PERMANENT EXHIBITS

The Pioneer Village & Museum is comprised of a permanent collection of authentic structures which once upon a time stood in different areas of Osceola County. They were carefully relocated to our present location and gently preserved to demonstrate how life was once lived before our modern times.

Come walk our grounds and stroll through history at the Pioneer Village & Museum!

Lanier "Cracker House"
Built in 1889 by the Lanier family, prominent ranchers in Osceola County. The Cracker House, an early-American form of architecture, is defined by the center breezeway which creates a natural air conditioner for the home. Included with the house are a wash house, smokehouse, and gardens-- all essential to homesteader life in the 1800's.

General Store 
This small, 2-room, board and batten structure was home to the Tyson's and their 11 children. Originally built in Narcoossee in the 1880's, this family home was restored to the Tyson Store and Narcossee Post Office. 

Blacksmith's Shop
By crafting horseshoes, nails, tools and other items, the blacksmith provided a variety of services vital for a community's existence and growth. Local Boy Scouts used an original plan form the 1800's to build our shop, which includes a full working forge and authentic tools.

Cracker Cow Camp
Explore this primitive campsite and learn about the life and work of the Florida Cracker cattlemen, or "Cow Hunters", and the importance of these camps in serving the cattle trade during the early days.

One-Room Schoolhouse 
As communities began to grow and become more structured, the early days of formal education were personified by the "one-room" schoolhouse. This was where grades 1-8 were cleverly taught simultaneously by a single teacher (literally and figuratively).

Citrus Packing House
This 1880's Citrus Packing House and orange grove is representative of Florida's early importance as a leader in the citrus industry. Our structure, which was used to prepare citrus for shipment, is the oldest surviving citrus packing house in the state of Florida.

Osceola County Historical Society Museum
Browse our collection of artifacts and displays which provide a full and varied perspective of early life in Osceola County to significant events of recent history.

 Mary Kendall Steffee Nature Preserve
Adjacent to Shingle Creek, this 7.8 acre preserve represents a piece of Osceola County as it was in the time of Florida's original Native American tribes and early pioneers. The vegetation growing here provided the early inhabitants materials needed for dyes, clothing, medicine and other necessities.