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