Hannibal Square Heritage Center, Winter Park

Hannibal Square is a historic district in Winter Park on New England Avenue two blocks west of Park Avenue, between Virginia and Pennsylvania Avenues. Winter Park sprang up around a railroad track laid in 1880 by the South Florida Railroad that connected Orlando to Sanford. Hannibal Square was founded in 1881 as an African-American community of laborers who built the town and worked as domestic servants to the areas wealthy families. The people who lived in Hannibal Square had educational opportunities, prosperity, and professional standing. The railroad tracks served as the dividing line in the town with whites living on the east side and blacks to the west. The Hannibal Square Heritage Center was created in 2007 by the Crealdé School of Art in partnership with the city of Winter Park. The museum was created to showcase the past, present, and future contributions of the African-American community. The museum displays their permanent exhibit, Heritage Collection: Photographs and Oral Histories of West Winter Park. The collection is 100 framed archival photographs of West Winter Park residents spanning the 20th century. Another museum exhibit is the Hannibal Square Time Line, documenting local and nation's events in the African-American community since the Emancipation Proclamation. In addition the museum hosts visiting rotating exhibitions that document the black experience. The current exhibit is social justice quilts created by the Charmettes Club and it is running until August 27th. The museum also offers historical walking tours. Admission to the Hannibal Square Heritage Center is free, You can do a self tour as I did or arrange for a guided tour. The museum is small but packed with history that shows love and pride for the community. I love a free history museum. There are a number of restaurants and other museums and attractions within walking distance of charming Hannibal Square.

The Heritage center is an historic treasure that preserves the lives of the original in habitants of Winter Park. The center welcomes people from all cultural backgrounds. We each have a story to tell a culture to share.