The Winter Park History Museum seeks to research and preserve the abundant, history of Winter Park and its surrounding area, and tell our town's story through free educational exhibits, lecture series and outreach programs.
Celebrating 40 Years of Style on Park Avenue
For four decades, Tuni has been a cornerstone of fashion in Winter Park. Since opening its doors in 1986 at the iconic corner of Park and New England Avenues, this beloved boutique has influenced the style of a community—one personalized experience at a time.
What makes Tuni special isn’t just its curated collection of sought-after designers, but it’s the people behind it. With expert stylists, closet consults, private shopping parties, and a deep understanding of evolving trends, Tuni built a fashion destination. Over the years, their dedication has earned recognition from the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, Orlando Magazine, Orlando Style, and the Orlando Sentinel.
At the heart of it all is the mother-daughter duo who made it happen:
Tuni Blackwelder – Raised in New York City’s Garment District, Tuni’s lifelong immersion in fashion laid the foundation for what would become one of Winter Park’s most iconic boutiques.
Paige Blackwelder – Growing up in the family business and later joining forces with her mother after graduating from UCF, Paige helped bring a fresh vision to Park Avenue. As she recalls: “We couldn’t find what we wanted, so we created it.”
Did You Know?
The building Tuni calls home sits on one of the most historically significant corners in Winter Park. In 1886, the Winter Park Company constructed its headquarters right here, helping shape the early development of the town. That legacy continued with the Winter Park Land Company, incorporated in 1915 and still in existence today—making it Winter Park’s oldest real estate firm.
From real estate roots to runway-ready style, this corner has always been about shaping the future of Winter Park. Here’s to 40 years of @shoptuni—and the many stylish chapters still to come.
We had a great turnout this weekend at the @winterparklibrary for the Rhea Marsh & Dorothy Lockhart Smith Grant Lecture.
Presented by our Board of Directors President, Rick Kilby, “Shaping a Sense of Space: Historic Murals & the Aesthetic Character of Winter Park” took us on a deep dive into the stories behind some of the city’s most meaningful, historic murals and why they still matter today.
From the Winter Park Post Office murals to the Casa Iberia mural at Rollins College and the Hannibal Square Community mosaic, the talk connected art, architecture, and community in a way that really brought Winter Park’s character to life. We also got a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of preserving these works—and why protecting them is so important.
Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a thoughtful, engaging afternoon!
Last call!
Don’t miss your chance to experience Echoes of Expression: The History of Arts and Culture in Winter Park. The exhibit is closing this Saturday, May 2!
Step into a vibrant journey through the rich artistic legacy of our city. From early creative movements to today’s thriving arts scene, explore the people, places, and pivotal moments that shaped Winter Park’s cultural soul.
Bring a friend, take it all in, and celebrate the stories that make our community so special.
Location
200 W New England Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
Hours
Wed-Fri: 10am - 4pm
Sat: 10am - 2pm
We had a fantastic time at Trivia Night at the Winter Park History Museum!
Friends and supporters came together for a little friendly competition, tackling everything from general knowledge to Winter Park–themed questions. A big thank you to our trivia master, @curtisearthtrivia, for keeping the energy high and the questions challenging!
Most importantly, every dollar raised goes directly toward supporting the Museum’s mission. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and made the night such a success—we can’t wait to do it again!
Join us in celebrating 30 years of @johncraigclothier on Park Avenue!
Since opening its doors in 1996, John Craig Clothier has become a cornerstone of Winter Park’s retail scene. Founded by H. Craig DeLongy, the shop was built on a simple but powerful idea: offer timeless menswear paired with an unmatched customer experience. From its flagship location here in Winter Park, John Craig has grown to six stores across Florida, earning national recognition and numerous awards along the way. Its roots remain firmly planted in the historic Park Avenue District, where it continues to serve generations of loyal customers.
The story of John Craig is also the story of the building it calls home. Located at 132 S Park Avenue, the shop resides within the historic Morse Building, constructed in 1917 by industrialist Charles Hosmer Morse. This building once housed the Winter Park Land Company—the city’s first real estate firm—as well as the Baby Grand Theater, Winter Park’s first movie house, where silent films were accompanied by live piano. With its rich past as a center of community life, the building remains a meaningful piece of Winter Park’s history. Today, it continues that legacy as a place where people gather and connect.
Here’s to three decades of style, service, and history—and to many more to come!
Today we celebrated and honored Sarah Margio, Gibby Folk, and Rick Baldwin as they completed their terms as board members of the Winter Park History Museum.
We’re deeply grateful for their time, dedication, and the impact they’ve made in preserving and sharing our community’s history. We look forward to welcoming them back to the Museum for future events and celebrations!
In 1945, when Winter Park was a quiet town of just over 5,000 residents and Fairbanks Avenue was little more than a two-lane road, a small hardware store opened its doors—one that would become part of the fabric of our community for generations.
