| Orlando is rightly famous for Disney World and the | | | | outstanding permanent collection of paintings by Earl |
| other exciting theme parks in the region, but it also has | | | | Cunningham (1893-1977). The Museum also seeks to |
| some fine museums and cultural centers that can give | | | | enrich the public through special exhibitions, publications, |
| you a nice change of pace and culturally enrich your | | | | and programs that celebrate outstanding traditional and |
| vacation. Here is a brief guide to some of the | | | | contemporary Amercian folk artists. Here is the |
| museums of Orlando. | | | | contact information: 900 East Princeton Street |
| Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens | | | | Orlando, Florida 32803, 407.246.4278 (tel), |
| Albin Polasek (1879 - May 19, 1965) was a | | | | 407.246.4329 (fax)mennello. |
| Czech-American sculptor and educator, and you can | | | | Morse Museum of American Art |
| get to know his works on the beautiful grounds of his | | | | The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art |
| estate. The sculptures are placed in the museum's lush | | | | houses the most comprehensive collection of the |
| gardens on the shores of Lake Oseola. Here is the | | | | works of Louis Comfort Tiffany found anywhere, a |
| necessary information for visiting this museum: 633 | | | | major collection of American art pottery and |
| Osceola Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789,phone: | | | | representative collections of late-19th and early-20th |
| 407-647-6294, fax: 407-647-0410, | | | | century American paintings, graphics and the |
| Railroad Central Florida Railroad Museum | | | | decorative arts. Here is the address and phone |
| If you are fan of the old railroads of America, then this | | | | number: 445 North Park Ave, Winter Park FL (407) |
| is the place for you. The museum has railroad artifacts | | | | 645-5311, (407) 645-5324 for recorded information |
| and memorabilia with particular emphasis on Central | | | | Wells'Built Museum of African American History |
| Florida. Here is the essential visiting information: visiting | | | | Dr. William M. Wells was a prominent African-American |
| hours 1PM - 5PM daily in former Taveres & Gulf | | | | physician in Orlando during the first half of the 20th |
| Railroad. Admission is free. 101 S. Boyd Street, Winter | | | | century. He created the South Street Casino to host |
| Garden, Floridaphone: 407-656-0559 | | | | touring black bands and, since Orlando was rigorously |
| Harry P. Leu Gardens | | | | segregated, he opened the Wells' Built Hotel next door |
| The Harry P. Leu Gardens are situated on fifty acres | | | | to house the musicians. Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, |
| of peaceful grounds. Here you can enjoy "Old Florida" | | | | Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Ivory Joe Hunter, and |
| at a leisurely pace. Stroll along meandering paths | | | | many other musical greats played the Casino and |
| shaded by ancient oaks, forests of camellias and giant | | | | stayed at the hotel over the years. The Casino is gone |
| camphor trees or take a guided tour of the Leu House | | | | now, but the hotel remains. It has been converted into |
| Museum, a restored late nineteenth-century home that | | | | a modest museum housing memorabilia of Orlando's |
| began as a Florida farmhouse. You can also enjoy the | | | | African-American community along with some African |
| Garden House with its romantic view of Lake | | | | art on loan from local collectors. Here is the address: |
| Rowena. Here is the essential information for this | | | | 511 West South Street, Orlando 32801, (407) 245-7535, |
| center: | | | | Just west of I-4 near Church Street |
| 1920 N. Forest Ave., Orlando, FL 32803-1537 | | | | These are just some of the museums and cultural |
| Telephone (407) 246-2620, Fax (407) 246-2849 | | | | centers in the greater Orlando area. From looking at |
| Mennello Museum | | | | this list you can see that it is possible to add some |
| The Mennello Museum of American Folk Art | | | | enjoyable variety to the standard Orlando vacation by |
| endeavors to preserve, exhibit, and interpret an | | | | soaking in the rich culture of this region. |