I love Orlando, don’t get me wrong. But, sometimes I want to do something that has nothing to with Disney, Universal Studios, or Seaworld. It’s why I wanted to created a page dedicated solely to the Central Florida area. My first discovery was the Fort Christmas Historical Park. Located in Christmas, Florida (yes, we have a town named Christmas!), this full sized replica and surrounding historical homes are free for you to visit! The park also has a picnic area, basketball and tennis courts and baseball diamond for you to take advantage while visiting.
Even though the fort is the main attraction, my favorite part of the site is definitely the historical homes. As a history buff, I loved stepping back in time and exploring and seeing how the early pioneers lived. The original fort was one of 200 built during the Second Seminole Indian War in the early 1800s, however, the houses show what life in the area was like later in the century. These houses, known as “Cracker” houses, showcase cattling, trapping, hunting, and even what school and the post office were like. Their exhibits truly make you feel as if you were transported back one hundred years.
What’s a Cracker?
The name “Cracker” does not refer to a person, but rather a Colonial-era wood frame home. It’s similar to a shotgun style house in that it has metal roofs, straight central hallways and large verandas or porches. The origin of the word “Cracker” is something that is largely disputed. Some believe it is the sound of cracking whips that the early settlers made while herding cattle. Others believe it the word comes from the use of cracked corn in moonshine. Regardless of where the term came from, I personally am happy because otherwise we would not have these homes that are unique to Florida.
Directions to Fort Christmas
Visiting from Orlando? Fort Christmas is located at N. Fort Christmas Road in Christmas, Florida. Or you can head east on FL-50 for about 20 miles, like you’re driving toward Kennedy Space Center. The historical park is located right off this main road. You can’t miss it! The park is open 8:00am – 8:00pm during the summer and 8:00am 6:00pm during the winter. The fort and homes are open Tuesday – Sunday’s from 9:00am-4:00pm and are closed on Monday’s and Holiday’s.
