Orlando Vacation Rentals Group Travel Passenger Vans and an Orlando City History Overview
The history of modern day Orlando, Florida dates back to 1838, at the height of the Seminole Wars. For those of you unfamiliar with American history, the Seminole Wars consisted of three separate campaigns as US settlers attempted to subdue the Seminole native group. At the height of the conflict, Seminole Chief Osceola murdered an Indian agent by the name of Wiley Thompson, setting off over seven years of intense warfare. The Seminole Wars proved to be the most costly conflict of the Indian Wars costing close to $30 million. Thousands of Seminoles and American soldiers were killed during the three part war, as the Florida native group was practically extinguished.
During the Seminole Wars a Fort was built just south of the present day Orlando city limit called Fort Gatlin. This US Army base was used to help create a settlement area for local residents that would be safe from enemy attack. Within two years a small community began to flourish around the Fort, dedicated to raising cattle and growing cotton. The community was named Jernigan after the Jernigan family who had been the first permanent residents in the area. By 1850 Jernigan had prospered and expanded, enough to warrant the establishment of a post office. For the next six years Jernigan would continue to grow northward as more and more settlers took up residence in the sunshine of Florida.
The Mysterious Origin of "Orlando"
In 1856 the community of Jernigan officially changed its name to Orlando. Where this name came from is uncertain... but there are a few theories.- The Judge Speer Theories
Back before Orlando was incorporated in 1875 a judge by the name of James Speer was hard at work promoting his community as the county seat. Two of the Orlando origin theories involve Judge Speer; some believe that Speer named the community Orlando after a co-worker, while others say he named it after his favorite character from William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It". - "There Lies Orlando"
A third theory involves an ox herder by the name of Orlando. Some say that Orlando was on his way from Jernigan to Tampa herding a caravan of oxen when he fell ill and died. From then on folks would walk by the spot where Orlando had perished remarking "there lies Orlando". Eventually the name stuck and the land was christened after the fallen ox herder. - Sentinel Orlando Reeves
This final theory is by far the most common tale involving the origin of the Orlando name. According to legend Sentinel Orlando Reeves was a soldier in the Second Seminole War. Positioned on what is now known as Lake Eola, Orlando's job was to act as a look-out, alerting the soldiers if he saw anything suspicious. One night it is said that Orlando spotted what looked like a log drifting down across the lake. Orlando was quick to realize that the form floating across the water was really a Seminole Indian planning to ambush the camp! Orlando quickly alerted the camp, saving his fellow soldiers from a certain defeat. During the combat which ensued it is believed that Sentinel Orlando Reeves was shot and killed by a Seminole arrow. In honor of their fallen comrade, volunteer soldiers that stayed to make the area their home named their town after Orlando.
Over the years Orlando has had its fair share of ups and downs. In fact, by the late 19th century the city was extremely close to economic ruin. Local settlers were forced to give up their cotton plantations and turn to a different type of farming... citrus. Citrus and cow herding became the town's livelihood until a man by the name of Walt Disney visited the city in the 1960's. Disneyworld opened in 1971 and has since become the world's largest theme park.
The Orange County Regional History Center is home to the Historical Society of Central Florida, Inc.'s varied and extensive collections. Located in the restored 1927 Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, The History Center is continuously distinguished as the area's "Best Museum". A wealth of information can be found in the Center's changing and permanent exhibits, each of which is delivered in dynamic, interactive fashion. From guided tours to fun-packed children's summer camps, learning is fun for all ages. History Center members can take advantage of a number of special value-added benefits, including discounts and exclusive event opportunities.
Orlando Group Travel Passenger Van Rental Orlando car rentals is proud to be a part of Orlando's ever-lasting history. Please reserve Full Size Van Orlando Vacation Rentals today!
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WE Rent Vans to All Group Travelers and Work well with Travel Agents. From athletes to sports teams, schools From All over the World Traveling with your sports team can be a fun and memorable experience. With a little planning, you can ensure that everyone goes home with a smile on their face. If you’re just in the initial planning stages, the best place to begin is by contacting a convention and visitor bureau. They are experts in their local community and can guide you to venues that are just right for your group. For those
planning a trip to
Florida, an informative site to
visit is the Florida
Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus at
http://www.facvb.org/.
Here you’ll find links to all of the convention and visitor bureaus in the
state.
When planning, consider renting a van and organizing group activities such as trips to museums, shopping centers, theme parks and sightseeing at the main attractions throughout the city. If you are a coach or chaperone and traveling with a group, it’s not unusual to have unique concerns and requirements Orlando Vacation Rentals Vans | Orlando Airport Van Rental Center | Orlando Airport Vacation Vans | Orlando Florida Van Rental Locations | Miami Van Rental | Florida Van Rentals | FAQs | Orlando Vacation Rentals Guide | Passenger Van Rental Guide | |
