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.
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!
We were excited to welcome the new faculty members from @rollinscollege to Winter Park and share a piece of the city’s history with them. During their visit, we gave them a tour of our exhibit, Echoes of Expression, exploring the rich artistic and cultural heritage that has shaped the community. We’re always grateful for the opportunity to connect with educators and introduce them to the stories that make Winter Park so unique.
We’re thrilled to welcome the 2025 Board of Directors of the Winter Park History Museum!
As we step into a new year of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the rich history of Winter Park, we are deeply grateful for the leadership, time, and dedication each of these individuals brings to our mission.
President: Rick Kilby
Vice President: Eric Werrenrath
Co-Treasurers: Bob Klettner & Karim Arja
Secretary: Theresa Swanson
We’re also excited to welcome new board members Jeff Briggs and Alex Baldwin.
Thank you all for your commitment to preserving Winter Park’s story and helping us share it with our community. Here’s to a year of meaningful impact and continued growth!
Last night at the Winter Park History Museum, we took a closer look at historic murals and the aesthetic character of Winter Park.
In “Shaping a Sense of Place,” Rick Kilby guided us through the stories behind four remarkable murals — from Joe Testa-Secca’s Winter Park Post Office murals, to Joy Postle’s Casa Iberia mural at Rollins College, Don Sill’s mosaic at the Winter Park Day Nursery, and a recently uncovered Sam Stoltz fresco in a private home. Each piece reminds us that art is woven into our buildings, shared culture, and sense of identity. Presented in conjunction with our current exhibit, Echoes of Expression: The History of Arts & Culture in Winter Park, the evening highlighted why preserving these works matters and how they continue to define Winter Park’s aesthetic character.
Thank you to Rick Kilby — award-winning author of “Florida’s Healing Waters” and recipient of the Rhea Marsh and Dorothy Lockhart Smith Winter Park History Research Grant — for this fascinating presentation and to everyone who joined us for a thoughtful and inspiring night celebrating the stories on our walls.
We heard you, and we have more behind-the-scenes with Christy and Dena in the archives! Today’s spotlight is on one of our favorite pieces, the Harper’s Tavern diorama.
Harper’s Tavern — alongside its sister restaurant, Le Cordon Bleu — was a cornerstone of local life, owned by George and Monique Vogelbacher. Originally a feed store in 1927, it reopened as a tavern in 1932 and grew into one of Winter Park’s favorite gathering spots. Afternoons belonged to loyal regulars, evenings drew young professionals, and nights brought in Rollins students. It was vibrant, welcoming, and unmistakably local. Both establishments were lost to fire on June 4, 1996, and many longtime residents still feel the absence.
We’re grateful to preserve this detailed diorama in our archives as a reminder of a place that meant so much to so many. Archives safeguard the stories, artifacts, and shared experiences that define a community, so they’re never lost to time.
This Black History Month, we celebrate the voices, visionaries, and changemakers who helped shape and build Winter Park into the community it is today. Discover their stories in our current exhibit, Echoes of Expression: The History of Arts and Culture in Winter Park, and discover even more at the @hannibalsquareheritagecenter — the heart of Winter Park’s historic African American West Side.
Board Member of the Month: Sarah Margio
We’re proud to spotlight Sarah Margio, who has served on the Winter Park History Museum Board since 2020.
Sarah’s connection to the Museum runs deep. “I got involved because my association with the Museum goes back to my childhood, when my mom served as a board member for many years; therefore, I seized the opportunity to continue the legacy.”
As a fourth-generation Winter Park resident, Sarah brings a lifelong appreciation for the city and its rich history to her work with the Museum. She’s especially passionate about keeping history vibrant and relevant for today’s community.
“I love finding new ways to keep history fun and engaging, and I hope to inspire younger generations to get excited about history and keep these stories alive.”
Thank you, Sarah, for your dedication to preserving and celebrating the stories that make Winter Park so special.
It was a beautiful day on Saturday for Winter Park Arts Weekend: A Tapestry of Experiences! We loved welcoming visitors of all ages to our tent to explore historic artifacts, vintage games, and hands-on fun. Thanks to the @winterparkfla Arts & Culture Alliance—and to our amazing community—for such a great day.
Happy 23rd anniversary to Winter Park’s stunning rose garden! 🌹
A heartfelt thank you to the City of Winter Park for the dedication, care, and passion that keep our city blooming and beautiful. We’re truly in love with this place ❤️ @winterparkfla
We were honored to be part of an inspiring evening recognizing arts and culture across Orange County. Our Executive Director, Christy, and several of our board members were excited to attend the 3rd Annual Orange County ACT Awards and accepted a $55,000 grant from @ocfl Arts & Cultural Affairs in support of the Winter Park History Museum. This incredible support helps fuel exhibitions, programs, and cultural learning opportunities throughout 2026 for our residents and visitors. Special thanks to Vicki Landon and the amazing team at Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs for a fabulous evening and for championing the arts in our community.
Tomorrow, our Executive Director, Christy, is heading to Lake Highland Preparatory School to lead a history class. Today, she’s behind the scenes in our archives, pulling fascinating pieces to bring Winter Park’s story to life for students.
This is how we prepare for community engagements, keep history fun and meaningful, and preserve it for generations to come.
Collect. Preserve. Exhibit.
