One Orlando Collection Digital Gallery Launched Today

Orange County Government, the City of Orlando and the Historical Society of Central Florida through the Orange County Regional History Center are pleased to announce the launch of the One Orlando Collection, digital gallery.

Orange County’s Regional History Center proudly remains the guardian and entrusted caretaker of more than 5,000 memorial and tribute items, which were meticulously collected and preserved by curation staff in the wake of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy.

While these items remain under the careful watch of the History Center, approximately 600 images of memorial items will be made available online to the public beginning June 12 at www.OneOrlandoCollection.com. The digital gallery includes photographs of items collected at various memorials in the wake of the tragedy including the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts, Orlando Regional Medical Center, Pulse Nightclub and Lake Eola. This gallery provides a first glimpse at these items since the History Center retired them from the public memorials. The online gallery also allows loved ones, near and far, to see the many displays of compassion, support and love received from across Central Florida and the world – in the wake of Orlando’s most difficult days.

The digital gallery features a navigation tool that allows guests to search for artifacts by individual name or memorial, giving family and friends the opportunity to see many of the tribute items left in honor of their loved ones. The gallery is intended to help capture the stories behind the artifacts including where the items came from and what the tributes represented to those who left them at the memorials.

Said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, “The tragedy of Pulse and the heartbreaking loss of 49 lives is a permanent part of history – it’s a story that will always be told.  Through the One Orlando Collection, we have the chance to tell the other side of the story – how our community reacted with compassion and understanding to this senseless act of violence and hate, and how Central Florida reacted with unity, resilience and strength in caring for our shattered brothers and sisters within the LGBTQ, Latinx and Hispanic communities, as well as the loved ones of those who were lost. On the broader scale, we hope that this amazing exhibit and Collection will inspire the change we want to see, and that the Pulse attack of June 12, 2016 will forever serve as the defining point and time in history when the world began to think and act differently.  Through this One Orlando Collection, and by memorializing the terrible losses that so many have suffered, and the incredible response of love and unity – we hope to educate and inspire future generations so that this tragedy is never again repeated.”

In addition to the launch of the digital gallery, the Orange County Regional History Center will host an exhibit of nearly 200 individual memorial items, to include the 49 Tribute Crosses and iconic IKEA couch that will be on display beginning June 12 through June 17. Admission fees to the History Center will be waived during that time.  

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