Museums of Maitland, Florida

We are blessed with a strong history in the arts and culture. There are several historical museums, as well as a wonderful historic arts colony.

The Maitland Art Center was founded as an art colony in 1937 by visionary American artist and architect André Smith (1880-1959). This tradition continues at MAC today, with gallery exhibitions, art programming, and a strong curriculum of art instruction in an intimate atmosphere. Visit this historic, aesthetic gem set in the middle of busy Central Florida. Now a National Historic Landmark!

The Art Center is one of the few surviving examples of “Mayan Revival” or fantasy architecture in the Southeast. The Center is recognized by the State of Florida as an historic site and is entered on the National Register of Historic Places. It features motifs drawn from the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica, and includes 23 separate structures linked by beautiful gardens and courtyards. NEWS – The Maitland Art Center is honored to have just been designated a National Historic Landmark!

“Destination Maitland” takes visitors on a journey that traces the history of the South Florida Railroad and its arrival in Maitland. Learn about the Maitland Train Depot, the different uses for the railroad, and the different types of people who used it to arrive and leave from Maitland. Interactive acitivities for kids make this a great stop for school groups and families.

The Maitland Historical Museum: In the late 1800s Lake Maitland was a small town, which included a few families, citrus crops, and a handful of businesses. “Maitland has come a long way since then but what makes it special is it “continues to carry with it the dreams and visions of hardworking vibrant citizenry while maintaining its picturesque setting amid cypress and lakes.” —Leslie Kemp Poole, Images of America: Maitland.

The Telephone Museum (at the Historical Museum): The Telephone Museum’s permanent exhibit takes visitors on a tour of communications technology. Try your hand at the working switching station and then take a look at how phones have changed through history.This exciting collection features the story of the Winter Park Telephone Company founded in Maitland by Carl Galloway in 1910.

The Waterhouse Residence Museum: This historic house museum reflects the life of a middle class Victorian family during the early days of the city of Maitland. The home was originally built by Maitland resident and carpenter William Waterhouse in 1884. Visit the Waterhouse Residence Museum during the holidays for a special treat as you experience a Victorian Christmas. Just look out for the Waterhouse mouse!

“Holidays at the Waterhouse” is open annually from November-January. Visitors to the Waterhouse Residence Museum will find a Victorian Christmas. Trees, decorations, and traditions fill the home representing a combination of both Victorian and typical Floridian Christmas decor. Guests will find an extra treat on their tour as they get to search for the annual visitor, the Waterhouse Mouse!

Carpentry Shop Museum: Built in 1883 as the working shop of carpenter and home builder William H. Waterhouse, the Carpentry Shop Museum now houses a permanent exhibit of nineteenth century and early twentieth century tools. This museum offers some hands-on opportunities as well!

Dali Central Florida – A Maitland Marvel!

Just a week after the Maitland Art Center proudly accepted its’ National Historic Landmark designation, it opens a long awaited and much anticipated Salvador Dali exhibit! The Spanish surrealist painter has been called one of the biggest artistic names in history, and certainly the most famous to be displayed at the center. The Research Studio founder (now called the Maitland Arts Center) Andre Smith and Salvador Dali were contemporaries, but moved in very different artistic circles.

The Dali Central Florida exhibit – Art and the Subconscious – will showcase works of both Dali and Smith side by side. This will highlight the contrast between the two men’s work and their own unique styles.

The Maitland Art Center is just a short stroll or dirve from our North Orlando Central Florida Bed & Breakfast Thurston House. This area has a feeling of quiet and culture, yet is just minutes from downtown Orlando and Winter Park. Expect to be impressed during your stay here in Central Florida.

Newest National Historic Landmark Florida

The newest National Historic Landmark Florida, and the only one in Orange County, is being dedicated tomorrow! It is such an honor for all of us who live in Maitland. The Maitland Art Center was built by Andre Smith in 1937 to be used as an artists’ colony. The complex of buildings and courtyards, considered “Fantasy Architecture”, are quite unique and feature many Aztec & Mayan design elements. There is a Chapel & Mayan Courtyard, Main Garden, and many small studio buildings. The studios are hosts to a variety of artists who are involved in the Artists-In-Action program.

Gallery exibits are changed often and feature a wide variety of collections. Art instruction classes are offered both for children and adults. The museum gift store has many unique one of a kind gifts, ranging from jewelry to pottery, and more. Newest National Historic Landmark Florida is truly a treasure for us all to enjoy.

Lake on the way to visit Newest National Historic Landmark Florida

Guests at Thurston House, our north Orlando Maitland Winter Park area bed & breakfast can easily stroll over to the center, through wonderful neighborhoods and along several lakes. Wander the beautiful grounds, explore the chapel area, peak in the studio windows and check out the latest gallery exhibit. You will even be able to see the newest National Historic Landmark Florida plaque after the dedication that takes place tomorrow.

Plan Ahead Holiday Celebration Maitland History

The holidays are almost here and there is a great 2014 Holiday Celebration Maitland History to tell you about. The historic Waterhouse Residence Museum, circa 1884, will be dressed for an entirely new Christmas exhibition. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is the theme, as seen from the view of each Waterhouse family member. Traditions from the Past, Present and Future will be showcased in each of the three main downstairs rooms.

The Waterhouse Residence Museum is just a short stroll from Thurston House so why not stay here. What a wonderful way to get into the spirit of the season, and learn about the past too! Along the walk from Thurston House to the museum, you can meander along several Maitland streets. There will be lots of beautiful neighborhood decorations to enjoy along the way. Lake Lily Park, where the museum is located, will also be dressed in season finerary. And there is always a beautiful lighted tree floating in the middle of Lake Lily.

