For a history museum, the Museum of Seminole County History is pretty awesome. As soon as I entered…read moreI was greeted by Museum of Seminole County History Coordinator, Bennett LLoyd. He is so friendly and engaging, not to mention a fountain of great historical information. The museum is two buildings. The front building is located in the 1926 old folks home that was created to care for the elderly who didn't have anyone to help them. In 1965 this building was converted into offices for the County Agricultural and the Home Demonstration Agent. They moved out in 1980 and the building sat vacant. In 1982 the County Commission approved the establishment of a Historical Museum that officially opened in this building in 1983. In June of 1999, the Museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum added a new exhibits back building in 2003. The Museum of Seminole County History is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Seminole County and that of Central Florida. You start your visit in the Old Folks Home. There is a gift shop area in the front and you can also make a donation to the museum here. Exhibits throughout the museum include Native American history, Spanish exploration, American Revolution, Civil War, army forts, pioneer life, early transportation, early medical practices, the development of Central Florida towns, a replica of the Martha Gwynn Fox Room, police and fire department, and the Seminole Correctional Facility. The back building has a replica of a log cabin, buggies, early farm tools, and sculptures made by local artists from bald cypress wood from the Senator, the oldest and largest bald cypress tree in the US. The tree was in Big Tree Park until an arson fire in 2012 destroyed it. Some of the wood was salvaged for these sculptures. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this history museum. The comprehensive displays were well thought out and interesting. I was able to pick up pamphlets and printouts that led me to other historical cities and sites. If you have any history questions Bennett Lloyd and the Museum of Seminole County is a great resource that can launch you into a deeper understanding of the people and events that shaped this part of Florida.

Not a huge metropolitan museum but very informative. The day we visited there was a reenactment of…read morean army campground during the Seminole Indian wars. We watched a shooting demonstration, cooking demonstrations, explored their camp, and listened to explanations of life during that period of history. The kids obviously loved the guns the most!

The Eustis Historical Museum, better known by residents of Eustis as the Clifford House, was…read moreoccupied by three generations of the Clifford family dating back to November 1911. Guilford Davis Clifford, a native of Roam, New York, staked his claim in Florida for roughly $125 and made a fortune in the citrus business. The Clifford House is an 18-room 4,500 square-foot neo-classical structure. Inside, you will find beautiful Propecia Florida Cypress and Heart of Pine Floors; immaculately kept mahogany, cedar, and oak furniture; original handmade clothing, light fixtures, cast plumbing fixtures, dining ware; historical documents, photographs, and portraits. One of our favorite parts of the tour was the six fireplaces (made from "kits" at $12-each) featuring beautiful imported Italian tile, oak, mahogany, and tiger-wood mantles. If you want to take a step back in time to see how things used to be in the late 19th early 20th century, plan a day trip to Eustis and stop into the Eustis Historical Museum; it is a must-see! FYI- - Tours are free; however, donations are appreciated. - Masks are currently required & only 4-people per group. - Hours of operation: 1pm-5pm every Friday & Saturday (excluding holidays). - Call or email for questions and to schedule special events: 352-483-0046; ---- Curator@EustisHistoricalMuseum.org

This historic building appropriately enough houses the Oviedo Historical Society. The house dates…read moreback to somewhere around 1890 when it was built by H.H. Lee, Sr. In 1910, he sold the daughter to his daughter, Charlotte, and her husband, T.W. Lawton and they moved the home on rollers to the present site. T.W. Lawton, his wife. Charlotte Lawton, and their three children made this their home and it looks to be a comfortable place to call a home. All in all, it was a cool place to check out and had me thinking about how different Oviedo, Florida must have been back then. I would definitely recommend a visit here.

The Lawton House seems to be best known for its Farmers Market. It is open the first Saturday of…read moreevery month from 8am to 1pm. The Lawton House was built in 1890 where the Oviedo Police Station is located. It was moved in 1910 to its current location. It is owned by the City of Oviedo. Tours are given of the seven bedroom house during the farmers market.

If you're visiting Mount Dora or you live here and don't know the full story of the town. This is…read morea must see for a few dollars entry fee. Mount Dora is referred to as a quaint, quirky town. This explains why we got those names and why "We are Someplace Special".

Absolutely! Here's a fabulous and engaging Yelp review for the Mount Dora Firehouse & Jail Museum:…read more A Hidden Gem in Mount Dora! Stepping into the Mount Dora Firehouse & Jail Museum feels like stepping back in time--and what an incredible trip it is! This little museum is bursting with charm, local history, and personality. Tucked away in a quiet corner of town, it's one of those hidden gems that you almost don't want to tell anyone about--but it's just too good to keep a secret. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm. The volunteer guide was an absolute treasure, full of fascinating stories and local lore. You could tell this place is run with heart and passion. They brought history to life--whether we were peeking into the old jail cells or checking out the vintage fire equipment (some of it dating back over 100 years!). Every nook is packed with Mount Dora's rich past--from the early days of the town's fire department to what it was like spending a night in the town jail (hint: not exactly luxury). It's immersive, quirky, and surprisingly educational in the best way. You don't need to be a history buff to enjoy it--this place makes learning fun and personal. Bonus points: it's super affordable, family-friendly, and a quick walk from all the cute downtown shops and cafés. If you're visiting Mount Dora, do not skip this museum. It's the kind of place that makes you fall in love with small towns all over again. 10/10 would "get arrested" again!

