I love buildings from Florida's 1920's land rich years, but this is the first historic gas station…read morethat I have come across. The masonry vernacular designed Key's Service Station is a historic Standard Oil 1926 gas station on the corner of Broadway and Drury Avenue. The automobile boom of the 1920's opened Kissimmee to a new influx of residents and tourists. In 1967 the gas station was purchased by Al and Ben Key for use as a men's club. In 1998 the city purchased the station with plans to widen the road and demolish it. As the project progressed it was no longer necessary to destroy the building and the Community Redevelopment Agency stepped into to restore the gas station with grants from the county and state. Out front is a replica of a 1926 gas pump. The former service station now has new life since 2005 as the downtown welcome center selling local arts and crafts and providing free information for visitors.

Establishment right in center of town building maintain and just reminds ppl of the local stations…read more& welcome everyone to Downtown Kissimmee. Visitors find this location to get photos done have even filmed music videos here. There's an enormous silver horseshoe mounted on the left side. It's a historical spot & location.

The village features a collection of authentic and replica historic buildings that were moved from…read moretheir original locations to this site for preservation. Today was the pioneer day, but was so hot, although really fun. They had a lot of food trucks offering ice cream, BBQ, popcorn, farmers market, pony ride, a lot of animals as Llama, alpaca, duck, rabbit, horses. Had the opportunity to meet Apple and NY daughter bought one piece of her azmzing job. Really recommend this place, even normal days, we usually come here to do picnic or play at the playground.

For a pleasant walk through Florida history, visit Pioneer Village in Kissimmee. There are a total…read moreof about 15 buildings/structures (many of them original or exact replicas) that tell the story of early settlers and native dwellers. Each building has a sign with a QR code to scan that links to a short You Tube video elaborating on the people who lived in them and their stories. Even if it's a hot sunny day, there are multiple shady spots to sit like the rocking chair on the veranda or the air-conditioned church. You can actually walk in most of the buildings. My 12-year-old son's favorite areas were the Lanier house with it's rooster and hens walking and clucking around, the goat in the back of the house, and the knot-tying area in the exhibit on Florida's cowmen. At $4 for children $6 for adults (if you get a coupon from the Ocala History Center), this is an educational experience in a beautiful setting. You can also bike, walk, paddle, or picnic in nearby Shingle Creek Park when you are done.

The Monument of the States is one of those must-stops if you're ever in the Kissimmee area. It's…read moresuch a unique and meaningful landmark, built as a symbol of unity after the attack on Pearl Harbor. What makes it even more special is that it's made from stones sent in from all over the United States (and even a few from other countries), which gives it so much character and history.

Came at night so puctures don't show. It's an interesting piece of art if you're in Kissimmeeread more

Very interesting.. I took a morning stroll prior to work and was very happy I did. Quiet and…read moreaccessible park. Information is posted to allow a self guided experience directing you to the trails. Hard packed dirt and well maintained boardwalk allows for exploring the old Florida ecosystem. I would advise a partner if you're unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the area; no park rangers were in sight. I'm local a , male with some protection onboard so I didn't felt concerned. Come enjoy the park and use some common sense while you enjoy the ecosystem,

This homestead is located in Shingle Creek Park. The home was built for Mollie and Judson Steffee…read more They moved from Kentucky to Florida in 1883 with their children. Mollie was sick and needed the warmer climate of Florida. In Florida they planted citrus and raised horses and cattle. In 1911 they built their shot gun house. Their first home burned down and the house that now stands was the replacement The house had a porch on three sides and was remodeled and enlarged through the years. Down the trail a short distance from the house is the caretakers cottage built in 1920. Osceola County restored the buildings in 2009. The last family owner of the property was Elizabeth Steffee, an environmentalist and granddaughter of a 19th century steamboat captain. She passed away in 1997. After three years of negotiations with her heirs, Osceola County and the city of Kissimmee bought most of the property for $5.3 million. Forty four remaining acres was be purchased with $1 million from the South Florida Water Management District. The county and city offered the Steffee homestead and barn to the Kissimmee Valley Audubon Society to establish a nature study center on the property. Today when you visit the park you can hike and bike the trails. A short distance from the homestead is Paddle Creek where you can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards so you can travel along the same waterway Mollie Steffee liked to fish over s hundred years ago. About a mile from the Steffee Homestead is a pioneer village with even more historic buildings to visit. Located close to Disney World Shingle Creek Park is well worth seeking out to see the "real" Florida.

We last visited these gardens, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead (who also designed Central Park…read morein Manhattan), in early 2024. This time, more flowers were in bloom, and we saw a different variety of birds on the premises. The tower is, of course, the centerpiece of the gardens. We had the pleasure of listening to it sing at least 5 times during our visit. We briefly visited the children's garden, and recommend this if you have youngsters in tow. After we were done in the gardens, we had a nice lunch in the on-site café. Portions are large, so you may want to consider sharing.

