The Winter Park History Museum seeks to research and preserve the abundant, history of Winter Park and its surrounding area, and tell our town's story through free educational exhibits, lecture series and outreach programs.
Board Member of the Month
We’re proud to spotlight John Miller, President of the Winter Park History Museum Board of Directors and a dedicated member since 2020.
“I joined the board because I am a huge fan of Winter Park. I first moved to Winter Park in 1969 and never left. In addition to my love for this charming city, I have a deep interest in history, especially the stories of the past and how they shaped the unique character of Winter Park. The role of our board members is to guide the Winter Park History Museum in its mission to Collect, Preserve and Exhibit the rich history of Winter Park. We serve as stewards of the museum`s purpose, ensuring transparency and accountability.”
Thank you, John, for your leadership, passion and dedication to preserving the stories that shape our community.
Favorite Five Friday: The Alabama
With stunning views of Lake Maitland, the Alabama Hotel opened its elegant doors in 1922 and quickly became one of Winter Park’s most luxurious landmarks! The 80-room resort hotel was a true winter retreat for snowbirds in search of sunshine. Guests enjoyed top-tier amenities for the time: “Every room with bath, telephone, steam heat, overlooks spacious private park or lake. Large lobby, recreation rooms, elevator, private garage, gift shop, beauty salon, dock and boats. Orchestra and other amusements.”
From 1935 to 1960, the Alabama thrived under the ownership of E.J. LaChance, Harry Schenck, and later Noella LaChance Schenck, earning a reputation for high-end hospitality and excellent cuisine. Its guest list included literary greats Margaret Mitchell and Thornton Wilder, and conductor Leopold Stokowski.
Fun Fact: During the Great Depression, the Alabama opened a night club to bring levity and enjoyment during dark days.
Although the Alabama eventually closed its doors as a hotel, its historic charm lives on today. From 1980-1981, the building was converted into a 19–unit luxury condominium development.
May is Historic Preservation Month, and we will spotlight a significant Winter Park historic building every Friday. Stay tuned for next week’s feature!
#Favorite5 #WinterParkFL #NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces #CentralFloridaCulturalHeritage #AIAOrlandoHRC #OrlandoFoundationforArchitecture #BeInspired #HistoricPreservationMonth
Everywhere you look… there’s history! Meet the mighty team behind the Winter Park History Museum – making the past a blast!
#90sSitcom #FullHouse #WinterParkHistory
Favorite Five Friday: Winter Park Farmers’ Market Building
Built in 1927, this charming brick building started out as a freight depot for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, reinforcing Winter Park as a central shipping point for citrus.
In 1978, it almost became a parking lot—until the community rallied to turn it into a vibrant farmers’ market. The market officially opened in 1979 and—on its first day—drew 10,000 visitors who came to buy produce and plants from 12 vendors! The farmers’ market quickly became part of the community’s routine and turned into a weekly social function for many residents. Did you know that you can still find the original scale for weighing produce in the building today?
With its original wood sliding doors and its rustic brick walls, the Farmers’ Market building has become a staple in the Winter Park community. Today, it serves as a popular event venue, and it has been home to the Winter Park History Museum’s exhibits since 1995. Join us in celebrating this local gem and the power of historic preservation!
May is Historic Preservation Month, and we will spotlight a significant Winter Park historic building every Friday. Stay tuned for next week’s feature!
#Favorite5 #WinterParkFL #NationalRegisterOfHistoricPlaces #CentralFloridaCulturalHeritage #AIAOrlandoHRC #OrlandoFoundationforArchitecture #BeInspired #HistoricPreservationMonth
Greetings from Winter Park! Our “Hello Sunshine – Selling Florida through the Art of Postcards” exhibit is still open through Saturday, April 26!
Explore hundreds of vintage postcards that bring Winter Park’s past to life and tell the story of how Florida became a popular vacation destination. From detailed scenes of early Winter Park to captivating designs that marketed the sunshine dream, this exhibit is a nostalgic journey through time. Stunning wall murals and immersive projected images weave history together—one postcard at a time.
We look forward to seeing you!
Museum Hours
Fri 10–4 | Sat 10–2
Location
200 W New England Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
#WinterParkFlorida #WinterPark #WinterParkHistory #FloridaHistory #BeInspired
In honor of National Volunteer Week, we’re celebrating the heart of the Winter Park History Museum — our incredible docents! These dedicated volunteers bring our exhibits to life, sharing their passion for history and ensuring every visitor has an unforgettable experience. Swing by our current exhibit and say hello to one of our wonderful docents!
