A leisurely stroll through the magnificent gardens will take on average around one and a half hours, but for those with a little more time on their hands there is so much more to do and see. In the Garden House you can sit a while over a coffee or browse through a plethora of informative gardening books in the custom-built library section. However, the purpose of this article is to look at the early history of Leu Gardens and, in particular, the part Harry P Leu played in its development.

At the heart of the the gardens in The Leu House Museum which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Guided tours, illustrating turn of the 20th century living, are available to visitors and last around twenty minutes.

Originally The Leu House was simple farm-house with five rooms built in 1888 by the first landowners, the Mizell family. Subsequent owners made further additions to the property and Joseph Woodward completed the house as it is seen today.

After Woodward’s wife died in 1928 the estate went into trust and was rented out until it was bought by Harry P Leu in 1936 for the pricely sum of $40,000.

Harry P Leu was born in Orlando in 1884 and became an extremely astute and well-respected businessman. After graduating from college he worked locally for a boiler repair company called Cain & O’Berry. Leu worked his way up through the ranks before taking time out in New York to develop his business acumen even further.

On returning to Orlando, Leu eventually gained control of Cain & O’Berry and changed its name to Harry P Leu Inc, which then became an industrial supply company with offices in Miami and Tampa.

He bought Leu House in 1936 and set about major renovation work, which included the installation of central electricity and plumbing.

Away from the house Harry Leu had a great interest in plants and flowers. With his wife they embarked on several trips around the world bringing back many of the exotic plant varieties seen in the gardens today.

In 1961, the house and their beautiful gardens were given to the city of Orlando. This was Leu’s way of giving something back to the community where he had made his fortune.    The deed stipulated that the estate would always remain a botanical garden, for enjoyment and education of the people.  

The Leus hoped the house and gardens would attract people from all over the world. If they had been around today they would have seen that dream become reality.

Winter Park

The Morse Museum (or ‘The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art’ to give it its full name) is situated in Winter Park, a little way to the north of the attractions area - around a 30 or 40 minute drive along the Interstate I-4.  Winter Park in itself is a pleasant destination, featuring other museums (including The Cornell Fine Arts Museum and The Albin Polasek Museum), pleasant gardens (Central Park and Kraft Azalea Gardens), and a fairly exclusive shopping area along Park Avenue.

Louis Comfort Tiffany

One of the main features at The Morse Museum is the Tiffany Exhibition, billed as one of the world’s foremost collections of his work.  Before visiting the museum, I must confess that my knowledge of Tiffany’s work was primarily from looking at the lampshades in a TGIs restaurant.  I am now enlightened - or at least have a greater understanding of the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany.  He lived from 1848 to 1933, and this museum houses a wide range of his work.  This work includes jewellery, pottery, paintings (whilst not his primary skill, Tiffany was a very accomplished painter) - as well as the leaded glass windows and lamps he is better known for.

1893 Chicago World Expo

Possibly the finest element of the museum’s exhibits is a restoration of the chapel interior he designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  Many reviews claim this part of the museum is worth the admission price alone - this is undoubtedly true, as admission is a bargain at just a couple of dollars.  Although even this cut price admission is waived during some evenings, when visitors are admitted after 4pm without charge.

Funding

Whilst admission is low cost, the museum does not receive public funds, and therefore opportunities will be presented for small donations to be made.  And, of course, merchandise is on offer, much of it in the Tiffany style.

Summary

We recommend a visit to Winter Park and The Morse Museum, particularly as a pleasant way to spend an evening - perhaps taking advantage of the free admission (although if you enjoy the exhibition, do please help fund the exhibition with a small donation).  The museum is open most days, but do check before travelling.

The following are on permanent exhibit at the Science Center:

Body Zone will teach you about your digestive system and how your body benefits from the foods you eat.  You can put a skeleton together and also find out how your brain works!

Healthy Living will show you how bad habits such as smoking affect your body.  There are several interactive kiosks that teach about fitness and nutrition.  You can also take a few laps on the Oxygen Cycle or try the Twelve Steps to Healthy Blood Pressure!

Dr. Dare’s Laboratory allows you and your children to do experiments guided by computer displays and with the help of an instructor.

NatureWorks is a 7000 square-foot exhibit presenting Florida’s diverse ecosystems.  It is the home of the Trading Center where you can trade objects you have collected from nature.

Kids Town is an exhibit for kids less than 4 feet tall (parents are allowed to accompany them).  For stimulating fun and activity, there’s nothing like life in a small town.

DinoDigs is part of a long-standing commitment on the part of Walt Disney World Co to the Orlando Science Center and it’s focus on making education fun.  Disney’s Animal Kingdom has donated an assortment of dinosaur fossils and replicas. Eight full dinosaurs and 12 other pieces are on display.

Crosby Observatory sits on top of the building.  Here is housed Florida’s largest publicly accessible refractor telescope.  On Friday and Saturday nights from 6 pm to 9 pm, the observatory is open for Sky Watch.  View the planets, the four moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn and deep sky objects such as galaxies, nebulas and double stars.

Dr. Phillips CineDome is the world’s largest domed theater and Digistar II planetarium with 28,000 watts of digital sound.   Features and show times vary, so check the current schedule online or by calling the museum.

Orlando Science Center is located at 777 East Princeton Street in Orlando.  Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 10 to 6, and Friday and Saturday from 10 to 11.

There are three collections on permanent exhibit.  There is an American Art Collection which features paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculptures from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.  The Art of the Ancient Americas Collection contains ceramic, jade, stone, cloth, gold and silver artifacts from a variety of cultural groups of North America, South America and Central America.   There are pieces that date as far back as 2000 B.C.