These gardens are so beautiful and peaceful. I love walking…read morethrough every path available while smelling nature The food at the restaurant is good and fresh Everything is nice and clean

William John Howey (January 19, 1876 - June 7, 1938) was an American real-estate developer, citrus…read moregrower, and Republican politician from Florida. He founded and served as mayor for the town of Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida where he developed and sold citrus groves, becoming one of Florida's greatest citrus developers. He was one of the first citrus growers to send fruit from Florida to England. In 1921 he opened Florida's first citrus juice plant. He ran for governor on the Republican ticket in 1928 and 1932. Mr. Howey's prominence led to many distinguished guests visiting the Howey mansion, These included Lord Bathhurst of England, H.B. McNeal, publisher of Golfer's Magazine, golf master Chick Evans, Kansas Governor Alfred Landon, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Phillip's of petroleum fame, and President Calvin Coolidge who was guest of honor at an all-male dinner party in February 1930. Mr. Howey's former home near Lake Wales, Florida became the site of Florida's Bok Tower at the Bok Tower Gardens. In 1925 Mr. Howey commissioned a 20 room mansion in the town he founded. The architect was Katherine Cotheal Budd. During WWI she designed temporary lodgings known as hostess homes for women who were visiting their husbands at military training camps. Budd is credited for creating 72 lodgings with a homelike atmosphere and the Howey House is one of a few existing examples of her work. The Howey Mansion was designed in the popular Mediterranean Revival style. The house is set back on a wide lawn with wrought iron gates and a long horseshoe drive. The entrance to the home features an elaborate, two story bas relief frontispiece .The massive front door and the woodwork on the first floor is made from peaky cypress. Leading to the second floor is a graceful curving stone stairway with a wrought iron banister. Other features of the home include three large fireplaces, a ballroom-size drawing room, enormous beamed ceilings, and a servant call-bell phone system. There is even a hidden passage behind a sliding bookshelf panel in the library. The original 15 acres grounds of the mansion were called The Park and included many botanical plants and shrubs. On March 6, 1927 The Park was the host site for an open air concert performed by the New York Civic Opera Company bringing the top opera singers of the day to the mansion for a concert for the community. The mansion was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Place on January 27, 1983. On April 12, 2017 it was listed for sale at $480,000. The new owners are Brad and Clay Cowherd, Orlando real estate investors who have made period-accurate restoration of the house. I visited the Howey Mansion for the Founders Day Festival. Admission for tours of the home was discounted to $10. The Howey Mansion is available for private rentals like weddings while historical tours are also available Monday through Friday at 11am. The Founder's Day event included a local market, food trucks, live music, and family activities. I enjoyed visiting the tents and touring the mansion including the hidden bar in the basement that was created during prohibition. Behind the mansion, is a trail through the woods that will take you to the Georgian marble mausoleum where the Howey family is interred including William J. Howey (1938), daughter, Lois Valerie Howey (1941), and Mary Hastings Howey (1981). This year Centennial Founder's Day Celebration, marked100 years since the town's founding in 1925.

What an incredible place! We really enjoyed the tour Fran and Mercy gave us. They were extremely…read moreknowledgeable about the property and you can tell they love what they do. The property itself is gorgeous. If you're looking for an event space, you're in luck they rent it out for weddings and other events.

This is not your typical tourist trap. It's a unique home that attracts the curious. The owner/tour…read moreguide is a perky lady who is renovating the house back to its original splendor and adding her own personal creativity. She talks about the history of the house and her encounters with the spirits of the original owner. Lots of antiques throughout and a few quirky collections. A diamond in the rough with the mystique of an opal. There is an assistant tour guide, Joan of Bark, who is the sweetest, most laid-back pup. Take some time to enjoy this unicorn.

The best house tour I have ever been on! Super cool to hear so many details from the owner of the…read morehouse and hear about her personal experiences in the restoration process.

I discovered this historical marker in front of the Osceola County Courthouse. Dating back to 1888,…read moreit is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in Florida. The Romanesque Revival style courthouse opened in 1890 and it was listed on the the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The marker relates the history of Osceola County when it was created in 1887 from portions of Orange and Brevard Counties. Osceola became Florida's 40th county. It was Senator J. Milton Bryan who suggested the new county be named for Osceola, in honor of a Seminole warrior who adopted a name that translated to "black drink crier." Osceola led several small but successful raids against the U.S. army over 10 years. Osceola was captured on December 31, 1837, and died one month later at Fort Moultrie in South Carolina. Osceola is the sixth largest county in Florida and Kissimmee is the county seat. In the late 19th century it was a transportation hub for riverboats and the railroad. Osceola County is known for its long history of raising cattle. Cattle, agriculture, and tourism are now the main industries. Marker number F-340 was installed in front of the Osceola County Courthouse in 1983 by the Kissimmee Business and Professional Women's Club.

The atmosphere at this pavilion in Epcot was great!…read more I loved the wine offerings as well as the street show that was going on. The street show itself brought so much energy with the crowds. I didn't get any food when stopping here, but everything smelled great.

Italy was underwhelming during our visit to the world showcase. We weren't in the mood for gelato,…read morepizza or wine, so we didn't linger here.