Christmas, Florida, is located 20 miles east of Orlando on SR 50 on the way to Kennedy Space Center and the Canaveral National Seashore. This time of year people make the drive to the Christmas Post Office to send off letters and packages.

But there is another good reason for people to stop at this small village. Fort Christmas, a full-sized replica of the Seminole War fort started on Christmas Day in 1837 is here in a large park.

The fort houses an impressive museum of frontier and later Victorian artifacts showing the story of East Orange County homesteading, cattle ranching, farming, and citrus growing. Perhaps equally important the fort grounds house seven historical “Cracker architectural” homesteads completely furnished.

There are picnic pavilions, barbeque grills, electrical outlets, and sports fields for visitors. Kids will love the Gift Shop run by the Fort Christmas Historical Society for it stocks pioneer and native American toys, crafts, and candies.