This exhibit will be on display starting in November at the Hart Memorial Library.
The Legacy Project is an invaluable collection that explores the history of Osceola County and its people, and connects the community to its past.
Formed on May 12, 1887, from portions of Orange and Brevard County, Osceola County became Florida’s 40th county. Osceola was named after the famed Seminole leader and this county was a transportation hub in the late 19th century for riverboats and railroad. The county rapidly began a cattle, sugar, and lumber-based economy. As of the 2020 census, the population of Osceola County is 388,656 and includes the cities of Kissimmee, St. Cloud, as well as other numerous communities.
The exhibit includes materials from different areas of Osceola County history, including: the city of Narcoossee, Osceola County courthouse, Osceola High School, and much more!
Items in the exhibit are kindly loaned from Osceola History.
Additional Resources
We’ve found relevant resources from our collection and Florida Memory. For our full list of databases, explore our Research & Learn tab.
Bibilioboard
- Osceola History – This is an invaluable collection of digitized photographs and newspapers chronicling the county’s history, growth, and change. This collection will provide the opportunity to explore the history of the county and its people, and connect the community to its past.
InfoGuides
- Genealogy & Florida History – This valuable guide provides information on genealogy reasources, Florida history resources, and a brief summary of the Indigenous tribes in Florida.
State Library and Archives of Florida
- Florida Memory – A digital outreach program providing free online access to select archival records from collections housed in the State Library and Archives of Florida. Florida Memory digitizes materials that illuminate the state’s history and culture.
Osceola History
- The Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum – The center is comprised of realistic dioramas showcasing different habitats that you could encounter while in Osceola County: swamplands, pine flatwoods, oak hammock, and lakefront. The museum also features exhibits related to the citrus and cattle industries, transportation and early tourism in the area.
- Spence Research Center – Houses books, photos, and documents specific to Osceola County and Florida History. These materials include a variety of text written on the history of Florida, a limited collection of family histories, and a selection of local yearbooks. The research center is open to the public by appointment only.
