Florida

The Sporking Life

Orange County Regional History Museum




Orange County Regional History Center




65 E Central Blvd
Orlando, FL 32801




AT A GLANCE:  Orlando County Regional History Center

Date of Visit:
Saturday, March 4, 2017

Parking
On street or in the parking structure behind the museum’s building.

Amount of time needed to peruse exhibits:
60 – 90 minutes

Amount of time needed for gift shop
30 minutes.  If a booklover, 60 minutes.

The “must have” souvenir
A colorful crate label.  There are dozens to choose from.

Online shopping
A page on the museum’s website states that they have shopping, yet online shopping is not available.

Kid friendly shopping
Definitely

Kid friendly
Yes  

Dress code
Casual shorts, t-shirts and sandals are perfectly acceptable.

Be sure to…..
See Ted Bundy’s signature carved into a table in the courthouse exhibit.

Nearby/other establishments to visit
The drive to the Orlando Science Center is 18 minutes / 3 miles to the north.  I don’t recommend combining the Science Center with another stop, as it can be an exhausting visit.


Visiting the Orange County History Center and the Mennello Museum of Folk Art makes for an easy and enjoyable day with more than enough time for lunch.  The Mennello Museum shares a parking lot with the Orlando Science Center.


If still hungry for shopping, visit the gift shop at the Orlando Museum of the Arts.  There is no admission to visit the gift shop, which is an easy walk across a side street from the Science Center and Mennello Museum.


The Leu Gardens are 12 minutes / 3.5 miles northeast.  I recommend devoting an entire day to visiting the Leu Gardens.  The Florida sun can be exhausting, making it tough to do anything else.


Walkability, general downtown area / amount of traffic
Several restaurants for lunch are located a block away.  Wear comfortable shoes.

Safety, in terms of type and number of crimes committed in general area
Stow your valuables out of sight and lock your car.   Keep an awareness of your surroundings. 


The mission statement of the Orlando County Regional History Center is taken from their website and is as follows:
“… to honor the past, explore the present, and shape the future through permanent and traveling exhibits, wide-ranging programs, and limited-run exhibitions from other prestigious institutions…”

Note:  the restrooms are straight ahead, past the gift shop and past the staircase, next to the two taxidermied polar bears.
I love how the Orange County Regional History Center (further referenced as the Museum) is open and airy, not at all one of those dusty and dark museums.  The Museum isn’t hiding or ignoring its heritage, but chooses to display it in an interesting and interactive way.  The gift shop is called the Emporium and it, too, is open and airy being situated in a large space behind the ticket counter. 


I have found that many museums rely too much on exceedingly worded placards posted near a display to give its history and meaning.  I get tired of having to read so much text to understand what I’m viewing.  The Museum does a magnificent job of eliminating these annoying placards for its displays.  Information needed to understand and enjoy the exhibits is posted at the entrance to that exhibit.  The displays inside carry a short explanation of one- or two-worded sentences, with many interactive displays that are great for children.  They push a button to light the appropriate sections.  I have a confession.  I always push each button, one at a time, to make sure the display is working properly.  Why?  Because I can.


Don’t be intimidated by the Museum’s four levels of exhibits.  Each level houses just two exhibits that are spacious and interesting.  The first thing I learned is that the native Indians called the Seminoles were not really one of the first tribes.  A Seminole refers to members of the Creek tribes from either Georgia or Mississippi that migrated to Florida.  There’s more.  These migrants “mingled” with runaway slaves in Florida, and the resulting offspring were dubbed “Seminole,” in reference for the Spanish word for run-away.  I tried to verify this, but my search led me to the word the Spanish word “huir” alluding to “run away.”  I’m sure that the Spanish language changed over the past 150 years, and “Seminole” probably changed throughout these years. 

In learning about the Seminoles, it’s necessary to understand why runaway slaves exited in the U.S.  Wander over to the exhibit dealing with slavery to find the answer.  The Museum showcases some of the many accomplishments that arose from former / runaway slaves, highlighting the lives of Booker T. Washington, an educator and George Washington Carver who was botanist, chemist and inventor. 


