Selections from the vast and varied collections of the Historical Society of Central Florida illustrate Central Florida’s fascinating past.
Explore our past
As an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the History Center presents limited-run exhibitions of great depth and insight.
On display now
Convenient parking options include the Central Boulevard garage across from the Orlando Public Library, the History Center’s neighbor.
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Around the Museum Blog
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07
Oct
Turnbull’s New Smyrna: The Rise and Fall of an 18th-Century British Settlement in Florida
Read more about Turnbull’s New Smyrna: The Rise and Fall of an 18th-Century British Settlement in FloridaBy Rachel Williams The coquina foundation found at the intersection of North Riverside Drive and Washington Street in New Smyrna Beach is a relic of an 18th-century structure, often referred to as the “Old Fort Ruins” or “Turnbull Ruins.” This site holds significant historical value, as it dates back to
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24
Sep
Weather, Water, Railroads, and Good Roads: Orlando Tourism Before Disney
Read more about Weather, Water, Railroads, and Good Roads: Orlando Tourism Before DisneyBy Joy Wallace Dickinson and Rick Kilby from the Spring 2025 Edition of Reflections Magazine “With the coming of the railroad Orlando’s days as a pioneer town were numbered,” historian Eve Bacon wrote about the event that made Orlando accessible from Sanford and in essence all points north, by train
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22
Aug
Orange County Library System Shares Orlando’s History
Read more about Orange County Library System Shares Orlando’s HistoryBy Scottie Campbell You would have to live under the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain in Lake Eola to not know that the City of Orlando is celebrating its 150th year. The Orange County Library System has marked the occasion with a trio of blog posts exploring different aspects of
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12
Aug
Back to School
Read more about Back to Schoolby Rick Kilby from the Summer 2014 edition of Reflections Magazine As students throughout Central Florida return to school, here’s a sampling of then and now images from a few of Orlando’s historic schools.
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23
Jun
The History and Transformation of Baldwin Park in Orlando
Read more about The History and Transformation of Baldwin Park in OrlandoBy Brendan Bunting O’Connor from the Spring 2025 Edition of Reflections Magazine Baldwin Park, located just minutes from downtown Orlando, is a vibrant and picturesque community that combines modern living with a deep sense of history, and just a dash of Stepford-like planned-community plastic falseness. One of the things that
