Leu House Museum
Some years ago I went to Orlando, Florida in USA and visited a 19th century historical house called the Leu House Museum. USA doesn't have such a long history compared to many other countries, so this is considered a valuable old house and is included in USA's National Register of Historic Places. It was Christmas when I went and the house was decorated beautifully with the festive atmosphere.
We started our tour outside in the 50-acres garden. There were lots of different types of plants but I don't know what they're called as I have never been good at gardening.
If I remember correctly, this should be the camellia collection and it is third largest camellia collection in the States.
Florida is very warm all year around, and even at Christmas time, the garden here was blooming with flowers.
I did recognise the orange trees, as Florida oranges are very famous!
After walking around the gardens and taking fun pictures with my family, we went inside to look at the house. The front door was very welcoming with the festive decorations.
The House was first built around 1850's and has been owned by four families before it was open to the public. The first Mizell Family bought this land in 1858 and used it to grow cotton, sugar cane and corn. In 1902 and New Yorker called Duncan Pell bought the property but only owned it for 4 years when it was bought by the Woodward Family from Alabama. It was their winter retreat. The final owner was the Leu family they arrived in 1936. The Leus did a lot of traveller and bought back many plants and seeds and that's why there is such a beautiful garden here. All these owners added their own touch to the property to make it such an interesting place today.
The first thing I saw when I entered the house was an impressive landing and the staircase going upstairs.
The landing leads to the front room, there was a beautiful christmas tree by the bay window and lot of christmas presents by it. The table is already set for a scrumptous christmas dinner. I think it must be really great to spend christmas here.
The house is kept as a museum, and the kitchen retains the decor from the previous years. I think that's on old fashion refrigeration you see in the first photo and the oven in the second. The rest of the utensils and appliances fit in with the previous era.
And finally I went upstairs to see the bedroom. This one was decorated the best with a few Christmas reindeers by the foot of the bed.
This isn't a very big house and doesn't take long to visit. What it lacks in size, it makes up with charm and it was a very pleasant visit. Unfortunately, the house was damaed by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and it now closed for renovations. Hopefully they will reopen very soon for people to visit.
Location information
● Leu House Museum, Orlando, FL, USA
