FORT CHRISTMAS HISTORICAL PARK

By  Mike Miller July 8, 2025

OVERVIEW

Fort Christmas Historical Park, located in the community of Christmas just 20 miles east of Orlando, is a charming open-air museum that brings to life Florida’s frontier heritage.

At its heart is a full‑scale replica of Fort Christmas—a small supply post built during the Second Seminole War on December 25, 1837—recreated in the 1970s and dedicated in 1977.

Fort ChristmasFort Christmas

Surrounding the fort are historic “Cracker” homes and pioneer structures relocated from across central Florida, spanning from the 1870s to the 1930s, offering visitors a vivid glimpse into rural Florida life.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The original Fort Christmas was built in just over a week, starting on Christmas Day, 1837 by a garrison of 2,000 U.S. Army personnel and Alabama volunteers.

It formed part of a network of around 200 forts established during the Second Seminole War to aid military logistics. It was staffed until 1845, when shifting military needs led to its abandonment.

In the bicentennial year, Orange County and the Army Corps of Engineers built the replica fort, which now houses military, pioneer, and Seminole artifacts.

Today, the site is maintained by the Fort Christmas Historical Society, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the park’s collections, history, and programming. 

VISITING DETAILS

  • Location: 1300 North Fort Christmas Road, Christmas, FL 32709—just off State Road 50.

  • Hours: Park grounds are open summer 8 a.m.–8 p.m., winter 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; historic buildings, including the fort, pioneer homes, schoolhouse, and sugar cane mill, are open daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m., year-round (closed December 24–25). 

  • Admission & Amenities: Free entry with donation welcome; restrooms, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports courts, and grassy grounds for family fun.

  • Tips: Check with the park for the monthly “Barnyard Banter” series—hands‑on historical programs for all ages. Pets (except ADA service animals) and alcohol are prohibited on the historic grounds.

    • INTERESTING FACTS

  • The fort’s Christmas Eve origin gives the town its festive name and adds to its unique charm.

  • The park’s collection includes a 1906 union schoolhouse and a circa‑1932 community lunchroom—both buildings that served local families into the mid‑20th century.

  • Beyond historical structures, the park hosts annual events including a Cracker Christmas in December and a lively bluegrass festival each March.

  • Christmas, Florida is one of the few towns where you can get a Christmas-themed postmark on holiday mail in November–December, a tradition that draws many visitors.

  • The replica fort was constructed exactly 140 years after the original in December 1977, commemorating its build in 1837 

    • WEBSITE FORT CHRISTMAS

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