Museum near Orlando Offers Extensive Tiffany collection

Share the Love

One of the best things about culture in Central Florida is the world’s most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany items at a museum in Winter Park.

Yes, that Tiffany — as in, Tiffany lamps, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, etc.

There’s more than just lamps too. The museum is the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. It features many high-design items of decor, home furnishing, jewelry and architecture at 445 N. Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park. It’s worth a full day trip because it’s surrounded by one of the best and most exclusive shopping and dining districts in Florida, known as Park Avenue. There’s even a SunRail station a few blocks away to ride up from downtown Orlando or from as far north as DeBary.

A centerpiece of the museum includes elaborate reconstructions of Tiffany’s former estate in New York, which was an 84-room mansion that was eventually destroyed by fire in 1957 — more than 30 years after Tiffany’s death. Tiffany wasn’t appreciated as much then as he is today. A Winter Park couple, Hugh and Jeannette McKean (Morse’s daughter) rescued many items from the Long Island estate and moved them to Florida.

Walking into the recreated rooms of the mansion, called Laurelton Hall, is a rare experience. Rooms include the Daffodil Terrace — a large sitting area with ornate pergola and natural light — and Tiffany Chapel, a masterpiece of design that envelopes the visitor.

The recreated Daffodil Terrace from Tiffany’s Laurelton Hall mansion.

Unique items that catch the eye are everywhere, including a Tiffany Studios library lamp, c. 1901, with Wisteria design shade, or a necklace designed by Tiffany, with peacock and flamingo imagery, made with enamel, opal, amethyst, gold, etc.

The Museum’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Tuesday through Thursday; it has slightly longer hours on Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and shorter hours on Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Regular admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $1 for students, and free for children younger than age 12. For more information: (407) 645-5311, or www.morsemuseum.org.

Check out other great destinations to explore in Central Florida.

Written by Paul Brinkmann

Paul Brinkmann is an experienced journalist who has covered business, environment and community news in Florida for over ten years. He’s broken major stories about fraud, new companies moving to Florida and development around Orlando’s theme parks. He also covered community response to the Pulse nightclub shooting and appeared on several national news outlets in the aftermath of the shooting. He’s originally from St. Louis, Missouri.

**Disclaimer: There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate or sponsor links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (for which we are extremely grateful).

Also, while we do our best to highlight LGBTQ-friendly destinations and businesses, info provided is based solely on personal experience and recommendations by community partners. We hope that nobody experiences discrimination or homophobia while visiting Florida, but we make no guarantees. Please inform us if you experience discrimination or homophobia while visiting any destination so we can make updates to our recommendations.