Now on display at Historical Society

Steamboats and the railroad were bringing travelers to the new city, and vacationers took day excursions on boats to picnic destinations while some folks took strolls along the lakefront; some engaged in games of tennis and golf, while others dressed in their finest attire attended performances at the nearby opera house. This was Kissimmee City during the 1880s and through the early days of the twentieth century.

Today, tourism in Central Florida is often thought to have begun with the advent of Walt Disney World.  But Kissimmee, however, fast became a resort destination some 90-years earlier when steamboats began plying the local waterways.

One particular parcel of land near the Kissimmee lakefront, now occupied by the City Centre complex, served respectively as the site of five different hotels: the Kissimmee Hotel, Hotel Kissimmee/Tropical Hotel, The Graystone, Bostain's Hotel, and last, renamed The Tropical Hotel. These were all establishments showcasing themselves in the grandest tradition as a destination for the social set of their time.  President Chester A. Arthur, the Vanderbilts, and John Jacob Astor, honeymooning with his bride, Ava, are said to have been among those who have stayed at the original Tropical.     

On view now through May 30 at the Osceola County Historical Society Museum, The Grand Hotels of Kissimmee is an exhibit of photographs, artifacts and text offering a glimpse into the existence of these important establishments which have long faded into the shadows of past history.

The Osceola County Historical Society Museum, on the grounds of the Pioneer Village at 750 N. Bass Road (just off Hwy 192), Kissimmee, is open Thursdays through Sundays, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission (which includes the Village) is $5.00, adults, $2.00, children 12 and under. For further information, call OCHS at 407-396-8644.

Seeking Historical Collections

The Osceola County Historical Society is seeking collections directly related to aspects of Osceola County and Florida history for limited-term exhibits. Anyone having collections meeting this criterion, and wish to loan to OCHS for exhibit is asked to call 407-396-8644, or email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

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