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 12,000 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 us
Welcome Message
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Upcoming Events
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Brechner Speaker Series: Life and Death at Windover
January 24, 20212:00 pm - 3:00 pm -
Lunch & Learn: Collecting and Preserving the Black Lives Matter Movement
February 5, 202112:00 pm - 1:00 pm -
Family Day: Growing a Better Tomorrow
February 6, 202110:00 am - 2:00 pm -
Celebrating Black Culture: Storytelling & Poetry
February 11, 20216:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Around the Museum Blog
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13 Jan
Windover: Prehistoric Past Revealed at Ancient Pond Cemetery
Read more about Windover: Prehistoric Past Revealed at Ancient Pond CemeteryExplore the discovery and excavation of one of the most important archaeological sites in North America: the 7,000-year-old pond cemetery known as Windover.
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05 Jan
Ben White Raceway: The Training Capital of Harness Racing
Read more about Ben White Raceway: The Training Capital of Harness RacingTrotters Park was once Ben White Raceway, at one time the largest training facility for harness racing in the United States and the winter home of championship harness races and racehorses.
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08 Dec
Give an Experience They Won’t Forget!
Read more about Give an Experience They Won’t Forget!During a holiday season like no other, the History Center offers brand-new opportunities to give one-of-a-kind gifts to family and friends, or even for yourself! From behind-the-scenes tours of our collections to a secret nighttime event at the museum, these gifts are not to be found anywhere else.
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08 Dec
In Orange County, we truly have Christmas all year long
Read more about In Orange County, we truly have Christmas all year longHere’s an often-asked question in the Central Florida each December: How did a crossroads on the palmetto prairie of far-east Orange County — the tiny community of Christmas, Florida — become a kind of far southern branch of North Pole central?
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02 Dec
O Christmas Star, O Christmas Star
Read more about O Christmas Star, O Christmas StarThe holiday season in downtown Orlando is a familiar sight. Perhaps one of Orlando’s most iconic holiday decorations is the yellow Christmas star that illuminates the intersection of Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard each year.
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