Morse Museum in Winter Park

This blog is primarily for those of you who vacation at Disney World at least once a year and have seen everything that the Mouse has to offer a dozen times or more. I know this suggestion might seem outrageous to some of you, but I’m going to propose leaving “property” and trying something new. No, it’s not Universal or Sea World. I have something far more unique in mind — the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum.

My sister, an antique dealer, visited me a couple of years ago. Since she’s not into Disney (I think she must be adopted), she wanted to do something more to her taste while here in Orlando. After a little research, she discovered that the most comprehensive collection of art created by Louis Comfort Tiffany was located just north of downtown Orlando in Winter Park. The collection includes lamps, pottery, jewelry, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass windows, and the chapel interior Tiffany designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

The museum was founded in 1942 by Jeannette Genius McKean. In 1957, the museum rescued architectural elements, windows, and furniture from Tiffany’s Long Island estate which was severely damaged in a fire. Over the next fifty years, the collection continued to grow and is now considered the most comprehensive collection of the designer’s work.

The tour of the museum begins with a short film. Here you will learn about the people who created the museum and how their love of the arts helped them assemble this wonderful collection. You will also learn about the artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany.

After the movie, there is a suggested path in which to experience the museum. Toward the end of your journey, you will be treated to the Tiffany Chapel, which is the highlight of the collection. Displayed at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, this Byzantine-inspired chapel contains sixteen mosaic columns, six elaborately carved plaster arches, a white glass and marble mosaic alter, a baptismal font, and a 1,000-pound 10×8 foot electric chandelier in the shape of a cross. It’s truly breathtaking!

Like all museums, (and Disney attractions) you exit the Morse through a gift shop. Along with the traditional gift items usually found in a museum shop are pieces of jewelry and art inspired by Tiffany.

Since photographs are not allowed inside the museum, I have no pictures to share with you. Sorry. See the web-links below.

The museum’s hours are as follows:
9:30am – 4:00pm Tuesday through Saturday
4:00pm – 8:00pm Fridays, November through April – free admission on these nights
1:00pm – 4:00pm Sunday
Closed Monday

The price of admission is $3 for adults, $1 for students, and children under 12 are free. But to be honest, I doubt that many children under 12 would find this museum of interest.

The museum is located at 445 North Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 645-5311

From Disney World, get onto Interstate 4 traveling east. Shortly after passing downtown Orlando, take the Fairbanks Avenue exit (Exit 87). Turn right and proceed toward Winter Park 1.8 miles. Turn left onto South Park Avenue. Proceed 1/2 mile to the Museum. Parking is available at the rear entrance of the Museum. The trip should take between 25-35 minutes once you get onto I-4.

The museum is also within easy walking distance of a pleasant shopping district. Several blocks of Park Avenue are filled with boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. Here, brick sidewalks and old oak trees create a gracious atmosphere, making this the perfect spot to have lunch at a sidewalk cafÃ© before or after you enjoy the museum. Paralleling much of this shopping district is a lovely park. More oak trees and a beautiful fountain help transport you back in time to a simpler, more amiable era.

There are a number of free parking lots in the Park Avenue area.

For more information regarding the museum and Park Ave, click here:

Morse Museum: http://www.morsemuseum.org/home.html

Park Avenue: http://www.parkave-winterpark.com/