OUC Family Day
Saturday, December 9, 2023, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Take an electrifying journey through time as we celebrate 100 years of the Orlando Utilities Commission! Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an aspiring engineer, or someone who’s simply looking for a day of family fun, there’s something for everyone at this
Discover how military records can uncover ancestral information
Orange County Library System Genealogy Events – November 2023 OCLS’s West Oaks Branch and Genealogy Center offers events that cover a range of basic and beginning genealogy research. This month you can learn how to learn more about your family tree using newspapers, among other virtual classes. For more information
Considering Indigenous Arts: The Connections of Ledger Art and Comics in Indigenous Visualities
Sunday, November 19, 2023, 2 – 3 p.m. The history of ledger art, a particular form of visual art popularized by Native artists, has a close relationship with Florida. One of the largest collections of ledger art grew out of the imprisonment in the 1870s of Plain Indians prisoners of
Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive
Monday, November 6, 2023 – Monday, December 11, 2023 The Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive is celebrating its 13th year! You can drop off unwrapped toys for children ages 18 and under to the History Center, Orange County parks and recreation facilities, fire stations, and library branches. There is
The Haunts of Downtown Sanford
By Kara Kovalev, Registrar, Orange County Regional History Center Sanford’s charming historic district sits along the shores of Lake Monroe. The town was incorporated in 1877 by Henry Shelton Sanford and ten years later suffered a devastating fire that took out most of the downtown area. Fortunately, its residents were
Reflections Across Time: Seminole Portraits
Sunday, November 5, 2 – 3 p.m. Folklorist Annette B. Fromm presents a compelling story of how images and perceptions of Native People, especially the Florida Seminole, have been manipulated in the past, as well as how the Seminole have been represented by artists from their own community toward the
The Story of Brownie, the Town Dog of Daytona Beach
by Halifax Historical Society & Museum “Brownie, the Town Dog” is the inscription on the burial marker located at the south end of Riverfront Park in downtown Daytona Beach. Who was Brownie, and where did he come from? In 1940, a large brown short-haired dog wandered into the downtown area.
OUC100
Through December 31, 2023 Our latest pop-up exhibition in the History Center’s lobby, OUC100, celebrates the century-long history of The Reliable One, Orlando Utilities Commission. Over the past century, Orlando has seen many changes. Born of necessity, OUC was formed to meet the electricity and water needs of a rapidly
The Koehnes of Gotha: German Heritage and a Literary Link
By Rachel Williams, Historian, Orange County Regional History Center How is the influential American author Kurt Vonnegut historically tied to the Orlando area? In July 2023, we posted on the History Center’s Instagram account about a scrapbook we found during a research visit with a member of the Koehne family
Lunch & Learn – Iconic Orlando: Exploring the Stories Behind Downtown Landmarks
Friday, November 3, 2023, Noon – 1 p.m. You may pass by them every day, but have you wondered what fascinating stories reside behind some of downtown Orlando’s most familiar sights? From the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain at Lake Eola Park to the century-old Angebilt Hotel, and even the