Beyond the Theme Parks: Orlando’s Historical Highlights

(81 reviews)

Orlando, Florida audio tour: Beyond the Theme Parks: Orlando’s Historical Highlights

This is a 1.2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Orlando, Florida

The United States

$8.99

Access all 28 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

When you hear “Orlando”, the first image that comes to mind is probably Mickey Mouse and Disney World. While our theme parks are important, the city’s history is much older than Disney’s arrival in 1971. This walking tour through downtown Orlando’s highlights the area’s history, beginning with the Seminole Indian settlements.

As you walk through the city center, you’ll encounter established landmarks, including the Orlando Public Library, Lake Eola, and Church Street Station. Along the way, you’ll meet the cattle barons, citrus farmers, gunslingers and NASA engineers who helped put Orlando on the map way before Disney waltzed into town. You’ll also discover little-known tidbits about our past including:

The city’s connection to William Shakespeare
Why the public library is considered both a dream and a nightmare
The central park that used to house a zoo and even a horse race track
Florida’s wild west
Exploding orange trees
Where serial killer Ted Bundy was jailed

Why would anyone choose to make their home in a place originally called Mosquito County? Take this tour to find out!

Allow an hour to complete the tour. You’ll pass a variety of bars and restaurants during the tour, so feel free to take a brief – or lengthy – pause to enjoy them.

Tour Producer

Michael Perkins

2 tours

I have lived in beautiful central Florida for over 35 years, and travelled the entire area discovering its fascinating history. I was honored to work at the Orange County Regional History Center for over 25 years, first as Chief Curator, and then as Executive Director. For seven years I hosted a television show entitled Orange County Scrapbook that highlighted local history. There is so much fascinating history in our area, and much of it is unknown. I have spent half of my life unearthing the fascinating stories that bring central Florida to life and have served to create the dynamic community we are today. Touring central Florida and discovering its history is unlike touring almost anywhere else on earth. Orlando is so well known for its theme parks people feel like they know Orlando when they visit, but only by touring the area to find out its history can you really say you know Orlando. I love to tell these stories, and hope that you enjoy hearing them.

Preview Location

Location 26

Rogers Building

Our next destination is just up ahead. It’s the dark green building with the cupola. Stop once you reach it.

This is the Rogers building. Englishman Gordon Rogers came to Orlando in 1886 and constructed this Queen Anne style building, which housed an English club that spon... Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

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Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

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Major Landmarks

Old Railroad Depot
Lake Eola Park
Historic Angebilt Hotel
Orlando Public Library

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
101 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801, USA
Total distance

2km
Final location
65 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801, USA
Distance back to start location

123.85m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins just outside of the parking garage located directly across the street from the downtown Orlando Public Library. There is street parking in the area, but parking in the garage is most convenient. It's best to enter the garage on the Central Boulevard side, and then walk to the outside of the garage on the Central Boulevard side to begin the tour.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Lake Eola is a great place to walk if the weather is cooler. It's a mile to walk around, and even has swan boats to rent and paddle around. If you are interested in learning more about the area's history, visit the Regional History Center at the end of the tour. The museum has won national awards for its exhibits and storytelling, and tells the entire history of the community. During your tour you will pass a few great restaurants for lunch or dinner as you walk Church Street, particularly near the old train depot.

Best time of day

The best time to take the tour is either morning before 11:00AM or after 5:00PM. Orlando lights up and become much more active in the evening, as the local bars and clubs open.

Precautions

You may want to bring some water and sunblock, particularly during the summer months. An umbrella is always a good idea. You will be crossing various busy intersections, so be careful.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”