Plan your visit
The Orange County Regional History Center, housed in a historic courthouse in the heart of downtown Orlando, offers four floors of exhibits exploring 14,000 years of Central Florida’s rich heritage. A Smithsonian affiliate, the museum also offers visiting exhibitions and a wide range of programs for families, children, and adults.
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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.
How to find usAn Evolving Community Resource
The Orange County Regional History Center is working to build an even better experience while we continue to recover from the pandemic’s considerable effects on our resources. We’re deep in the exploration stages of fully renovating and updating our current exhibitions and seeking ways to expand the History Center.
Much has changed since the History Center opened more than two decades ago. We are honored by our national awards, Smithsonian Affiliation, and accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, and have spent the past several years researching and growing our collection to better reflect the experience of our entire Central Florida community.
We also continue to offer more diverse programming and special exhibitions on topics we plan to include in our future visitor experience. This work takes thoughtful time and care, and we go forward with dedication to building strong relationships across the community and engaging in meaningful conversations. As always, we welcome your participation and encourage you to share your thoughts through our contact form.
Coming up: Lunch & Learns, Family Days, and more
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Upcoming Events
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Sensory Sunday: Spooky Senses
October 19, 202512:00 pm - 4:00 pm -
History After Dark: Halloween Edition
October 24, 20255:00 pm - 9:00 pm -
History Center Trivia Takeover!
October 28, 20257:00 pm - 9:00 pm -
History Alive: Famous Floridians
November 1, 202510:00 am - 5:00 pm
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
What our visitors are saying about their experience
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I want to thank the staff at the History Center for my daughter’s experience this summer [at camp]. Every staff member has been kind, talented and prepared – and helped nurture my daughter’s love of invention and creation. She deeply enjoyed the program. Thank you!
Ximena Cordova Palma -
I just have to tell you what a spectacular time our classes had today! The kids talked about it all afternoon, and all of our teachers raved about it! How early is too early to book for next year?
Teacher Judy Lindquist, Andover Elementary School -
The exhibits were interesting and well put together. I particularly enjoyed all the information about Florida’s citrus industry. Exhibits focusing on tourism were a close second favorite. Staff was helpful, and we enjoyed the optional audio tour.
Halee Pearl -
Great local museum! Took our daughter when she was 3 and she loved it. She asked to go back and at 5 she loved it even more! If you live in central Florida, or are visiting, you really need to check it out!
Joanna Bond