The building originally served as the Orange County Courthouse from 1927 until 1997.
The courthouse features an original 1920s-era courtroom restored to its period appearance.
The museum holds a collection of over 30,000 artifacts related to Central Florida heritage.
The structure is built in the Mediterranean Revival architectural style.
The history center incorporates a preserved 'hanging' room, reflecting the building's former legal history.
The Orange County Regional History Center is housed in the 1927 historic Orange County Courthouse, a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum spans four floors of permanent and temporary exhibitions detailing 12,000 years of Central Florida history. Displays cover regional development including the influence of the citrus industry, the rise of the theme park era, and the region's cattle ranching roots. The building itself serves as a centerpiece of local architectural preservation in downtown Orlando. Visitors can explore native cultures, pioneer life, and the impact of the space industry on the surrounding area. The center functions as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
The grand central staircase and the restored historic courtroom on the upper floor.
Check the official website for rotating temporary exhibits before visiting.
Allow extra time to visit the nearby historic courtyard and surrounding downtown plaza.
Use the interactive touch-screen kiosks found throughout the galleries for deeper primary source documents.
Do not mistake the modern surrounding skyscrapers for the historic courthouse building; look for the distinct 1920s architecture.
Open daily, though occasionally closed for private events or major public holidays.
Business casual dress is appropriate; refrain from using flash photography in galleries with light-sensitive artifacts.
