BEST OF ORLANDO® READERS' CHOICE NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!

These vintage postcards show just how much Orlando has changed in the past century

By on Tue, Mar 12, 2019 at 7:57 pm

Orlando is a city that's always evolving. Buildings come up and go down pretty quickly, which has been the case for pretty much all of the City Beautiful's history. The small town that had a population of 2,481 in 1900, has now evolved into a major metropolitan area with more than 2.5 million residents across the region. These vintage postcards and captions from the State Archives of Florida show just how much Orlando has changed in the past century, starting in the early 1900s to the late 1990s.

Photos by State Library & Archives of Florida https://www.floridamemory.com/
Scroll down to view images
Tourists viewing gators at Gatorland, published after 1949.
State Library & Archives of Florida
Tourists viewing gators at Gatorland, published after 1949.
The fountain at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
State Library & Archives of Florida
The fountain at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
Flowers and trees line the drive along Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida, published sometime in the 1900s.
State Library & Archives of Florida
Flowers and trees line the drive along Lake Eola in Orlando, Florida, published sometime in the 1900s.
Flamingos at Gatorland Zoo., published after 1949. An accompanying note reads, "Colorful flamingos live happily in their natural habitat at beautiful Gatorland Zoo, the world's largest alligator farm, located between Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida on U.S. Hwy. 17-92-441."
State Library & Archives of Florida
Flamingos at Gatorland Zoo., published after 1949. An accompanying note reads, "Colorful flamingos live happily in their natural habitat at beautiful Gatorland Zoo, the world's largest alligator farm, located between Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida on U.S. Hwy. 17-92-441."
Genius Drive with the bougainvillea in bloom in Winter Park, Florida, published in 1956.
State Library & Archives of Florida
Genius Drive with the bougainvillea in bloom in Winter Park, Florida, published in 1956.
A large grapefruit grove near Orlando, Florida. The postcard was published in 1940.
State Library & Archives of Florida
A large grapefruit grove near Orlando, Florida. The postcard was published in 1940.
An orange grove in Orlando, published before 1921.
State Library & Archives of Florida
An orange grove in Orlando, published before 1921.
A postcard of the Harley Hotel of Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
State Library & Archives of Florida
A postcard of the Harley Hotel of Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
Highland Lake in Orlando, Florida, published sometime in the 1900s.
State Library & Archives of Florida
Highland Lake in Orlando, Florida, published sometime in the 1900s.
Postcard Collection
State Library & Archives of Florida
Postcard Collection
The Hotel Fort Gatlin in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
State Library & Archives of Florida
The Hotel Fort Gatlin in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
Hotel Lucerne in Orlando, published in 1917.
State Library & Archives of Florida
Hotel Lucerne in Orlando, published in 1917.
The view along Maitland Avenue at the Hotel among the pines in Altamonte, published before 1910. The hotel was built in 1883 by the Altamonte Land, Hotel and Navigation Company. It burned in 1953. An accompanying note on the postcard says: "Photograph of the Altamonte Hotel from the rear, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Maitland Avenue is on the right. View from the south."
State Library & Archives of Florida
The view along Maitland Avenue at the Hotel among the pines in Altamonte, published before 1910. The hotel was built in 1883 by the Altamonte Land, Hotel and Navigation Company. It burned in 1953. An accompanying note on the postcard says: "Photograph of the Altamonte Hotel from the rear, Altamonte Springs, Florida. Maitland Avenue is on the right. View from the south."
The Hotel Roberts in Orlando, published before 1929.
State Library & Archives of Florida
The Hotel Roberts in Orlando, published before 1929.
The Hyatt Orlando, published before 1982.
State Library & Archives of Florida
The Hyatt Orlando, published before 1982.
A postcard of St. James Church in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
State Library & Archives of Florida
A postcard of St. James Church in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
A Jordan Marsh store in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
State Library & Archives of Florida
A Jordan Marsh store in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
The main business section in Kissimmee, Florida, published before 1974.
State Library & Archives of Florida
The main business section in Kissimmee, Florida, published before 1974.
The driveway along Lake Adair, Orlando, published in 1936.
State Library & Archives of Florida
The driveway along Lake Adair, Orlando, published in 1936.
A postcard of Lake Cherokee in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
State Library & Archives of Florida
A postcard of Lake Cherokee in Orlando, published sometime in the 1900s.
Page 1 of 6
Next Page

Chava Communications

Read our sister publications

Orlando Weekly

PO Box 953127.

Lake Mary, FL 32795

Facebook Twitter Instagram Icon Apple News Icon Google News Icon
© 2024 Orlando Weekly
Powered By Foundation
Support Us