Winter Park Florida

The city of Winter Park in Orange County, situated north of Orlando, was once considered a winter resort. Today, Rollins College and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of Natural Art are part of the art and culture-filled town of Winter Park.

Winter Park, too is a destination for nature lovers. You’ll find more than 70 parks in Winter Park, all home to various events, festivities throughout the year and accessible to anyone looking for a place to sit in the shade and enjoy a wonderful afternoon in Central Florida.

There are not only enough activities to keep you and your family content within the city limits of the Winter Park, but all the attractions of Orlando are just minutes away. visitflorida.com – Winter Park

History

Winter Park began when David Mizell, Jr. purchased an eight-acre plot in 1858. He called Lakeview, the area. In 1881, with Oliver Chapman, Loring Chase bought 600 acres of land and the town of Winter Park was plotted by late summer. A railroad was convinced to extend its line, then under development, to the new town after considerable effort. The railroad depot was built the following year, 1882, and was distinguished as the first building in the city. At the corner of what is now Park Avenue and Morse Boulevard, Chase and Chapman built a store that housed the first commercial establishment, the post office and the assembly room. Still, this building stands.

The town was established in 1887 as a winter resort for rich and powerful northerners seeking safety from the harsh winters and a quiet place to live. In 1870, Lakeview was renamed Osceola, and Chase and Chapman included it in the area renamed Winter Park in 1881. The two men were engaged in an informal debate and decided that in the winter they wanted the name to be something about a park, so the Winter Park name.

A message to the US was the first telegraphic correspondence from Winter Park. On New Year’s Day in 1883, President Chester A. Arthur. The first school was inaugurated in the same month. The Winter Park Public Library was established in 1885, and the first municipal election was held in 1886. The town was incorporated by 102 voters in the following two years and the Winter Park Improvement Association was established, which continued to become the Chamber of Commerce over the years.

By 1886, the surrounding land was sold for $1.25 per acre and many citrus groves were cultivated, totalling 850 acres. In Winter Park, the world famous “Temple” orange was discovered and developed in the surrounding groves. On private property within the city, the original tree still stands. By 1905, the city’s population was 461.

In the early years, as now the chief economic asset was amusing winter visitors. For many years, the largest hotel in the state, The Seminole, flourished in Winter Park. The early settlers and visitors were strongly influenced by the winter climate, beautiful forests, swales and fertile soil, but the numerous lakes were the greatest attraction to Central Florida then as now.

In Winter Park, many societal advantages have evolved throughout the years. In 1885, Rollins College was founded as the first institution of higher learning in the state by a committee of Congregational ministers. The globally known Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, the Bach Festival, a strong drama community with many fine lectures each year, as well as an almost continuous round of recitals, exhibitions and other cultural and art manifestations, have resulted in a tradition of academic excellence and high regard for the arts in all forms. In July 1995, the expanded Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which houses the world’s most comprehensive Tiffany art collection, opened. Winter Park has drawn a broad range of respected visitors and residents to its surroundings as a result of these cultural activities. winterpark.org – Winter Park

Parks and Attractions

Winter Park is as beautiful as it is unique, described by some as a small New England village with a European flavor with quaint stores and scrumptious restaurants. In addition to its city-and-gown relationship with Rollins College, Florida’s oldest private college, the city has established important partnerships between businesses, schools, cultural organizations, civic groups, and neighborhood associations in the region.

Not only is Winter Park renowned for its abundance of upscale shopping and unique restaurants, but also for its historic district of Hannibal Square, Winter Park Village and national schools, including Winter Park High School, Rollins College and Valencia Community College. Winter Park is a Mecca for those interested in world-class art and rich cultural experiences, with four museums, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College, Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens and Winter Park Historical Museum.

Taking a leisurely boat ride on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, situated at the east end of Morse Boulevard, is one of the best ways to get to know the city. This one-hour, open-air cruise will give you breathtaking views of the beautiful homes of our city and the expansive chain of lakes as you listen to Winter Park’s narrated history. You can also take a strolling tour of the city by grabbing a brochure at the Winter Park Historical Museum on the north end of the award-winning Winter Park Farmers’ Market at the corner of New York and New England avenues.

The Downtown Winter Park Historic District, the official list of the most historic areas worthy of preservation in the nation, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the areas of early settlement, architecture, community planning, commerce and transport, the district, which runs along Park Avenue, was considered important. The National Register of Historical Places also lists eight buildings in Winter Park, including the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, All Saints Episcopal Church, Annie Russell Theatre, Comstock-Harris House, Edward Hill Brewer House, The Palms, Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College, Winter Park Country Clubhouse, and Winter Park Women’s Club.

The main parks include Central Park, Mead Botanical Garden, Kraft Azalea Gardens, Ward Memorial Park, Lake Baldwin Park, Shady Park, and Martin Luther King, Jr., among the 75 lovely large and small parks in the city. Uh, Park. Be sure to make plans during the third weekend in March to attend the nationally recognized Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival during the second weekend in October, the Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration, and many other events sponsored by the community and the city that are held throughout the year. cityofwinterpark.org – Winter Park