MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Floodwaters from last year’s hurricanes damaged several priceless artifacts at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and Museum.

Now, its board is trying to assess each artifact and repair the building.

“This unbelievably messy structure is housing the items we have saved,” said Carolyn Orshak, the museum’s president.

Thousands of artifacts dating back to the 1800s are housed in the museum. Some were damaged by the hurricanes.

“Some of these are really irreplaceable,” she said.

A dozen artifacts were destroyed beyond repair, but others are still being salvaged.

“We don’t want to get rid of anything. You can see some water damage on this sleeve here, but I think we can save that,” she said.

For now, there is hope that these priceless pieces can be restored.

“We have a restoration expert that we have hired to work with us on this project of restoring this museum,” she said.

As far as the building goes, it’s also getting repaired — at the cost of leaving some of its history behind. The original flooring, which dated back to the 1920s, had to be removed.

“It was bad. You slid on the floors. Everything. It looked like a bomb went off. It really did look like a bomb went off,” she said.

The nonprofit relies on donations, and more money is needed to pay for the repairs.

“This museum is loved by the community. They have embraced us and supported us,” she said.

That kind of support is what the Historical Society is counting on so that the island’s history can live on.

Anna Maria Island Historical Society hopes to reopen the first week of March, just in time for the Heritage Festival.

If you would like to donate money to help pay for repairs from the damages, you can on their website here.