This lace was really cool to visit. It is a small museum that has references to the old time town…read more I believe they change a bit the main topic inside. The day I went, they displayed a big tribute to the Lions Club International. They also have access to a replicate of the train that was used back in the days. It was amazing!!

This is a nice history museum that has a lot of local history on the city of Winter Garden. It's a…read morenice place to stop by and the staff there are very helpful and knowledgeable about the city. There's a railroad car nearby that's cool to explore when it's open.

This is a great little museum tucked away on a "no name of a road in Sanford". What used to be the…read moreonce, 13th Street, It is now been renamed to show the local flavor, now calling it, Goldsboro Blvd. I met the Curator, Miss Francis, for the first time, a year ago at a Christmas Party- and she is an absolute asset to the community. The atmosphere is primitive and folksy. And although there is no charge, you are "Free" to make a donation. he he Across the street is the Welcome Center. It is welcoming but again, very primitive, in a "grandma's" house kinda way. The biggest thing is the education, you will learn about Goldsboro, before it was Sanford. Hopefully, some day they will Incorporate the old Booker Town of Sanford, located on the other side of the Sanford Rail. (Shoot, I remember those days too). The second thing is, White people are truly welcome. No one stares, no scene to be had. They are actually glad you showed, And you will be too. These are not the olden days of Circa 1990, assuredly, it is NOT. Also, they do Charity work for the Community. I missed out on the last phone drive, but to give you an example: it was for a bus pass for a week for citizens of Orlando to get a job in Orlando. This is a grea tplace for kids and teens alike. The is one off putting thing, at least to me, Is the Trayvon Martin scene. I just don't like it when any museum, funded by public, take on Political views. I think it is inappropriate. Sorry for any typo's- he he.

Architect and…read morecarpenter There are skilled carpenters and there are talented architects, seldom is one person both. William Waterhouse was one of these rare and special individuals and built a very cool house that reflected his unique abilities. The Waterhouse family decided to come down from New York to spend some time in the Maitland area of Florida in the late 19th century. Wasn't much down there at that time so Mr Waterhouse decided to build his own house. Since he was an accomplished architect he designed the home in the New York style that he was familiar with and since he also hapened to be a skilled carpenter he built the house himself from the abundant local pine. In 1884 the house was finished and the family moved in and lived, entertained and become prominent in the community. The house is impressive and cool but certainly not extravagant. The Waterhouse family would probably be called upper middle class today, well off but certainly not filthy rich. The house was of course changed over the years but was finally restored to reflect it's original character and even filled with antiques from the period. Tours are available with wonderful docents for only three dollars. You not only get to see the cool house, wonderful period furniture and antiques but also the workshop filled with old tools from the time the Waterhouse family lived here. The docent we had was great, she knew everything there was to know about the house, Waterhouse family and the local area in the time the home was built. Patiently answered our questions and gave us a great tour and history lesson. Since the house is right on the grounds of lovely Lake Lily Park after seeing the house you can spend some time walking around the park. A great way to spend a few hours while in Maitland.

Nice little 30 minute tour of this old house built by people that moved here over 100 years ago…read more The house remains almost the same except for a few details, the tour is nice and explains a lot about the house and the people that lived here. Tour is cheap only $3.00 and worth the money,so if you are near lake Lilly come check out it. Its Only open till 4pm so come early. Good tour if you are bored and around the area.

Since the Zora Neale Hurston museum was closed we went to check out the home of her childhood best…read morefriend Matilda Moseley..my daughter was doing a report on Zora so we took her to Eatonville to see where she lived,grew up and visited. The house itself was small and lots of interesting item from back in the day..lots of pictures of Matilda and Zora around the home..Brian the caretaker of the home gave us a quick tour and information about the history and it being the 2nd oldest home in Eatonville ..overall a fun quick learning experience for her..Thanks

The Moseley House Museum is located in the Historic District of the Town of Eatonville and is the…read moresecond oldest structure in the town. The Moseley House was constructed near the turn of the century and is one of two remaining examples of the pre-1900 wood frame structure typical to the town. Although the property has been renovated, it still retain features distinguishing it as an archetype of the housing found in the town at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. The house is directly associated with the descendants of two first generation Eatonville citizens: Joe Clark, Eatonville's founder and second mayor and Mrs. Matilda Clark Moseley, niece of Joseph E. Clark. Matilda was married to Jim Moseley, the son of Eatonville's fourth mayor, Sam Moseley. Miz Matilda, or "Tillie" as she was affectionately called, was Zora Neale Hurston's best childhood girl friend. Whenever Zora returned to Eatonville, she was a frequent visitor at the Moseley home. Founder Joseph E. Clark and writer, folklorist, anthropologist, Zora Neale Hurston are the most celebrated citizens of Eatonville. We were not able to enter the house but was able to take a good look at it from the outside.