Downtown Orlando Skyline, 2002

Downtown Orlando Skyline, 2002

Downtown Orlando Skyline

Orlando (Fla.)

Buildings--Florida

Lakes--Florida

The Downtown Orlando skyline, with Lake Eola in the distance, in 2002. The Orlando area was originally occupied by the Creek and Seminole tribes. In 1838, Fort Gatlin was erected on the shores of Lake Gatlin, just a few miles south of present-day Downtown Orlando. Centered around Church Street, Orlando became a city in 1884. Originally a cattle town, Orlando grew into a major citrus growing center by the 1920s. The city continued to grow during the Great Depression with aid from the Work Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, Orlando became a major military center, as well with the development of the McCoy Air Force Base and Pinecastle Air Force Base, and with the addition of the Naval Training Center (NTC) Orlando in 1968. Downtown Orlando declined in the 1960s and 1970s. Redevelopment began in the 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with projects such as the Church Street Station entertainment complex. In 1998, a building boom began and continued through the 2000s.

Cook, Thomas

Original color digital image by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.

2002

Thomas Cook Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

image/jpg

152 KB

1 color digital image

eng

Still Image

Downtown Orlando, Florida

Donation

History Teacher

Geography Teacher

Originally created by Thomas Cook and published by RICHES of Central Florida.

Copyright to this resource is held by Thomas Cook and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.

Cepero, Laura

Private Collection of Thomas Cook

Antequino, Stephanie Gaub, and Tana Mosier Porter. Lost Orlando. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Pub, 2012.

"Downtown Orlando Historic District Walking Tour." City of Orlando. http://sanfordhistory.tripod.com/Links/wtour.pdf.

Rajtar, Steve. A Guide to Historic Orlando. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2006.

1 color digital image