Thursday, May 15, 2025, 6 – 7 p.m.

Orange County Regional History Center historian Rachel Williams will explore 150 years of the evolution of the City Beautiful through the lens of civic life and social trends. Focusing on the history of Orange County Courthouses, specifically the 1927 courthouse where the History Center is now housed, and the story of Colonial Plaza, Orlando’s first shopping mall, Williams will reveal how the movement from downtown Orlando towards the suburbs mirrored broader trends of suburban sprawl and consumer culture in mid-century America. This program is free as part of Third Thursday.

About the Speaker
Rachel Williams holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in History and Public History respectively from the University of Central Florida. She is currently the historian at the History Center where she works on various projects such as conducting oral histories and assisting the public in research projects.