Do you like trying new foods? Are you a fan of unique stores? How about classic vehicles and muscle cars? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then Old Town in Kissimmee is perfect for you!

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, Tourism, History, Summer Activities, Osceola County History, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Osceola County, Business Membership, Oscoela County Historical Society, Outdoor, Kissimmee, Old Town

The Lanier family, like many others, migrated from another state to the wild frontier of Florida. The patriarch, John Lanier, came from Georgia where he was born in 1805. The exact date when John came to Florida is unknown. However, we do know that it was after his first wife’s passing and preceding his marriage to Margaret Hogan in 1839. It was during his time in Florida that he made a name for himself and his family in the cattle industry.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, Pioneer Family, The Pioneer Village, Shingle Creek, History, Educational, Osceola County History, Pioneer Village, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

Fair warning—this blog post contains pictures of mouth-watering barbeque food. Be prepared to crave this amazing food!

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Osceola County History, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Dine with the Departed, Osceola County, Business Membership, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee, Big John's BBQ

Last week OCHS Staff ventured out of our historic zone to see what life was like off I-Drive. We were able to visit WonderWorks and the Outta Control Magic Comedy Show. We enjoyed pizza, salad and our drink of choice all while being wildly entertained. Check out what the staff had to say about their experience!

Topics: Our Team, Tourism, Summer Activities, Oscoela County Historical Society, WonderWorks

When the ten-year-old wooden Osceola High School burned to the ground on July 7, 1908; the headlines read “Pride of Osceola Is Laid In Ashes”.  A committee of citizens was immediately appointed by the School Board to secure plans for the erection of a new school building.  Cooper Contracting Company of Fitzgerald, Georgia was awarded the contract for $17,500 to construct the three-story structure using sand lime brick. 

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Educational, Osceola County History, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

With the opening of our 1800s Replica Historic Church available for Weddings and Vow Renewals, we wanted to take a look into many common wedding traditions still performed.

Topics: History, Educational, Venue Rentals, Vow Renewal, Wedding Traditions, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee, Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Hi! My name is Audrey and I am an intern for the Osceola County Historical Society’s Marketing and Development Department this summer. I am graduating from college this December and am so grateful for this opportunity to gain experience in marketing.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Osceola County Welcome Center and HIstory Museum, Around Osceola County, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, Osceola County, Marketing, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

It was slightly different in design but dating to the same 1890s time period as the replica schoolhouse at the Pioneer Village and two stories have emerged regarding how the school got its name.  Miss Emma Yowell, one of the early teachers refers to it as “Shaker Rag” and stated in a 1940 newspaper interview that it was later known as “Pine Grove” in a 1940 newspaper.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Educational, Osceola County History, City of Kissimmee, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

Imagine transporting a student from the 1890’s schoolhouse at Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek to a heavily populated area in Osceola County, Florida in 1980; where wild turkeys and bobcats once roamed.  What they would see would be startling.  An earth-covered school, the design borrowed from Southwest American Indian tribes; was being built to save energy.  Referred to as “The dirt school, Groundhog or Eskimo Elementary”, the name chosen was ”Reedy Creek Elementary”.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, History, Educational, Osceola County History, Around Osceola County, City of Kissimmee, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Kissimmee

One of the official actions at the first School Board meeting on August 29, 1887 was to name and number the schools.  # 5 was Shiloh, #7 Cross Prairie, #11 Neallo and #13 was Lakeview, to name a few.  There were a total of twenty-one with #22, Merry Winter, added the following month.  The salary for teachers assigned between ten and fifteen students was set at $20 a month; classes above fifteen students would result in $1.50 per student per month additional payment.

Topics: Osceola History, Around Osceola, The Pioneer Village, Educational, St. Cloud, Osceola County History, Pioneer Village, City of Kissimmee, Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek, City of St. Cloud, Osceola County Historical Society, Osceola County, Oscoela County Historical Society, Samuel Lincoln Lupfer,, Kissimmee