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.

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 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.

Located in downtown Kissimmee in front of Lakeside Park is a folksy roadside attraction called…read moreMonument of States. In the dark days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dr. Charles Bressler-Pettis, a retired physician and president of the Kissimmee All-States Tourist Club, wanted to create something that would stand as a symbol of the unity of America and attract tourists to Kissimmee. Dr. Pettis worked with his friend J. C. Fisher to design a pyramid. Pettis wrote letters to the governors of all of the states requesting rocks for the project he conceived. Donations came poring forth in the form of granite, quartz, boulders, fossils, and pieces of old buildings. President Franklin D. Roosevelt even sent a rock from his Hyde Park estate. In 1943 Dr. Pettis had a set of rocks from all the 48 states (Hawaii and Alaska weren't states yet). He had the rocks embedded in concrete slabs that had each donors name and the location the rock came from etched on it. Pettit also included rocks from his travels. With the help of retired volunteers who were members of the travel club, Pettit had the slabs assembled into a 50 foot tall, 100,000 pound pyramid reinforced with 3 and half tons of steel rails. By the time it was finished the monument had 1,500 stones and objects donated from all over the world. Volunteers who helped build the monument had their names inscribed on the ground in front of it. At the top of the pyramid sits an American eagle and American flag on top of a blue orb. Pettis dedicated his creation as The Monument of States on March 28, 1943. Dr. Pettis loved his monument so much that when he died he had a portion of his remains sealed inside. Before Disney World the Monument of States was a big tourist attraction. After Disney people stopped visiting and the monument was neglected. Through the years more stones appeared from Alaska and Hawaii and even foreign countries but after 60 years the monument was crumbling. In 2001 the American Automobile Association along with some local businesses got together to refurbish the monument with fresh paint and a new flag. They also embedded a time capsule that will be opened in 2043. The monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 2015. Visiting the monument is free and it's open 24 hours a day. We don't have too many quirky roadside attractions in Florida so I was delighted to find this one. There is free parking for Lakeside Park and there is even a snack bar and restrooms. After visiting the monument you can take a beautiful stroll in Lakeside Park behind it. I loved my visit to this oddball attraction.

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.

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.

I have by a Floridian for over 20 years and I have never visited Bok Tower Gardens, despite the…read morefact that my friend and former coworker Bill Murphy wrote about it and visited it in his Fox 13 "On Tank Trip" book. What an amazing place! At 324 feet above sea level, it is the highest point in Florida and anywhere sixty miles away from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It is in the middle of the state, and not Disney middle of the state so you have to decide you are going and plan the day. As you make the turn to the attraction, you go through an orange grove, kind of like you are going back in time. While the tower is at the top of the hill, the paved paths make it easy to get up the hill. It would be perfect for anyone with scooters or strollers to get up there as well. What struck me the most was that I have never seen so many butterflies in one place! They were everywhere! The gardens are so beautiful, even in a drought year the plants were blooming beautifully. I would recommend bringing a picnic lunch because it is an amazing place to just chill. Also, the tower has a half hour concert at 1pm and 3pm every day so make sure you time your visit to coincide with one of them. I had such a great afternoon, I want to come back for some of their special events. If you are a plant nerd like me, you cannot sleep on this spot! I am a big botanical gardens person, and this one is special.

This is perhaps the best botanical garden in the world--we haven't gone to any outside of Florida…read morethough so take that how you will. We got engaged here! 8.28.26! So take that how you will! The tower itself is a masterful design, everyone is friendly and will answer any questions you have! The cafe is stellar and the wine and tap selection will appease anyone who partakes! This was our third time going, so many gift shop goodies and plants we've taken home!

My husband and I just hosted the wedding of our daughter and now son-in-law at the Howey Mansion…read more The venue was just perfect. Fran was extremely helpful in accommodating special requests and answering questions we had right away. Very friendly and pleasant to work with. All of our guests for the wedding raved at how beautiful the home is.

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.

The Wonder House is worth a visit if you are in the Bartow area. The home was the dream of Conrad…read moreSchuck, a building contractor and stone quarry dealer from Pittsburgh who was told by his doctors that he only had a year to live. In response to this devastating news, he packed up his wife and nine children in the 1920's and moved to Bartow so that he could take advantage of the warmer climate. To occupy his time he built his dream house. Conrad Schuck started construction on the eighteen room Wonder House in 1926 and he built it out of the bedrock he dug into while he was clearing the land. He purchased steel rail lines and scrap from the railroad and he made his four story house out of concrete over stone reinforced with the steel rails. The walls are 18 inches on the ground level. Schuck went on to work on the house with his son over the next 40 years, far outliving his doctors prediction. Leading up the house are two 30 foot bridges that crossed over a koi pond. The house was designed in the shape of a cross to maximize cross breezes in a time before air conditioning. Each room opened onto two porches. The walls are decorated with mosaics glass and tile and hand carvings. Concrete channels were built into the house to collect rainwater, which cooled the house and watered the plants that grew across the exterior. There is a fishpond on the third-floor porch. Conrad Schuck never lived in the house and when he finished it he opened it for tours in 1934. The Wonder House became a popular tourist attraction from 1934 until 1963. Visitors were charged a dime to see the ponds and 25 cents to see the interior. Conrad Schuck lived until the age of 94 and after his death, the Wonder House had a number of owners. Lucy DuCharme opened the house for Christmas tours when she owned it in the 80's and 90's. She purchased the house in 1964 and added central air and heat. Eventually the house was abandoned. In 2015, the Wonder House was in a state of disrepair when it was purchased during an online auction by attorney Drew Davis and his wife Krislin who are in the process of fixing it up. They are currently living in the house but you can purchase an online ticket to tour the house. They have taken the torch from Conrad Schuck and are now slowly working on returning the house to its former glory.

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.

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.

As with most of the pavilions at Epcot, this place is an absolutely wonderful experience!…read more Italy had this awesome Juggler who came out to entertain the crowd. His crowd interaction was so much fun! The food options were not terribly great and I would avoid the pizza quick serve completely. The tiramisu was good though. Drinks were meh. A lot of fun but missing some key ingredients.

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.