Would you like to join our docent team? We’re currently welcoming new volunteers! If you love history and can give just 3 hours a week, we’d love to hear from you. Call or email us for more details at 407-647-2330 or museum@wphistory.org.
Step back in time and experience the charm of early Winter Park! Our current exhibit, Hello Sunshine - Selling Florida through the Art of Postcards, tells the story of how Winter Park embraced art in its earliest days—laying the foundation for the vibrant community we know today. Featuring beautifully nostalgic postcards, spotlighting Central Florida favorites and celebrating 130 years of Rollins baseball, this exhibit is a must-see for history and art lovers alike.
The exhibit is still open until April 26!
Museum Hours
Tues–Fri 10–4 | Sat 10–2
Location
200 W New England Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
We traveled back in time during the “Strolling Through Time: A Park Avenue Highlights Tour”! Jeff Briggs, City of Winter Park Planning Director Emeritus, stepped into the role of Loring Chase, co-founder of Winter Park, to guide us through three fascinating walking tours that brought the history of Winter Park to life. Each tour ended with a delightful wine and cheese reception at the historic Kummer-Kilbourne House, thanks to Allan Keen.
Special thanks to our co-host, Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum, and to Commerce Bank & Trust for sponsoring the event!
Step up to the plate, Rollins alumni! ⚾🎉
Yesterday was opening day around the country and at the Winter Park History Museum celebrating 130 years of Rollins baseball for Alumni Weekend! Come check out the collaborative pop-up exhibit! Explore vintage memorabilia, audio recordings and historic images that showcases the legacy of Tars baseball.
Thanks to our teammates- @rollinsalumni @rollinscollegearchives @wprk, @rollins_baseball @rollinssports and Drip Communications who brought us the star player of the exhibit, Julio Lopez from 1898 team. Thank you to our graphic designer @will.setzer who hits it out of the park every time.
Hours: 10-4 Tuesday-Fri and Saturday 10-2.
#WPhistory #RollinsCollege #WinterPark #wpinspires #rollinsalumni
What a weekend!! The Winter Park History Museum had so much fun participating in Weekend of the Arts! 🎭🎶
Alongside 22 incredible arts and culture nonprofits, we celebrated creativity, community, and history through music, art projects, and an unforgettable atmosphere. The energy was amazing, and we loved connecting with so many art enthusiasts and friends!
A huge thank you to our sponsors, Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, @adventhealth, and @winterparkfla, for making this event possible. We can’t wait to see this tradition grow!
We had such a great time listening to Ken Breslauer talking about all things Florida souvenirs! In case you missed it, you can get your fill of Florida Kitsch at the Floridania Fest - The Florida Memorabilia Show in Sarasota April 11-12. Stop by the WPHM to see the newest additions to the exhibit: Rollins Architecture and central Florida! #historicwinterpark #WPinspires #historicwp #localhistory #floridahistory #wphistorymuseum
Souvenirs are an essential part of Florida tourism. Since the late 19th century, souvenirs depicting Florida scenes have been purchased by travelers visiting the Sunshine State.
Author and collector Ken Breslauer will take you on a tour of Florida souvenirs, focusing on the 1930-1970 era before the opening of Walt Disney World.
From alligator bags to felt pennants, orange blossom perfume to kitschy flamingos, these souvenirs will bring back memories of Florida vacations before interstate highways and corporate theme parks. RSVP at museum@wphistory.org or call our office 407-647-2330. Hope to see you there!
We are thrilled to share that the Winter Park Historical Association was honored last night by Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs as one of five new grantees in their program, which supports over 40 incredible arts and cultural organizations with cultural tourism grants funded by the Tourism Development Tax. It was a wonderful evening celebrating alongside @ocfl officials, staff, and fellow award recipients. We are deeply grateful for this grant recognition and excited to continue preserving and sharing Winter Park’s rich history with all that visit our community! Thanks @vickilandonarts and your team for the celebratory event!
History is a verb! First WPHM board meeting of the year. We are excited to welcome two new outstanding board members - Theresa Swanson and Olivia Demarco. Great things coming this year! Stay tuned!
We just recieved our latest edition of Winter Park Magazine and found a great article about the postcards in our Hello Sunshine exhibit! Thank you for this fabulous feature! #wphistorymuseum #historicwinterpark #WPinspires
