Orange County Regional History Center

The Orange County Regional History Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and a member of the American Alliance of Museums. The History Center, housed in a beautifully restored historic courthouse in downtown Orlando, showcases the vast collection of the Historical Society of Central Florida, Inc. The museum features four floors of permanent exhibits and also presents nationally important, limited-run exhibitions.

Exhibits

Take a journey through 12,000 years of Central Florida history at the Orange County Regional History Center. Spread across four floors are fascinating exhibits which bring the past to life and inform, educate and amaze visitors with Florida’s rich heritage.

The museum’s permanent exhibits cover everything from Florida’s indigenous people through to the current theme park tourism boom. Discover African-American history in Central Florida and learn about the unique natural environment. Understand the importance that the cattle and citrus groves which blanketed the prairies once played in the economy of the state. Enjoy displays exploring flora and fauna, as well as the famous Winter Park’s sinkhole, which swallowed a whole city block.

This Smithsonian Day join us as we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with a celebration of Latin American arts and culture. We will be joined by several Central Florida artists representing a wide variety of Latin American countries, displaying and selling their artwork. Meet the artists, see live painting demonstrations, and enjoy family-friendly crafts and activities!

Participation in Museum Day is open to any tax-exempt or governmental museum or cultural venue on a voluntary basis. Smithsonian magazine encourages museum visitation, but is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of the participating museums and cultural venues, and does not subsidize museums that participate.