The city of Orlando has plenty to offer besides Disney and the nearby NASA Station. While these two attractions are certainly bringing in the bulk of tourists for the region, there are plenty of other historical attractions in Orlando. Travel back to a time when Central Florida was largely orange groves and swamps by visiting these historical attractions.
Orange County Regional History Center – 65 E Central Blvd – Orlando, FL
Located in the heart of downtown Orlando, the Orange County Regional History Center is a four-story historic courthouse building and home to four floors of museum exhibits. The museum is a Smithsonian affiliate and prides itself on being the go-to source of history in Central Florida. History can be fun at the Center too; come join fellow history buffs and test your brain during Retro Game Night.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art – 445 N Park Ave – Winter Park, FL
The Morse Museum is considered a hidden gem amongst museum lovers in Florida. The museum is home to the largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany in the world. There are also comprehensive exhibits for American pottery, late-19th- and early 20th-century American paintings. Beautiful downtown Winter Park is the perfect location for this chic art museum.
Winter Park Scenic/Historical Boat Tour – 312 E Morse Blvd – Winter Park, FL
Don’t forget to take a scenic boat tour while in Winter Park. An 18-passenger pontoon boat gently carries you along Winter Park’s chain of lakes. Tour guides will inform you of all the history behind the lakes and the surrounding region as you meander through the pristine waters. The ride is $14.00 per adult, and $7.00 for children aged 2-11 years old. Groups of ten or more will have to reserve a spot, and they only accept cash or check.
Fort Christmas Historical Park – 1300 N Fort Christmas Rd – Christmas, FL
Fort Christmas is a bit of a drive from downtown Orlando – about 30 minutes – but well worth the trek for history lovers. The park is home to the replica fort of one built in 1837 during the Second Seminole War. There are also eight pioneer homes, a schoolhouse, a sugar cane mill and other historical farming equipment. Group and school tours are available year-round. There’s also something going on at the Park; prospective visitors should visit Fort Christmas’ website to see if there are any festivals or reenactments on the upcoming schedule.
Photo By Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29874969