On your way back to Thurston House, you can enjoy a bite at any one of several eateries – Antonio’s, Athena Chicken, Rangetsu, or Brown’s NY Deli.

Art & History Together North Orlando

Yes, Art & History together north Orlando. Three new exhibits just opened at the fabulous Art & History Museums – Maitland. Just minutes away from our Central Florida Bed & Breakfast Thurston House , you can hop in your car or take a short stroll over there. Yes, Art & History together here in Central Florida!

Exhibit #1 – The Maitland Art Center continues to honor the legacy of founder Andre Smith by bringing back the Artist-In-Residence Program. The first artist who has spent 6 weeks living and working on the grounds is Josette Urso. She worked primarily in the gardens making oil paintings, watercolors and drawings.

Exhibit #2 – Heavy Metal – No, not music but abstract arrangements of painted metal and found remains, innovative works by Rocky Bridges.

Exhibit #3 – Family Ties – No, not the TV show! With this interactive exhibition you can learn how to trace your own ancestry while you explore the history of Maitland’s founding families.

Such a unique and wonderful facility, a place where you could easily spend a few hours just enjoying the gardens and gallery. There is even an outdoor chapel and courtyard with wonderful Mayan themed artwork. Don’t forget about the fabulous gift shop too!

Remember, that is Art & History together, here in beautiful Maitland Central Florida!

Andre Smith, Art & Maitland History

Thurston House is just minutes from a most fascinating complex of buildings and gardens – The Maitland Art Center.

“A Day in the Life of the Research Studio”

June 8, 2012 – Sept. 19, 2012

André Smith (1880 – 1959) founded the Research Studio (now called the A&H’s Maitland Art Center) in 1937. He first invited artists to live and create within its walls in January 1938. These artists were called “Bok Fellows,” after Smith’s great patron, Mary Curtis Bok. From (1938 – 1959), nearly 70 individuals participated in this great experiment, including Milton Avery, Doris Lee, Ralston Crawford, and more. What was their day-to-day life like? Using artworks and recently-donated color photography as documentation, the exhibition will recreate the atmosphere of that classic period.

Maitland Art Center Galleries
231 W. Packwood Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751
Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm

And don’t miss the history museum next door –

Maitland’s Legacies: Creativity & Innovation

New permanent exhibit

The story of Maitland’s legacies united all of the Art & History Museums – Maitland, and extends beyond local geography, mirroring many American communities. The important individuals and families that made up these legacies include the Waterhouse family, the Galloway family, André Smith, and many others, including the Dommerichs, the Hills, and many more.

What united these people that founded our institutions? These pioneers were creative, innovative, entrepreneurial, and visionary. They came to this new, verdant place and made opportunities for themselves and others. Drawn from a variety of social classes, they built both culture and community. Using archival photographs, artifacts, and documents, the exhibition will explore these stories as they relate to the economic, technological, and social aspects of the American experience. There is even a little section for Thurston House!

Maitland Historical Museum
221 W. Packwood Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751
Thursday – Sunday 12p.m. – 4p.m.

Both the Maitland Art Center and the Historical Museum are a short drive or a pleasant stroll from Thurston House, North Orlando’s finest bed & breakfast accommodation!

Art & History – Maitland – Central Florida

With a MissionStatement like this –

“We engage the public by educating, collecting, preserving, interpreting, exhibiting, and promoting art and history reflective of the American experience inspired by Maitland’s heritage and the legacy of André Smith’s Research Studio.

Through our multidisciplinary collections, unique architectural environment, and inspirational programming, we stimulate thought, spark the imagination, enrich the spirit, and foster appreciation in art, historical research, and preservation.”…..

you can be assured this organization – Art & History – Maitland – is truly something special.

The organization boasts 5 museums, everything from an 1884 Carpentry Shop & Waterhouse Residence, a Mayan themed Artist Colony, to an Antique Telephone Museum and much more. Ongoing art and history exhibits fascinate and delight the senses. Culture & Cocktail programs offer another unique view of what this organization is about. Couldn’t you use a bit of CULTURE right now?

All museums are a short stroll or drive from Thurston House, North Orlando’s finest bed & breakfast accommodation.

Art & History in Central Florida!

The Maitland Art & History Association just launched a brand new website! This new site better reflects their mission to the community of Maitland North Orlando after they merged the Maitland Art Center and the Maitland Historical Society several months ago. Check out their facilities, including several museum buildings, and plan your visit to this wonderful area. Be sure to check the list of current events and even classes that are offered periodically. You can even hold a special event, such as a wedding or baby shower, at one of the organizations several venues. And they are all just minutes from our Central Florida B&B, Thurston House!

New Tiffany Wing at the Morse Museum!

Morse Museum Winter Park

The Morse Museum’s new galleries feature the recently restored Daffodil Terrace and 250 art and architectural objects from Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall. This new gallery is huge and features all sorts of information about this estate and how it came to be. There is everything from architectural drawings, to a menu from a dinner party. All of it is fascinating!

The new wing also has a room dedicated to the history of Tiffany, their lives and how the company evolved. It is well worth dedicating an entire afternoon to! And don’t miss the museum shop, a place where you can buy that special momento.

And the best part about the Charles Homer Morse Museum in Winter Park Florida is that it is about a 5 minute drive from Thurston House, our Maitland bed & breakfast. And it is only one of several reknowned Central Florida Museums.