Fairly recent African American history is reflected by the display of art painted by the Highwaymen.  Remember them?  Here’s a link to my review of the A.E. Backus Museum, where we first learned about this group of mid-20th artists: http://www.meetmeinthegiftshop.com/p/ae-backus-museum-and-gallery.html


We have art and Seminoles, but there are still a few more things that define Florida’s unique brand (personality).  The cattle and citrus industry, for example, are one of those things.  I enjoyed this exhibit showcasing the numerous crate labels of the orange growers that used to be in Florida.  This is an example of early branding, because the orange processors relied on these vibrant labels to identify the orchard supplying the fruit, and not by a name scratched on the crate.  They are an amazing and vivid collection of color and symbols.  Some are handsome enough to warrant a spot at home or office, or to give as a distinctive gift.  When shopping in the Emporium, please take the opportunity to practice the “Meet Me in the Gift Shop” rule of gift giving:  for every purchase meant as a gift, a likewise numbers of items must be purchased for personal use.  This selfless act helps to balance the universe.


The rise of tourism began after a killing freeze in 1895 destroyed most of the orange orchards.  Hotels were built near the train station for the wealthy folks who began to take the train to Florida to escape the cold and ice of a northern winter.  Two things happened in the next 20 years to blow the door of off Florida tourism.  First, the Dixie Highway was completed in 1915.  As part of the National Auto Trail System, it was a direct route from Midwestern and northern states to the sunny south.  Hand-in-hand with the Dixie Highway was the creation of the new middle class citizen, containing many of the auto workers whose pay scale made it possible to have the time and the money to buy a Model T car and roam further than they could before.  The wanted to drive their automobiles to previously unimaginable places, such as sunny Florida, and the Dixie Highway would take them there.  These early tourists discovered that beside a vehicle and a highway, they would need overnight lodging.  The existing hotels, near the train stations, had been built for the wealthy or privileged visitors, and were out of reach of the newly created middle class auto worker.  Solution?  Sleep in the vehicle, which couldn’t have been comfortable.  Today’s travel trailers owe their existence to the need of the early 20th century tourist.  


With the number of tourists increasing yearly, it was a natural transition to building places for them to go.  No conversation of Florida is complete with acknowledging the major theme parks or “the attractions” as the locals call them.  Early photos of Walt Disney and Disney World are displayed to offer an insider’s view of the evolution of the massive theme park. 


The Museum used to be the site of the old Orange County regional courthouse, and was built in the late 1920s.  It’s one of those beautiful and sturdy buildings, which is apparent from the outside.  The gorgeous hand railings inside are evidence of the dedicated care it’s received over the many years.  Remember how I mentioned earlier that the Museum has nothing to hide?  Amble over to the courthouse exhibit.  This was another exhibit which warrants a visit.  I learned that the original floors in this courtroom were constructed from cork, so squeaky shoes of pacing lawyers wouldn’t disrupt the trials.  Jury boxes used to be positioned directly across from the witness stand, because the jury wanted a face-to-face interaction.  Look at the scratches on the front bench to see scuff marks made from prisoners with their hands handcuffed behind their back.  The most fascinating item to me was the name carved on the table used by defense lawyers:  Ted Bundy.  Bundy was a serial killer in the 1970s that was tried in this courthouse before it became a museum.  It was effortless to imagine myself in the midst of an old-fashioned who-dun-it. 


After visiting all of the exhibits, I’m ready to shop.  I caught a glance at the gift shop while buying an admission ticket.  It looked good, and it didn’t disappoint.  Enter the gift shop to the left of the ticket counter.  To the left is a cozy area where visitors can sit and relax or read newly purchased books.  In keeping in character, a mural of early day workers from an orange processing plant graces the back wall.


But, does it have refrigerator magnets, shot glasses, and branded wearables.  Yes and no.  The Emporium has several design options for refrigerator magnets, some feature the Museum and others highlight the State of Florida.  I didn’t see shot glasses, but I did find wonderfully branded coffee cups and travel mugs.  These can be a stand-in if no shot glasses are for sale.  Sadly, there were no branded wearables.  However, the Emporium is superb in selling items that pertain to its exhibits.  For instance, I saw a display associated with souvenirs of what tourists in the early 1900s would collect:  decorated plates, spoon rests and mermaid figurines corresponding nicely with the early tourism exhibit.


