• Connect. Contribute. Preserve.

    OVIEDO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

  • About Us

    The Oviedo Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,was organized in November 1973 by a group of citizens dedicated to the vision of an Oviedo Historical Museum and desire to promote the preservation of the history of the Oviedo community.

     

    Our purpose is to help preserve the community identity of Oviedo by collecting and disseminating knowledge about local history, serve as a repository for documents and artifacts relating to Oviedo history, promote the preservation and marking of historic sites and buildings in the Oviedo area and foster interest in local, state, national and world history.

  • What We Do

    CONNECTING COMMUNITY TO OUR HISTORY

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    The Lawton House

    Oviedo History: Artifacts + Antiques + Photographs

    The Lawton House, located at 200 West Broadway is the location of the Oviedo Historical Society's exhibits, history, antiques, and artifacts. Step into the house and see everyday household items from notable Oviedo families and the community. Learn about the our community's ties to citrus and why Oviedo was once known as the "Celery Capital of the World".

     

    It's open to the public the first Saturday of every month from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Private group tours are available upon request. Please email Desta Horner, Education Outreach Coordinator for the Oviedo Historical Society.
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    Robert James Lawton Scholarship

    Senior Scholarships & Student Awards

    Robert James Lawton was born in 1929, one of the sons of Oviedo’s original Lawton Family—prominent in our city’s history. Dr. Lawton attended Oviedo High School, graduating in 1946 as Valedictorian. He went on to graduate from Florida Southern College in 1950, received his masters from University of Delaware in 1956, and receive his Ph.D. from University of Virginia in 1968.

     

    His career was dedicated to education, holding various positions in academia. Dr. Lawton, who resided in Waynesboro, VA, made a bequest to the Oviedo Historical Society for the establishment of a permanent endowment fund upon on death. The Society began a scholarship in Dr. Lawton’s name to promote interest in local and state history.

     

    Robert James Lawton Scholarship

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    4th Grade Student Awards

    Join us to learn & help grow our community

    We have great appreciation for our members and volunteers who are able to spend a couple of hours with us to help out in the Lawton House and the Oviedo Farmers Market. Students who become volunteers are able to earn Bright Futures Scholarship hours. They are also able to have a hand in the future of the historical Society, our activities, and our legacy. For more information about volunteering, email us or stop in during our market day.

     

     

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    Oviedo Legacy Awards

    Community: Celebrating Living Legacy

    Our Annual Legacy Awards recognizes outstanding Oviedo Historical Society Members who:

    • Members who have a long history of serving the community
    • Outstanding service representative of the values, history, & legacy of the Oviedo community
    • Serve as testament to future generations of Oviedians
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    Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

    First Saturday in December

    For nearly 25 years, the City of Oviedo has had a Holiday Tree Lighting. We carry on this small town tradition. In December, we invite the community to join us as we provide hotdogs, drinks, and cookies while we enjoy local holiday music. Santa arrives to light the Christmas tree, visits with children, and shares in the festivities. Special thanks to the Citizens Bank of Florida, Publix Supermarkets, and Lukas Nursery for sponsoring this much wonderful yearly event.

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    Oviedo Farmers Market

    First Saturday Every Month

    The Oviedo Farmers Market is run by members and volunteers of the historical society. A portion of the proceeds of each market help fund the Robert James Lawton Scholarship as well as our activities throughout the year. Student volunteers earn Bright Futures Scholarship hours.

     

    The Lawton House is open with the market, the first Saturday of every month from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (except July) We host live, local music, fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, honey, grass fed beef, locally roasted coffee, breads, sweets, sauces, spices, and more! We feature an artisans row and are pet friendly.

     

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    Volunteers

    Join us! Lead, learn & help grow our community.

    We have great appreciation for our members and volunteers who are able to spend a couple of hours with us to help out in the Lawton House and the Oviedo Farmers Market. Students who become volunteers are able to earn Bright Futures Scholarship hours. They are also able to have a hand in the future of the historical Society, our activities, and our legacy. For more information about volunteering, email us or stop in during our market day.

    We have students from Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties who help maintain the the Lawton House, its exhibits, our vendors, children's area, entertainment, and the Memorial garden.

     

  • Your Membership in the Oviedo Historical Society

    Help support our community and our annual events by contributing to your community historical society. Join us and share your stories, your family and your memories. Build a legacy and share about the place you call home. Our members help provide the community with our history. We work with sister organizations to help create learning initiatives, experiences & fundraisers for our events and scholarships. Help us sustain our growth and build upon the hard-working people that founded our town.

  • History@Home

    As a way to spotlight our local talent in the community, the Oviedo History Society introduced History at Home in 2020 to share about Oviedo's history, its citizens, and notable events.

  • Oviedo Historical Society's Blog

    Thoughts, history, and events.

     An Oviedo native and Oviedo High School Alumni has finally received an honor long overdue; the Medal of Honor. After long-time and tireless efforts of the Cashe Family, his commanders, and the community,  Sgt. First Class Alwyn C. Cashe was awarded the Medal of Honor December 16th in a ceremony...
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    Robert James Lawton,Student Awards,Student Scholarships
      Congratulations to our 2022 Robert James Lawton Scholarship Award Winners!  Our Scholarship Award Winner is  Oviedo High School Senior Sunjay Hopkins.   Oviedo High School Senior Sunjay Hopkins pictured with our Scholarship Chair Mindy Starling in front of the Lawton House Saturday, May 7...
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     Next time you drop in to the Oviedo Farmers Market check out the Memorial Garden behind the Lawton House. Oviedo Historical Society member and Historian Zackery Surrette created a place to honor our members who have passed. This labor of love has taken countless hours with the help of the Oviedo...
    Read more...
  • Contact Us

    HAVE A QUESTION? REACH OUT.

    Oviedo Historical Society, Inc.
    P.O. Box 620841
    Oviedo, FL 32762-0841
    FARMERS MARKET LOCATION
    1ST SATURDAY EVERY MONTH
    LAWTON HOUSE
    200 WEST BROADWAY
    407-833-6260
  • CONNECT TO YOUR COMMUNITY

    JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE AND TAG #OVIEDOHISTORICALSOCIETY & #OVIEDOFARMERSMARKET.