Oral Histories In the 1970s, the Historical Society of Central Florida began collecting and preserving interviews with Central Floridians, capturing their lived experiences in their own words. Our oral history collection now contains more than 800 interviews, and we’re constantly adding more. Share Your Story Do you, or someone you

Explore the Collection The History Center is home to the Historical Society of Central Florida’s collection of more than 35,000 artifacts, photographs, and archival materials documenting the rich heritage of our region. The collection spans seven counties – Brevard,  Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia – and thousands of

Research Information The Joseph L. Brechner Research Center was created through a donation from the late Marion Brody Brechner in honor of her husband, Joseph (1915-1990), an award-winning journalist, community leader, and freedom-of-information advocate. The son of Eastern European immigrants, Brechner believed deeply in American democracy and citizens’ rights and

The Orange County Regional History Center holds the special collections of the Historical Society of Central Florida, an archive about Central Florida’s past that began in 1942. The Joseph L. Brechner Research Center on the museum’s fifth floor is the History Center’s reference library, archive, and research space. Explore the

The Emporium Years ago, downtown Orlando was the place to go to shop for Central Floridians. Now, once again, you can find one-of-a-kind items in the heart of the City Beautiful, in an eclectic shop tucked away within the History Center. Located in first-floor Atrium, our gift shop is always

 Special Exhibitions The History Center is proud to offer special limited-run exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institution and other prestigious museums. In the past we’ve offered exhibitions on complex stories like the Civil War and light-hearted subjects like the Muppets. We’ve focused on local history and in-depth national history, and we’ve ventured around the

Bringing the Past into the Future We’ve all heard the expression, “The longest journey begins with but a single step.” This fall, the History Center is embarking on a long, sometimes arduous journey – one that will take a few years, cost a significant amount of money, and require hard

Volunteer Opportunities WE ARE RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS! FALL 2024:  Volunteer Information Open House You are invited to meet with our Volunteer Coordinator to discuss current volunteer opportunities. Free admission to museum and parking validation will be provided for those attending an open house. Please email Diane.Masciale@ocfl.net for further information and to