Miller’s Hardware began as a modest paint shop, growing over the decades into a 12,000-square-foot Winter Park fixture filled with everything from power tools and garden supplies to chandelier cleaner, giant mousetraps, and even 24 feet of hard-to-find sodas and old-fashioned candy. If you couldn’t find it anywhere else, chances were you’d find it at Miller’s. As the store expanded, it branded itself as “the ladies’ hardware store,” known for its wide selection of household appliances, kitchen gadgets, and high-end items like fireplaces and outdoor grills.
The real magic of Miller’s was never just what it sold, but it was a gathering place built on relationships and generations of familiar faces. It’s where you could count on running into a neighbor while finding help for just about any household repair. As one resident once said, you were more likely to see friends at Miller’s on a Saturday morning than at church on Sunday. At one point, more than 1,000 customers had house charge accounts, each one billed by hand—a reflection of the trust and connections that defined the store.
Now, after more than 80 years and four generations of the Miller family, the doors of Winter Park’s oldest continuously operated family-owned business are preparing to close. There’s still time to walk those familiar aisles, share a memory, and say goodbye.
From our archives: Be sure to watch our porch interview with Bob Miller from 2020. We spoke with him about growing up in Winter Park, what it was like living above Harper’s Tavern, and how his family business became a local institution. Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/nJHv2-FeCEA
Do you think you know Winter Park? Let’s find out and test your local knowledge with a few trivia teasers. Swipe through and see how you do!
Are you ready for the real challenge?
Join us for our Trivia Night Fundraiser, an evening of general and Winter Park trivia hosted by @curtisearthtrivia, all while supporting the Winter Park History Museum.
Enjoy dinner, wine, friendly competition, and plenty of fun. Gather your team and see who will take the trivia crown!
📅 Thursday, April 23
⏰ 5:30–9:00 PM
📍 Winter Park Farmers’ Market Building
🎟 $75 per person (includes dinner & wine)
Purchase your tickets now: https://tinyurl.com/27e85w6p (link in bio)
Welcome to Winter Park
We’re launching a new series celebrating the people, places, and stories that shaped this one-of-a-kind city. From its earliest days to the vibrant community we know today, we’re diving into the stories that brought a vision to life.
Episode 1 starts at the beginning—exploring the founding and early history of Winter Park.
We hope you follow along as we explore Winter Park`s rich history. If you have a topic you’d love to see featured, let us know in the comments!
We had a full house at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market for an inspiring evening with Jennifer Deery and Tamie Diener-Lafferty of the @polasekmuseum. Thank you both for the wonderful presentation, From Moravia to Winter Park: The Life and Legacy of Albin Polasek.
Together, we explored Polasek’s journey from Moravia (now the Czech Republic) to international recognition, and his lasting influence on Winter Park’s arts community. His home, studio, and lakeside sculpture gardens on Lake Osceola continue to reflect that legacy today. As the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens celebrates its 65th anniversary, be sure to plan a visit!
This speaker series event was part of Echoes of Expression: The History of Arts & Culture in Winter Park, our current exhibition highlighting the people, places, and influences that shaped the city’s vibrant cultural identity. Don’t miss your chance to experience it at the Winter Park History Museum before it closes on May 2!
Ashes to Artifacts: Tracing the Seminole Hotel Through Time
It’s been a full week out in the community—and we loved every minute! We had the pleasure of joining the @womansclubwp to share the story of the Seminole Hotel, the grand lakeside landmark that helped shape the early days of Winter Park.
Through historic images, records, and artifacts uncovered at the original site, we explored how this 1886 hotel continues to offer new insights into the city’s past. A big thank-you to our gracious hosts and to everyone who joined to learn with us. We loved the thoughtful questions and conversation!
We’re still carefully cataloguing and studying the items discovered during the excavation, and we look forward to sharing more as the story continues to unfold.
Did you spot us at the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival last weekend? We enjoyed spending time with the community and celebrating the incredible artists and their work on display. From hands-on activities to historical artifacts and gadgets, we loved sharing a bit of Winter Park’s story—especially with our youngest history enthusiasts.
Does your team have what it takes to win?
Join us for the WPHM Trivia Night Fundraiser — an evening of friendly rivalry and great food, all in support of the Winter Park History Museum.
📅 April 23 | 5:30–9 PM
📍 Winter Park Farmers’ Market
🎟 $75 (includes dinner + wine)
Link in bio to register your team before spots fill up!
We were thrilled to host Leadership Winter Park for a happy hour at the Winter Park History Museum! There’s nothing better than bringing community members together to experience the stories and history that shape Winter Park.
The WPHM Trivia Night is back! Join us for an evening of general and Winter Park trivia hosted by @curtisearthtrivia, all while supporting the Winter Park History Museum.
Enjoy dinner, wine, friendly competition, and plenty of fun. Gather your team and see who will take the trivia crown!
📅 Thursday, April 23
⏰ 5:30–9:00 PM
📍 Winter Park Farmers’ Market Building
🎟 Tickets are $75 per person and include dinner and wine. Link in bio to get your tickets now!
