Mouser lives in the lap of history, but he seems more preoccupied with his next meal. The cat naps through the summer surrounded by azaleas and in the shade of a 150-year-old house.
Most people in Gainesville probably haven’t met Mouser or heard of the Matheson Museum, where he spends his nights in an antique tool shed.
Struggling to preserve Alachua County’s history yet little known to local residents, the museum, located at 513 E. University Ave., works to make a bigger impact on the community.
The Matheson includes the second-oldest house in Gainesville, an exhibit hall with basement archives and a botanical garden.
“Sometimes I think people drive right past us and don’t see us here,” said museum technician Allie Whalen, 24.
She said the Matheson is moving from small, private events to those reaching more people. The museum typically gets five to 10 visitors a day, often history buffs from out of town.
Alicia Antone, the museum’s executive director, would like to increase those numbers.
The museum is funded by memberships, rentals and grants, she said.
City grants from the past two years allow the museum to give tours to schoolchildren.
“We do a lot of living history,” she said.
The museum is hosting a theater program this month for kids to explore the history of Alachua County’s railroad, she said.
The museum’s second annual Civil War reenactment is scheduled for August, she said. The event will bring the 1864 Battle of Gainesville to life.
“I think it’s important to know where you’ve been,” Antone said.
The museum’s current exhibit, “Pass It On,” highlights preservation of information and architecture in Gainesville, she said.
Museum technician Odette Rivera, 24, said she thinks it’s important to understand local history and feels the information should be more accessible.
“If you’re interested in something close to home it might spark an interest in learning about places you’re not familiar with,” she said.
Some museum visitors are curious about the Matheson house, wanting to tour the rooms. Others come for information.
The Matheson Museum has a research library with books, periodicals, maps and photos from Gainesville’s past.
Ryan Butler, a 21-year-old journalism senior, stopped by the museum to ask about archived UF football memorabilia. Butler, the sports editor at gamedayr.com, said photos of the items would add authenticity to the website.
“I think any true Gator can definitely appreciate this stuff,” he said. “They just don’t know it’s here.”
