Orange County Regional History Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1942 |
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| Location | 65 East Central Boulevard Orlando, Florida |
| Type | History museum |
The Orange County Regional History Center is a cool history museum in downtown Orlando, Florida. It's a private, non-profit place, which means it's not run by the government and uses its money to keep the museum going. This amazing five-story museum is inside the old Orange County Courthouse. Here, you can explore the history of the local area, going back as far as 2,000 years!
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Discovering Orange County's Past
The History Center is a special place where you can learn all about the history of Orange County and Central Florida. It's located in a very old building that used to be a courthouse.
The Courthouse Building's Journey
In 1892, the city of Orlando built its first red-brick courthouse. Later, in 1927, a new, grander building was added. This new building is where the History Center is today! It became the main courthouse for many years.
When the old red-brick courthouse was taken down in 1957, people wanted to make sure history wasn't forgotten. So, they created a group to keep history alive. In 1976, a smaller museum called the Orange County Historical Museum opened. This was the start of what would become the History Center.
The 1927 courthouse building was designed by Murry S. King, a famous architect from Orlando. It cost almost $1 million to build, which was a lot of money back then! Construction started in 1926, and the building was finished in 1927. The top floor even used to be a jail!
In 1995, Orange County built a brand new, tall courthouse. Community leaders then decided that the old 1927 courthouse would be perfect for a bigger, regional history museum. So, in September 2000, the Orange County Regional History Center officially opened its doors!
The Joseph L. Brechner Research Center
The History Center has a special library and archives called the Joseph L. Brechner Research Center. This center is on the fifth floor. It's free for everyone to use, but you need to make an appointment first.
This research center was created thanks to a generous gift from Marion Brody Brechner. She wanted to honor her husband, Joseph L. Brechner, who was a journalist. He believed strongly in freedom of information.
The Brechner Research Center holds many special collections from the Historical Society of Central Florida. It has a research library and archives with more than 5,000 books and documents. It's a great place to dig deeper into local history!
Exploring the Exhibits
The History Center has many different exhibits for you to explore. Some exhibits are always there, showing off the permanent collections. Others are traveling exhibits that visit for a short time.
The museum's collections are spread out over three of the five floors. On the first floor, you'll find the main entrance and a gift shop. The Joseph L. Brechner Research Center and Library are located on the fifth floor.
Fun Educational Programs
The History Center offers exciting programs for students and families.
- History on the Go: This free program visits schools in Orange County. It focuses on Central Florida history through plays and puppet shows. Teachers also get materials to use in their classrooms.
- Home School Days: These special days are just for home-schooled students and their families. It's a great way to learn history together.
- School Break Camps: The History Center offers camps when school is out.
- Holiday Break Camp: This is a four-day program during winter break for kids aged 6 to 10.
- Summer Camp: This is a nine-week program during the summer for kids entering Grades 1-9.