The African Art Collection features ceremonial artifacts as well as decorative objects such as jewelry, masks, metal works, carved ivory and ceramics.  The artifacts originate from various regions of the continent of Africa.  In addition, there are normally 2 temporary exhibits on display for a few months at a time showcasing different forms of art from the traditional to contemporary.

Once a month, local artists have the opportunity to showcase their work at a very special event called 1st Thursdays.   The event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month and is open to the general public.   Guests enjoy live music, cash bars serving beer, wine and soft drinks and café offerings from local restaurants.  Admission to museum exhibits is included.

There are annual events that benefit the museum.  The Festival of the Trees takes place in November when the museum offers visitors of all ages a festive experience with beautiful trees and glittering holiday décor.  For antique lovers, there is an Antique Show and Sale in February.

The museum also offers a variety of lectures, classes, seminars and programs for all ages.  Families with small children may particularly enjoy First Saturdays or Creation Station.   First Saturdays are on the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon.   This is a wonderful opportunity for young children to learn to appreciate art and music together with their parents.  Creation Station is on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 3:30 p.m. where children and adults partake in a different art project each week.  Registration is not required for either of these programs and the charge is minimal.

The Orlando Museum of Art is located at:

2416 North Mills Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803-1483

Hours are:

Tuesday-Friday, 10 am to 4 pm

Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 4 pm

Closed Mondays & major holidays

Free parking is available in front of the museum. Enjoy!

Regular Exhibits:

Kidstown

Interactive learning experience set in a miniature town, aimed at children under 7, includes child-size

Space Shuttle.

NatureWorks

Different Florida habitats have been recreated, with native plants and animals, where you can encounter live alligators, fish and turtles.

DinoDigs

Encounter the pre-historic world of the dinosaurs and examine fossilized eggs.

TechWorks

Experience the strength of hurricane force winds, and see the earth from an astronaut’s view point.  See a demonstration of the Scanning Electron Microscope which magnifies up to 100,000 times more than the ability of the human eye (Demos only on certain days).

Xperience Factory

Live science shows:  The Case Of The Mysterious Miss Squito & Cool Science

BodyZone

Learn how your body consumes food, how to put a skeleton together and how your brain works.

Special Exhibits:

Titanic – the experience          16 Dec 07 – Dec 08                  

Full scale recreations of Titanic’s most famous rooms, including the Grand Staircase.

Robots                                     12 Jan – 11 May08

Characters from the movie, Robots, are the guides as the history & potential of robots is explored.

Team Up                                  12 Jan – 27 Apr 08

Learn how geometry, physics, force and friction play a part in your favourite sports.

Zing                                         12 Jan – 27 Apr 08                  

Hands-on exhibit featuring sound, magnetism, motion, balance, energy transfer and machines.

Giant Worlds                            15 Feb – 9 May 08                   

Explore Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune.  Experience the beginnings of the solar system.

Special Performances:

High School Musical                1 – 24 Feb 08

Based on the Disney Channel movie, a live stage show featuring local actors.  Sat & Sun Matinee 2pm.  Thurs, Fri, Sat 7.30pm.  Ticket purchase required.

OrlandoScienceCenter
777 East Princeton Street        
Orlando, Florida32803-1291               

Open:   Sunday – Thursday 10.00am – 6.00pm,   Friday – Saturday  10.00am – 9.00pm                                   

Closed: Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day.  ( Late Opening New Years Day)

Observatory Hours
Friday     6.00pm – 9.00pm, Saturday 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Planetarium show: Orlando By Night:       available on the first Friday & Saturday of every month

Cinedome

The world’s largest lwerks domed theatre, with 28,000 watts of digital sound.

Phone 407 514 2000 to check film times and schedules.

Café Hours

Sunday – Thursday 10.00am – 5.00pm, Friday – Saturday 10.00am – 8.00pm

Driving Directions:

From N Poinciana BLVD turn left onto Vineland Road (SR-535N). 

Continue on SR-535 for 2.3mi.

Take ramp onto I-4 E to Orlando – go 17mi.

Take exit #85/Princeton Street (SR-438) – go 0.4 mi. 

Orlando Science Centre is on the left.

Admission Prices (includes admission to Titanic exhibit)

Adult                $23.00

Youth               $18.00 (age 3-11)

Senior              $21.00 (55 & over)

Student            $21.00 (with ID)

Under 2            Free

For more information:           www.osc.org

The building is on stilts so we went upstairs and found the museum which is Ted Smallwood’s store which has been preserved in the same condition as when his daughter closed the store in 1982.  The curator was extremely helpful and told us all about Ted Smallwood, his family and Edgar Watson, whose story was told by Peter Matthiessen in his novel Killing Mister Watson.

In 1906 Ted became Postmaster for Chokoloskee and opened his general store.  As it was such an isolated area it was also used as a trading post from far and wide for such items as furs, hides, and fresh goods.  Ted remained as Postmaster until he retired in 1941 when his daughter took over the position.  His daughter ran the store until 1982 and it is reported that 90% of the original goods were still in the store.  Today the shelves are still lined with the goods that were for sale during these times.  We were told most of the apothecary items contained alcohol which was certainly borne out by the smell of several of the bottles which are still full.  It is an excellent history lesson of what it was like to live during those difficult times and it was not until 1956 that the causeway connected the island to the mainland.  There are also sections where the different tools and household items that were used and available to purchase are show. The area where his daughter lived has also been preserved, again exactly as if she had ‘popped’ out and will return later. 

If you look out the back window you can see where Edgar Watson was killed. His tale is also told in the museum.  He was a planter who is reputed to have killed lots of his hands on completion of their work at his plantation when they went to him and asked to be paid.