Orlando’s Amazing Monuments

Cinderella Castle. Epcot’s giant “Golf Ball.” SeaWorld’s lighthouse. Universal’s signature globe; even the control tower at Orlando International Airport. These are all classic Orlando icons and monuments in their own right. But there are others, you know, and they might amaze you, as they are not the obvious tourist attractions.

Yes, Orlando is full of surprises, and even some of our most regular visitors may not know about places such as the Monument of States in Kissimmee, Colonel Joe Kittinger Park, Casa Feliz in Winter Park, the Art Deco Kress building in downtown and the Ocoee Massacre of 1922. All of the above – and more besides – are part of Central Florida’s astounding history, so we thought we would highlight our Top 10 and present an exciting array of opportunities to enhance your next visit.

Casa Feliz

Built in 1933 on swanky Park Avenue in Winter Park, Casa Feliz is a striking enough building in its own right, constructed in full Spanish revival architecture style to imitate an Andalusian farmhouse, but how it got there is truly astonishing. Due for the wrecking ball under a new owner in 2000, this community treasure was saved by a local citizen conservation initiative and was moved in its entirety – lock, stock and both barrels – from its residential site 300 yards away to its new municipal location, and all at the rate of 10 feet per hour!

The Ocoee Massacre

One of America’s darkest election moments came in November 1920, when a white supremacist mob attacked, murdered and drove out black residents of the town of Ocoee, 11 miles west of Orlando. Today, this local tragedy is commemorated both in the suburb of Ocoee itself, with a plaque in Bill Breeze Park, and with the full story in the African-American history section of the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando.

Colonel Joe Kittinger Park

A full-size 1970s F-4 Phantom makes for an eye-catching monument, but it is perfectly fitting for this neat public park in one corner of Orlando Executive Airport in downtown. Orlando US Air Force pilot Joe Kittinger actually flew the fighter jet in the Vietnam War, suffering 11 months as a PoW after being shot down in 1972 on his third tour of duty. He then persuaded the powers-that-be to create a memorial to America’s Vietnam vets, using his former plane as the centrepiece.

Bob Ross’ Grave

Fans of the elegant, laid back painter Bob Ross are usually amazed to discover his grave in an Orlando cemetery. His TV show, The Joy of Painting, ran from 1983 until 1994, but really took off in re-run form on various channels and online, thanks to his gentle voice, massive afro hair do and matching facial hair. Ross succumbed to lymphoma in 1995 at the age of just 52, but fans can still visit their artist idol – and leave appropriate tokens of affection – at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha (just north of Walt Disney World).

The Citrus Tower

It’s impossible to miss this 226ft monument to the local Florida citrus industry on Highway 27 in Clermont. Dating back to its inauguration in 1956, the Tower offers a panoramic observation deck on the 22nd floor that provides a grandstand view of this burgeoning residential community that was previously the centre of an industry that boasted around 17 million citrus trees, before weather and citrus blight took their toll. It also has its own coffee shop on the ground floor!

Rogers Kiene Building

Created in 1886 by Englishman Gordon Rogers, this vivid green building in downtown Orlando is one of the city’s oldest existing structures. Initially a gentlemen’s club, it went through many incarnations and is now home of artsy CityArts. Originally surrounded by cattle and citrus farms, it welcomed a new generation of settlers and introduced the “new” 19th century style of Queen Anne architecture to Florida.

Monument of States

Tucked away in a residential part of Kissimmee is a strange-looking testament to a special work of patriotism – and rock collecting. Here, in splendid eccentricity, the 50-foot Monument of States celebrates US unity in World War II as the work of the redoubtable Dr Charles W. Bressler-Pettis, a vision of both unanimity and tourism promotion in a town just starting to making a name for itself in the 1940s. His 50ft-high monument is made up of stones and bric-a-brac from all 50 states, plus several countries.

Muse of Discovery

Downtown Orlando is studded with brilliant artwork and special creations to the subject of urban creativity. One of the best can be found at the west end of Lake Eola Park, where the Muse of Discovery is designed to look like a gigantic woman nestled under a lush blanket of grass, bringing to mind the Greek goddesses of art, music, poetry, song, theatrical tragedy, comedy and dance. It also makes for a great photo opportunity!

Fort Christmas

Ready for a trip back in time? As far back as 1837? Just head to this cute historical site in the town of Christmas, just 15 miles east of Orlando. Built as part of the US government’s wars against the Seminole tribe of Florida, the Fort was abandoned just 10 years later, but it spawned this little community, and was reconstructed as a tourist attraction, complete with period fortifications, in 1977. How did it get its name? Well, there were no obvious landmarks or places to label it, so it was named for the day the US army arrived to build it – on December 25, 1837.

Kress Building

The 1930s were a period of great Art Deco architecture and monuments, and one outstanding example still exists in Church Street in downtown Orlando. Built in 1935, the Kress Building was part of the Kress department store empire (a bit like our Woolworth’s) that was established in 1896. The Orlando store of the chain was designed by renowned architect Edward Sibbert, and he came up with a unique twist on Art Deco style, using Floridian motifs – like stylised parrots in the decoration. The building also has a second entrance, on Orange Avenue, which is a whole storey taller than its Church Street counterpart!

Have you visited any of our unusual monuments?