northshore Park. Every time I walk or go for a run around the waterfront or Crescent Lake, I thank my mother and father for leaving Connecticut and bringing me here. When I travel, there is no more beautiful sight than that sign on I-75 pointing right for I-275 and St. Petersburg. I don’t understand why you would want to live anywhere else.
What do you do when you are not at work?
Visiting every history museum I can find, but mostly, enjoying Florida. My wife Susan and I love to take Scooter – our ferocious dachshund – and explore our parks and beaches. We also like to discover cool historical sites around the state. There is still so much to learn about our very unique history!
[Steve Traiman is President of Creative Copy by Steve Traiman in St. Pete Beach, offering freelance business writing services. He can be reached via email at traimancreativecopy@gmail.com.]