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Take A Walk In Historic Dowtown Orlando
here is a lot to do in that might otherwise have been
Orlando, but instead of demolished due to the rapid rate
only going to the famous of growth and demand for
theme parks, why don't you try commercial space in this booming
something different on your next city.
Orlando vacation. A walk in the
city's downtown historic district Orlando's first historic district
area brings you face to face with demonstrates the economic and
the history of this important political growth of the city for
city. over six decades. The district
contains historic structures such
Your walking tour can be as the depot, the courthouse,
concentrated in the eight blocks banking, office and retail
of buildings which were buildings. The variety of
designated in 1980 by the City of building styles and sizes
Orlando as an historical reflects the evolution of
district. The district is a architecture and construction in
cohesive collection of buildings downtown.
that reflects the commercial and
governmental history of Orlando. The styles represented in the
district are Queen Anne,
The district is composed of Twentieth Century Commercial
buildings constructed from the Style, the Beaux-Arts,
1880s until the early 1940s. Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco
Surrounded by modern skyscrapers, and Art Moderne. Nearly all of
approximately 60 historic the buildings are of masonry
buildings in this district offer construction due to a series of
a glimpse into the city's past. fires in the late 1800s that
The historic district designation destroyed many wood structures
has helped preserve buildings and prompted the City to pass new
building standards. Orlando's longest practicing
African American doctors and was
Here are some of the sites on involved in the commercial and
this 2.5 mile tour. cultural life of the community
with the Well’sbuilt Hotel and
1. Well'sbuilt Hotel, 511 West the South Street Casino.
South Street
3. Victorian House & Cottage, 541
Dr. William Monroe Wells West South Street
constructed this hotel in 1926.
It provided lodging to African The Victorian House and Cottage
Americans during segregation when are among the only remaining Folk
rooms were not available to them Victorian structures left in the
in other areas. Many famous city. The level of detail found
entertainers and athletes stayed in the original turned columns,
here. Next-door was Dr. Wells' railings and carved fretwork is
South Street Casino, where many not found in any other
of the entertainers performed for buildings in Orlando.
the African American community.
The Well'sbuilt Museum of African 4. Hankins Building, 647 West
American History is located here South Street
now.
Dr. I.S. Hankins constructed this
2. Dr. William Monroe Wells Art Deco commercial building in
House, 519 West South Street 1947. Hankins was an early
African American physician and
Dr. William Monroe Wells built civic leader. He was an active
this Foursquare style house on a participant in the Washington
lot one block to the east in Shores development, which
1924. He was known as one of provided opportunities for new
home ownership for Orlando’s This dry goods store was
African Americans. constructed in 1924 for William
Slemons. He first came to Orlando
5. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, in 1886. Slemons and his sons
701 West South Street owned a number of stores in
downtown Orlando from the 1880's
This African American church was well into the middle of the
organized in 1919 and met in twentieth century.
various locations until land was
finally purchased. Church members Each building has its own story
made the rusticated concrete and the buildings listed above
blocks that were used for are only a small portion of the
construction of the walls. The tour. You can download the whole
Gothic style church opened in tour on a pdf, complete with map
1921. at
http://www.cityoforlando.net/plan
6. Ebenezer Methodist Church, 596 ning/cityplanning/Walk_Tour04.pdf
West Church Street or you can visit an online site
for more information about the
As early as 1892, this history of Orlando and the latest
congregation had a wooden church information about its downtown
on this site. It was the first area:
African American Methodist church www.cityoforlando.net/historic
in Orlando. Starting in 1922, the www.downtownorlando.com .
members built this Gothic style
brick church. So, make sure you take some time
to see the historical sites of
7. Slemons Department Store, 129 Orlando on your next visit to the
West Church Street area.
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About the Author:
Mark Whichard is a frequent writer on Orlando Tourism. Mark and his wife Susan are the proprietors of Disney Home Rentals, an agency that rents vacation homes near Disney World. Visit their website: http://www.disneyhomerentals.com for more information. Published At: www.Isnare.com |
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