Orange County Regional History Center

Orange County Regional History Center Award-winning history museum in downtown Orlando with permanent and special exhibitions.

In honor of International Surfing Day, we’re sharing these Central Florida scenes of people catching or searching for wa...
06/20/2026

In honor of International Surfing Day, we’re sharing these Central Florida scenes of people catching or searching for waves, as captured by the lens of influential American photographer Ozzie Sweet.

Known for staging his images, Sweet considered himself to be a photographic illustrator more than a photojournalist and was even compared to Norman Rockwell for his storytelling style. His work appeared in major publications, including The Saturday Evening Post, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. As photographer Bruce Weber wrote in his 2013 obituary for Sweet in the New York Times, Sweet's photographs appeared on an estimated 1,800 magazine covers.

Through his work with Florida’s tourism and citrus industries, Sweet created many iconic images. He is also notable for photographing baseball spring training in Florida over the course of nearly six decades. Those images were compiled in “The Boys of Spring: Timeless Portraits from the Grapefruit League, 1947–2005,” which is considered a landmark publication.



Images from the State Archives of Florida.

Before air conditioning, Florida visitors had another strategy for staying cool: find a shady porch, a rocking chair, an...
06/18/2026

Before air conditioning, Florida visitors had another strategy for staying cool: find a shady porch, a rocking chair, and a lake breeze.

Guests have been doing exactly that at the Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora since 1883. Located on the shores of Lake Dora, it claims the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating hotel in Florida. It's one of more than 30 Lake County properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The hotel's broad verandas, towering oak trees, and waterfront setting have welcomed generations of travelers seeking a respite from the summer heat. Notable visitors include President Calvin Coolidge, who checked in for an extended stay in 1930. More than 140 years after it opened, the Lakeside remains a reminder of Florida's early tourism era and the enduring appeal of life by a lake.



Photo: National Register of Historic Places.

Celebrate Juneteenth at the History Center with this family-friendly day! Meet the trailblazers who shaped our region in...
06/17/2026

Celebrate Juneteenth at the History Center with this family-friendly day! Meet the trailblazers who shaped our region in unforgettable ways – from the musicians who lit up Orlando’s South Street Casino to activists and community builders whose legacies continue today. Engage with the evolving story of freedom in our ongoing exhibition How Distant Seems Our Starting Place, join a guided museum tour, and enjoy hands-on activities that highlight the Black Floridians who helped elevate Central Florida’s culture and history.

Brevard County’s youngest town, Grant-Valkaria, will celebrate its 20th anniversary next month. It was incorporated on J...
06/15/2026

Brevard County’s youngest town, Grant-Valkaria, will celebrate its 20th anniversary next month. It was incorporated on July 25, 2006, after residents approved a referendum.

Long before that, Indigenous peoples lived along the Indian River Lagoon, where shell mounds show the area was once home to the Ais people.

In the late 19th century, the fishing communities of Grant and Valkaria were settled by a small number of families, including Danish immigrants. Valkaria received a post office in 1890, followed by Grant in 1891. After the railroad arrived in 1912, cattle ranching expanded in the area, and about 1930, Roy Couch founded the Couch Manufacturing Co., which built marine dredges and pumps and employed many residents during the Depression.

In 2004, residents began an effort to incorporate to preserve the character of both communities. The state Legislature approved the action in May 2006, and Gov. Jeb Bush signed it into law on June 15, 2006.

Happy Flag Day! Today commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag in 1777 and the composition of the nation's iconic red,...
06/14/2026

Happy Flag Day! Today commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag in 1777 and the composition of the nation's iconic red, white, and blue banner. The enthusiastic little girl in this photo celebrated Flag Day a bit early with her miniature Stars and Stripes on June 8, 1973, as President Richard M. Nixon delivered the commencement address at the Florida Technological University (now UCF) graduation ceremony.

Courtesy Orlando Sentinel Collection

Ten years ago this week, Orlando came together in grief, remembrance, and solidarity following the Pulse nightclub shoot...
06/12/2026

Ten years ago this week, Orlando came together in grief, remembrance, and solidarity following the Pulse nightclub shooting, which took place on June 12, 2016.

This photograph, taken by Michael Maguire during the June 19, 2016, candlelight vigil at Lake Eola Park, captures a moment of collective mourning and support. An estimated 50,000 people gathered around the lake one week after the tragedy, honoring the 49 victims and standing with survivors, families, and loved ones.

As we mark the 10th anniversary of Pulse, we remember those who were lost, reflect on the lives forever changed, and recognize the strength of a community that came together in one of Orlando’s darkest moments.

Created in Community: Portraits of Pulse, on display at the Orlando City Hall – Terrace Gallery, commemorates the 10-yea...
06/11/2026

Created in Community: Portraits of Pulse, on display at the Orlando City Hall – Terrace Gallery, commemorates the 10-year remembrance of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy on June 12, 2016.

On June 10, 1963, Gov. Farris Bryant signed the legislation creating Florida Technological University, designed to educa...
06/10/2026

On June 10, 1963, Gov. Farris Bryant signed the legislation creating Florida Technological University, designed to educate the scientists, engineers, and technicians needed for Florida’s growing space industry.

The new university embraced its Space Age identity with its original mascot, the Citronaut – a half-orange, half-astronaut character reflecting both Central Florida’s citrus roots and the region’s transformation into a center of space and technological innovation.

This 1972 aerial photograph captures the campus during a period of rapid growth and construction. State Road 434 runs along the left side of the image, while Lake Lee and Lake Ebby remain recognizable landmarks today.

FTU opened in 1968 with fewer than 2,000 students enrolled. In 1978, it became the University of Central Florida as its academic mission expanded beyond science and technology. Today, UCF is one of the nation’s largest universities.

Long before theme parks and highways, cattle ranching shaped the history and economy of Osceola County. Florida’s “Crack...
06/08/2026

Long before theme parks and highways, cattle ranching shaped the history and economy of Osceola County. Florida’s “Cracker Cowmen” drove herds across open prairies, tending cattle from camps like this one near Kissimmee. These rugged ranching traditions date back from the 1860’s and helped establish Central Florida as one of the nation's oldest cattle-producing regions. Families such as the Bronsons, Overstreets, and Partins, were pioneers in the cattle industry, and the Florida Cattleman’s Association was formed in Kissimmee in 1934.

Today, the legacy of those early cattlemen and women lives on through Osceola County’s agricultural heritage. This historic cattle camp offers a glimpse into a way of life that helped build Florida long before modern development arrived.

On June 5, 1925, the town of Cocoa Beach was officially established along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Long before it becam...
06/05/2026

On June 5, 1925, the town of Cocoa Beach was officially established along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Long before it became known for surfing, space launches, and “I Dream of Jeannie,” the barrier island community was sparsely settled. Some accounts trace its earliest post-Civil War residents to formerly enslaved African Americans seeking a new start along the Banana River.

Founder Gus Edwards promoted Cocoa Beach as a growing seaside destination, clearing land, selling lots, and offering tours to visitors eager to experience the wide Atlantic shoreline. By the 1920s, automobiles had become a common sight on the beach, which also hosted early racing events along its hard-packed sand.

This postcard captures Cocoa Beach during its formative years, when visitors could drive and park directly on the beach while enjoying the oceanfront views that helped shape the community’s identity.

Address

65 E Central Boulevard
Orlando, FL
32801

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+14078368500

Website

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