Hillcrest Elementary School is one of Orlando’s oldest schools, opening in 1923. Since the 1980s, it has had a vibrant foreign language component and today it continues that tradition through the Orange County Public Schools Foreign Language Academy.]]>
Hillcrest Elementary Collection, Orlando Collection, Orange County Collection, RICHES.]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>
0:03:25 Grant writing and rehabilitation for the Student Museum and Center for the Social Studies
0:07:21 Other historic preservation projects
0:09:18 How Seminole County has changed over time
0:12:45 Impact of Walt Disney World Resort
0:15:42 Father’s experience in the Navy
0:17:57 Closing remarks]]>
Student Museum and UCF Public History Center Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Flash Player.]]> Java.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>

As early as the late 1800s, this centuries-old tree was considered a tourist attraction, but it wasn't until 1927 that a park was established around the tree. Senator Moses O. Overstreet donated six acres of land, which included the tree, to Seminole County to establish a park with the stipulation that a road would be built to take visitors into the park. The generosity of Sen. Overstreet inspired residents to name the giant cypress tree "The Senator."

Located at 761 General Hutchinson Parkway in present-day Longwood, Florida, the new park was named the Seminole Big Tree Park in honor of the main attraction. In 1929, President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) dedicated a bronze plaque at the site of the tree. The plaque was stolen in 1945, which would place this photograph sometime between 1940 and 1945. Based on a core sample taken by the American Forestry Association, The Senator was estimated to be 3500 years old in 1946. The Big Tree Park also features another giant cypress estimated to be 2000 years old. In 2005, local elementary students named the tree Lady Liberty. It was considered to be the companion tree to The Senator, as they were only 40 feet apart. The Senator continued to be a tourist attraction and local landmark until January 16, 2012, when it was lost in a fire.]]>
Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Big Tree Park." Tag number DP0008223, Central Florida Memory.]]> Special Collections & University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.]]> Longwood Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Special Collections & University Archives and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Orlando, Florida: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.]]> Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce]]> Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Orlando, Florida.]]> Thomas Cook Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce.]]> Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]> Thomas Cook Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

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Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Located at 761 General Hutchinson Parkway in present-day Longwood, Florida, the new park was named the Big Tree Park in honor of the main attraction. In 1929, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated a bronze plaque at the site of the tree. The plaque was stolen in 1945. Based on a core sample taken by the American Forestry Association, The Senator was estimated to be 3500 years old in 1946. The Big Tree Park also features another giant cypress estimated to be 2000 years old. In 2005, local elementary students names the tree Lady Liberty. It was considered to be the companion tree to The Senator, as they were only 40 feet apart. The Senator continued to be a tourist attraction and local landmark until January 16, 2012, when it was lost in a fire.]]>
Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.]]> Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.]]> Chase Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/chase.htm.]]> Chase Collection is comprised of four separate accessions from various donors, including Cecilia Johnson, the granddaughter of Joshua Coffin Chase and the children of Randall Chase.]]> Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Rights to this item belong to the said institution, and therefore inquiries about the item should be directed there. RICHES of Central Florida has obtained permission from Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida to display this item for educational purposes only.]]>