Orange County Regional History Center, History museum in downtown Orlando, United States.
The Orange County Regional History Center occupies the 1927 Orange County Courthouse, a five-story neoclassical building designed by Orlando's first registered architect, Murry S. King, and finished by his son James B. King. Its light stone facade carries four large columns inscribed "ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL HISTORY CENTER", with gold letters reading "THE HISTORY CENTER" below. Exhibits on three of the five floors trace Central Florida's past; the top floor once held the jail, the jailor's quarters and an infirmary.
Orlando's first registered architect, Murry S. King, designed the courthouse; construction began in May 1926 and the building was dedicated on October 12, 1927, at a cost of nearly $1 million. After King died in 1926, his son James B. King completed the work. The top floor held the jail, with quarters for the jailor and his wife and an infirmary. It became the history museum in September 2000.
The building itself tells stories about how Orlando developed, with its classical columns and tall rooms showing how important this institution was to the city. Visitors can see how the architecture reflects the importance the community placed on justice and later on preserving their shared past.
The museum is located in downtown Orlando and is easily accessible on foot or a short drive from the city center. Visitors should plan several hours to comfortably explore the exhibits spread across multiple levels.
The top floor once held the county jail, with living quarters for the jailer and his wife plus an infirmary. The Joseph L. Brechner Research Center now occupies the fifth floor, holding the Historical Society of Central Florida's special collections and a library of more than 5,000 volumes, open free by appointment.
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