Children are able to shop for themselves here; with grab bag items included branded pencils, rocks (“Break your own Geode”), sea shells, small resin animal toys and Dino Poop.  I’m not making that last part up.


The jewelry selection, limited as it is, was just ok.  Head to the glass counter where the good stuff is displayed and browse a smattering of necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.  The jewelry here is nicer than the pedestrian jewelry found near the children’s section, but not quite as nice as to be statement pieces.


My favorite things to shop for at gift shops are books, jewelry and scarves.  I loved this gift shop because of the number of book titles, and each title dealt with some aspect of Florida’s heritage.  It took me at least 45 minutes to browse the variety of books.  Take time in this gift shop, and look at everything once or twice.  The “must have” souvenir is a reproduction of the bright orange crate labels.  Acceptable substitute are the smaller coasters displayed directly beneath the crate labels.


I believe it’s time for lunch.  Exit the front door of the Museum and go to the right.  An outdoor exhibit of a tiny house, sponsored by the plastic industry, is available for inspection.  The docents tried to coax me inside, but I held my ground.  I saw absolutely no point in getting excited over a living area with only a small bit of closet space.  The lack of space for my books and jewelry was also disappointing.  Leave the tiny house and keep to the right and cross Heritage Square, the public area in front of the Museum.  There’s a unique photo opportunity with the alligator sculpture that is certain to bring back fond memories of this day in Orlando.  After making friends and posing with the alligator, turn right at the first side street.   


All of the places here are suitable for lunch, and we selected Wall Street Cantina.  Sit outside to eat, weather permitting.  The artsy, creative vibe from the Museum permeates the air here, and the restaurants combine art trends in this delightful one block area located so close to the Museum.  It’s fun to reflect on Florida’s heritage / history while becoming part of the current artsy culture.  My recommendation is to order an adult beverage while looking at the menu and deciding what to order.  There’s no one rushing lunch customers out the door, so relish the down time.  The Tex Mex is delightful.  I found the Wall Street Cantina perfect for people watching.  There are both locals and tourists milling about, and sometimes it’s easy to tell them apart.  On a cool day with highs in the mid to upper 70s the tourists will be wearing shorts, sandals and t-shirts.  Locals, on the other hand, will be wearing long pants, sweaters, jackets, and socks and shoes because it feels cold to them.



Now, you’ll have to excuse me, because I want to flip through my book from the Museum.  I’m especially interested in the cook book from Florida’s pioneer settlers, and am curious as to how much it has in common with the Tex Mex food that I’m eating.  First, I need to button up my sweater.  It’s 76 degrees and I’m cold.




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A Primer on Florida Oranges
People know their apples in the Midwest and northern states of the U.S.  It’s not possible to send someone to the store “for apples” without answering basic questions:  are they for baking or eating, tart or sweet, green red or yellow skin?  This depth of fruit knowledge can be applied to Floridians and their oranges.  Being from the Midwest, I thought that an orange was just an orange.  Not quite.  There are temple, honey bell, navels, valencias oranges, and tangelos.  Much depends on the month or time of year.  Navel oranges are usually the first to bear fruit, beginning around late October.  They are wonderful thick skinned oranges that my family used to purchase at Christmastime.  The next oranges to ripen are tangelos in November, then sweet honey bells in early January, temples in late January, with thin-peeled valencias closing the orange season in the summer.  Grapefruit are continuously from October through June. 
In addition to the species, oranges are sorted by standardized industry sizes which are measured by average orange diameter size.  Sizing is based on haw many of that specific orange can fit into a 38 – 40 pound crate.  For example, a size 40 orange fits 40 oranges in a crate.  Tangelos tend to have the widest gap in sizes because they range from a size 36 to a size 210.  Again, this is based strictly on size.

There’s one more category, after type and size are selected:  grade.  A grade of “fancy” or “Choice” refers to the outward appearance of the orange.  If the same species, the oranges will taste the same, but a “Fancy” orange refers to a better looking one.

If a hankering for oranges sets in, visit this link to find one that will ship.  http://abfla.com/1tocf/agriculture/orangegrowers.html 
Personally, I recommend either Harvey’s http://www.harveysgroves.com/ located here in Melbourne, or Hale’s http://www.halegroves.com/located 30 minutes south of Melbourne. 

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