In 2026, Heritage Village will mark its 50th anniversary alongside America’s 250th birthday with The Power of Place Oral History Initiative. This project aims to capture and preserve stories from the Pinellas County community in collaboration with local organizations. The initiative honors the past and creates a legacy, demonstrating that every voice contributes to America’s story and fosters connection for future generations.
The Power of Place invites Pinellas County residents, past and present, to record stories about the places that matter most—neighborhoods, parks, shorelines, workplaces, schools, faith communities, and the everyday sites where life unfolds. Each story becomes part of a growing community archive at Heritage Village, connecting personal memory to public history. For more information and how to apply, see the program guidelines.
Program Goals
- Capture first-person stories from across Pinellas County.
- Preserve audio, photos, and transcripts for education and exhibits.
- Collaborate with local organizations to reach diverse voices.
- Build a lasting community archive at Heritage Village.
- Foster connection and belonging for future generations.
- Celebrate Heritage Village at 50 on the way to America’s 250.
What We Provide
- Oral history training workshops covering:
- Staff assistance to help launch your program.
- Use of the TheirStory platform for capturing, transcribing, organizing, and sharing interviews.
What You Provide
- Application to participate or host.
- Equipment (see “Equipment below”).
- Time to attend training workshops, to schedule and facilitate interviews.
What is TheirStory?
TheirStory is a purpose-built oral history platform that supports scheduling, recording (remote or in-person), automatic transcription, organization, and easy clipping/remixing for exhibits and outreach. We use it because it streamlines the entire process—from consent to preservation—so staff, volunteers, and community members can focus on storytelling.
Equipment Requirements
Typical equipment would be the use of a recording device such as a Zoom recorder, on an iPad, from your smart phone, or on a computer. Additional equipment might include a microphone, headphones, tripod, or other equipment. Heritage Village will offer training workshops for participants on using various types of equipment for recording quality oral history interviews.