Which popular lake is actually giant sinkhole? What building got blown up in Lethal Weapon 3?
Think you know Orlando? Guess again. We’re bringing you some hidden gems in Orlando’s history, and no, we won’t be reminding you that *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys formed here.
President Richard Nixon said his infamous line “I’m not a crook” at the Disney Contemporary Resort on Nov. 17, 1973.
Photo via Associated PressThe local speakeasy Hanson’s Shoe Repair is located inside one of Orlando’s oldest buildings, which displayed the city’s first electric sign in the early 1900s.
Photo via FacebookMartin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech at Tinker Field in March 1964 about integration and racial equality. The civil rights leader advocated peaceful protests during a time when Orlando was still segregated.Photo via Wesh 2 NewsThe Orlando Public Library is the largest public library in the state at 290,000 square feet. It is also an internationally renowned example of the Brutalist school of architecture.
Photo via FlickrLake Baldwin used to be a naval training base, and took its name from Robert H.B. Baldwin, the former Secretary of the Navy.Photo via Baldwin Park FLAaron Jernigan became the first person to settle in Orange County in 1843. Before changing the name of the city to Orlando, it was called Jernigan to honor his contribution to the community. Photo via findagraveUCF graduates Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez wrote, directed and edited the 1999 cult-classic horror film The Blair Witch Project.
Photo via FacebookIn 1986, the Orlando Sentinel had readers submit their picks for the name of the City’s future NBA franchise and the finalists were the “Heat,” the “Tropics,” the “Juice” and the “Magic.”
Photo via National Basketball AssociationJohn Lennon of The Beatles signed the contract to effectively end the most lauded band of all-time at Disney World’s Polynesian Hotel in 1974.
Photo via Plasticos y DecibeliosNear the end of World War II, the USDA began experiments with the insecticide DDT in Orlando. It was banned in 1972 after scientists discovered that it was harmful to eagles.
Photo via FlickrThe entire city of San Francisco could fit inside of the Walt Disney Resort. Both are about 40 square miles in size.
Photo via FlickrWriter and beat poet Jack Kerouac lived in College Park when his book On the Road was published in 1957.
Photo via InstagramLake Eola is actually a giant sinkhole. It covers an area of 23 acres, and its deepest point is 23 feet.
Photo via FlickrTwo UCF students, George Hatcher and Taranjeet Singh Bhatia, were finalists for the Mars One voyage, a privately funded colonizing mission to Mars.
Photo via Mars OneTelevision personality Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood used to live in Winter Park, and was a graduate of Rollins College.
Photo via Orlando WeeklyThe building that explodes at the beginning of Lethal Weapon 3 was Orlando’s very own city hall. The building was demolished in 1991.
Photo via Orlando WeeklyRosalind Avenue is named after the character Orlando’s love interest in Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.”
Photo via InstagramSemoran Boulevard got its name because it runs from Seminole county to Orange County (Sem-Oran).
Photo via FlickrLas Vegas is the only city in America with more hotel rooms than Orlando.
Photo via Sin City GetawaysOrlando resident Col. Joe Kittinger was the first person to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by gas balloon in 1978.
Photo via FlickrUCF graduate, Brian Wheeler, founded the Tex-Mex restaurant Tijuana Flats in 1995. The chain now employs over 3,000 people and is located in seven states.
Photo via InstagramUCF is the nation’s largest public university with roughly 70,000 students enrolled.Photo by Bernard Wilchusky.The fountain in the middle of Lake Eola is named the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain. Allen was a local banker who pushed to have the fountain built in the style of those he saw during a trip to Europe. Construction was completed in 1957, making the fountain 58 years old.
Photo by Rob BartlettThe Orlando Wetlands is home to over 30 species of wildlife that are listed on the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Threatened and Endangered Wildlife list.
Photo via Trip AdvisorThe tallest building in Orlando is the SunTrust Center at 441 feet.
Photo via Sun Trust Center Parking GuideRollins College is the oldest college in the state, founded in 1885.
Photo via Rollins CollegeTracy McGrady became the only Orlando Magic player to have scored over 60 points when he dominated the Washington Wizards on March 3, 2004, with 62 points.
Photo via Hoops HabitWhy does Orlando love chains? Maybe because Darden Restaurants, the company responsible for chains like Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse, is based here.
Photo via WikipediaTupperware and AAA also call Orlando home.
Photo via GlassdoorOrlando’s first highway was Colonial Drive, which was paved with brick at the time.
Photo via Facebook
