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
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Upcoming Events
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Family Day: History on the High Seas
April 17, 202110:00 am - 2:00 pm -
Fourth Annual Highwaymen Kids Exhibition
April 17, 202110:00 am - 5:00 pm -
Modern by Tradition: Innovation and the Transformation of Seminole Culture
April 18, 20212:00 pm - 3:00 pm -
History in a Glass: To Pajama or Not to Pajama?
April 27, 20216:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Around the Museum Blog
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09 Apr
Read more aboutOrlando siblings Buddy and Vilma Ebsen make it big as professional dancers and perform in their hometown in 1940.
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01 Apr
How Spring Baseball Came to Florida
Read more about How Spring Baseball Came to FloridaWith reliable rail travel and emergent automobiles and airplanes, the distance between sunny Florida and baseball’s best teams shrank almost yearly in the early 20th century.
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22 Mar
A Rare Bird: The Art and Life of Joy Postle
Read more about A Rare Bird: The Art and Life of Joy PostleBy re-interpreting nature with her own artistic flair, Joy Postle – artist, champion of wildlife, poet, traveler, and free spirit – turned a spotlight on the natural Florida that would be carelessly threatened during her lifetime by unchecked development.
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03 Mar
Mabel Norris Reese: Fearless Voice for Truth
Read more about Mabel Norris Reese: Fearless Voice for TruthMabel Norris Reese began her life career in journalism in Akron, Ohio, where she first worked as a reporter for the Akron Times-Press and, from 1935 to 1941, as a reporter for the Akron Beacon-Journal. In 1947, she and her husband, Paul, bought the Mount Dora Topic newspaper.
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08 Feb
Parramore’s Landmark Churches
Read more about Parramore’s Landmark ChurchesIn Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood, African Americans worshipped outdoors in brush arbors and stables while they saved funds to build proper churches, which served not only as places of worship but also as social centers, gathering places, and schools.
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