Osceola History

Osceola History Explore life in early Florida at Osceola County's Welcome Center & History Museum and Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek. Free Admission. Kissimmee FL 34746
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The Osceola County Historical Society was founded in 1949 by a small group of volunteers with a passion to preserve the history of Osceola County. Since then, the organization has grown tremendously with two locations. Osceola County Welcome Center & History Museum features six exhibits showcasing the historical and natural environment in Osceola County. Each exhibit features an interactive displa

y and scavenger hunt for kids. Osceola County Welcome Center & History Museum
4155 W. Vine Street
Kissimmee, FL 34741

Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek tells the story of Osceola County's earliest settlers. The village features late-19th century structures that depict life when citrus was king, Crackers ruled the scrub, and everyone lived simply off the land and their ingenuity. Pioneer Village
2491 Babb Rd.

06/19/2026

In case you missed it! 📺

Earlier this week, our Curator, Alex, was featured on Good Day Orlando discussing the fascinating history of the Monument of States. Learn how this unique landmark came to be and why it continues to capture the attention of visitors from around the world.

Watch the segment below!

Experience Kissimmee, Florida

Today we celebrate , a federal holiday that commemorates a specific date, June 19th, 1865, the day when Union troops ar...
06/19/2026

Today we celebrate , a federal holiday that commemorates a specific date, June 19th, 1865, the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people were free.

Pictured here is an article published in the Orlando Sentinel on December 26, 1999, by Rick Brunson, which explores the experiences of enslaved people in Florida and serves as a reminder of an important part of our state's history.

Happy ! 🐟Courtesy of the David Snedeker Collection, pictured here are Mr. and Mrs. L.S. Sponsler showing off their catc...
06/19/2026

Happy ! 🐟

Courtesy of the David Snedeker Collection, pictured here are Mr. and Mrs. L.S. Sponsler showing off their catches, circa 1910s. Fishing has been a cherished pastime in Osceola County for generations!

Our latest temporary exhibit, “Sounds of Osceola”, is NOW open at the Welcome Center & History Museum! Stop in anytime d...
06/17/2026

Our latest temporary exhibit, “Sounds of Osceola”, is NOW open at the Welcome Center & History Museum!

Stop in anytime daily between 10am - 4pm and learn about the history of music in Osceola County!

📍4155 W Vine St, Kissimmee, FL 34741
🎟️FREE admission

East Tohopekaliga Lake Pavilion, St. Cloud, FL
06/16/2026

East Tohopekaliga Lake Pavilion, St. Cloud, FL

Pictured here is Jo Berta Bryan Weaver of Kissimmee, who was named “Florida Mother of the Year” in 1959 at the age of 67...
06/15/2026

Pictured here is Jo Berta Bryan Weaver of Kissimmee, who was named “Florida Mother of the Year” in 1959 at the age of 67. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N.C. Bryan, one of Kissimmee’s pioneer families. A talented singer and pianist, she taught private pupils and gave lessons to Miss. Mary's third and Mrs. Pearlie Bryan's sixth-grade classes. She also led church choirs and sang at dozens of funerals at the request of families. She was the mother of three daughters and had two granddaughters, Cathy (left) and Sally Richardson, and seven grandsons.

On this day in history, in 1973, the Kissimmee Gazette recognized two local veterans for their military service, includi...
06/14/2026

On this day in history, in 1973, the Kissimmee Gazette recognized two local veterans for their military service, including Russell Anderson, former President of the Osceola County Historical Society.

Looking for FREE, air-conditioned fun this summer?Visit the Welcome Center & History Museum and discover the history and...
06/13/2026

Looking for FREE, air-conditioned fun this summer?

Visit the Welcome Center & History Museum and discover the history and natural beauty of Osceola County. Explore exhibits featuring the area's diverse habitats, including swamplands, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and lakefront ecosystems.

And don't forget to explore our rotating exhibit, "Sounds of Osceola," featuring artifacts highlighting the history of music in the county.

Open daily from 10 AM – 4 PM. Admission is always free!

From our collection: vintage matchbooks advertising "Charcoal Broiled Steaks" at Frazer's Restaurant. Frazer's Restauran...
06/12/2026

From our collection: vintage matchbooks advertising "Charcoal Broiled Steaks" at Frazer's Restaurant. Frazer's Restaurant was a historical dining spot and steakhouse located in the Tropical Hotel in downtown Kissimmee, FL, during the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the establishment is no longer in operation and is remembered primarily as a piece of local history, often memorialized in Vintage Matchbooks like these gifted by Ms. Rita Lurie in 1977.

From our archives: this image from 1947 features Mr. & Mrs. H.A. Smith, Jr. at the First Presbyterian ChurchIn the backg...
06/11/2026

From our archives: this image from 1947 features Mr. & Mrs. H.A. Smith, Jr. at the First Presbyterian Church

In the background (left to right): Dr. Robert Leslie Barber and Rev. Mahlon H. Wolfe.

Address

4155 W Vine Street
Kissimmee, FL
34746

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+14073968644

Website

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