Summer time in Florida is the perfect opportunity to explore the activities and attractions Osceola County has to offer! Offering family-friendly adventures, there are plenty of activities to ensure everyone has fun! Check out some of our favorite places to visit with our family and friends: 

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, Shingle Creek Regional Park, The Pioneer Village, Tourism, Shingle Creek, History, Summer Activities, Osceola County History, KUA, Pioneer Village, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, Airboats, Gatorland, Osceola County Historical Society, Osceola County, Toho Water Authority, Totally Tots! Temporary Exhibit, Kissimmee, The Paddling Center, Old Town, Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, Experience Kissimmee, Steffee Landing, Big John's BBQ, Cici's Pizza, United Arts of Central Florida

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Osceola County Historical Society opened a new temporary exhibit, Fashion Rewind. This exhibit showcases women’s clothing from OCHS’s textile collection featuring styles from the early 1900s to the 1940s.

Topics: Oscoela County Historical Society, Fashion Rewind Temporary Exhibit, Fashion

Fashion seems to be a revolving door. A particular “fad” may be popular for a time, but will surely be replaced by another. However, that fad will probably find its way back into popularity a few decades later. One aspect that never seems to go out of style, is the attention to detail. Adding specific elements to a garment can give it an extra flair, or make a relatively bland piece look extraordinary.

Topics: Artifact Spotlight, History, Osceola County Welcome Center and HIstory Museum, Free Admission, Osceola County Historical Society, Fashion Rewind Opening Reception, Fashion Rewind Temporary Exhibit, Fashion

The Osceola County Historical Society will be celebrating what life was like in early Florida by hosting the 26th Annual Pioneer Day. This is always a fun time for the community to come out and enjoy the Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek for free, and experience historical re-enactments and examples of daily life for pioneers. What makes this year’s event even more exciting is OCHS has added another replica building, the General Store, and we will be celebrating its grand opening at 10:30AM, November 11th during the 26th Annual Pioneer Day event! 

Topics: Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, Osceola County Historical Society, 1800s Replica General Store, 26th Annual Pioneer Day

 Automobile ownership was on the rise in the early 1900’s and travel became increasingly accessible. Americans from different economic positions were vacationing more and more. The need for affordable places to stay while traveling increased. A new kind of accommodation gained popularity-the house trailer. The definition of these mobile homes varied, but they were essentially a portable place to stay. With the formation of travel clubs, like the Tin Can Tourists, house trailers continued to be a fundamental part of traveling the United States by automobile.

Topics: Artifact Spotlight, Tin Can Tourism

When entering a church, most eyes are drawn to the front of the building where there usually stands a pulpit. The pulpit is the focal point and perhaps one of the most important pieces of furniture. The Osceola County Historical Society (OCHS) has recently had the privilege of building a replica church for the Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek. This church would not be complete without its furnishings. One of the most important items to be included in these furnishings is, of course, the pulpit. Luckily, OCHS didn't have to go very far to find the perfect pulpit to be placed in the church.

Topics: Artifact Spotlight, Osceola County History, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, Church Pulpit

The one-room schoolhouse of the early 1900s was often filled with benches or desks, but one stood out from the rest: the teacher’s desk. Many times, there were too many students and children had to resort to sharing those desks, as well as books and other school items. However, the teacher’s desk was for one person: the teacher.

Topics: Artifact Spotlight, Osceola County History, Teacher's Desk, Replica Schoolhouse, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek

While segregation was a major issue in many places, the tensions between blacks and whites in Osceola County were much less. There weren’t as many restrictions in place, making integration much smoother for the county. Blacks and whites lived close to each other, and in some cases, even worked together. One place in particular that did not discriminate with employees was the Disston Sugar Mill.

Topics: Artifact Spotlight, Osceola County History, Osceola County Welcome Center and HIstory Museum, Scipio Lesesne, Hamilton Disston Sugar Plantation and Mill, Log Book

Most hear the phrase "marching band" and automatically associate it with high schools. However, the roots of marching bands are actually in military bands. Even today, high school marching bands bear a strong resemblance to the military bands of the past with their brightly colored uniforms and the plumes in their hats.  Another contributing factor to high school bands is local town bands. Towns often had bands with musicians of varying ages. When the popularity of such bands began to dwindle, many of the younger participants could consider joining a school band. 

Topics: Exhibits, Osceola County History, Osceola County Welcome Center and HIstory Museum, Free Admission, Music

The life of the Florida cowboy is not an easy one. If he isn’t battling the heat, the hurricanes, or the mosquitos; then he probably has to contend with wild animals, swamps, and the monumental task of managing a herd of cattle. Florida cowboys are tough and hard-working because nothing comes easy on the ranch. Despite it being so arduous, many view the cowboy’s life as inspirational and something to be celebrated. One such man was E.L. “Buster” Kenton.

Topics: Osceola County History, Osceola County Welcome Center and HIstory Museum, E.L. Buster Kenton, Art