Women’s History & Cultural Center

Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912, before women had the right to vote. The new organization emphasized inclusiveness, the outdoors, self-reliance, and service. The National Women’s History Museum includes Juliette among its Featured Biographies of women. She is credited with establishing and nurturing a global movement that has changed the world.

Girl Scouting first appeared in Central Florida in the mid-1920s with troops scattered across the region. In 1956 Girl Scouts of Citrus Council (GSCC) was incorporated, operating under a charter granted by Girl Scouts USA, which owns the brand.

The GSCC Archive Team, along with GSCC leadership, determined that, while various local museums provide wonderful and meaningful exhibits highlighting the history and stories of women who shaped our community and beyond, there is no museum in the Orange County area that is singularly dedicated to celebrating the history and influence of women and girls in our rich Central Florida culture. Many of the women who have impacted the development of our community were Girl Scouts, which added to our interest in creating a platform to celebrate the historical significance and cultural influence of women in Central Florida.

The Girl Scouts of Citrus Council has completed that missing piece in our impressive regional museum offerings with the establishment of a unique Women’s History & Cultural Center (WHCC).

• The WHCC houses both a permanent exhibit and rotating women’s history exhibits, providing the public-at-large as well as our membership with access to interactive program opportunities as well as a unique space for cultural activities.

• The Center will host events highlighting women in history and offer local students, families, and visitors from elsewhere the opportunity to not only learn interesting facts but enjoy hands-on experiences designed to bring history to life and inspire the imagination.

• Featured exhibits and interactive curriculum dedicated to celebrating women and girls who have made a cultural or societal impact on our community forms the educational core of our permanent exhibit. Additionally, we will highlight the history and cultural impact of Girl Scouting in Central Florida, demonstrating the link between the Girl Scout experience and women who have made the world a better place. As the founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, Juliette Gordon Low, was known to say, “the work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its’ makers”.

Families from around the world frequently visit the Girl Scouts of Citrus offices at Mills Ave. when visiting the Orlando area. They take the opportunity to expose their children to the wider world of Girl Scouting – celebrating the world-wide bond that has done so much to elevate women for over 100 years. The opportunity to experience a slice of women’s history and the contributions made by American women is important to our community and to the world.

Naming Opportunities

• Permanent Exhibit Space
• Rotating Exhibit Space
• Interactive Education Laboratory
• Administrative Office Suite

Partnerships

• Florida Women’s History Awareness Curriculum
• Women’s History Month Celebration
• Cultural Community Leaders Series
• Visitor Welcome Center and Materials
• Girl Scout History Educational Tea Series

Support

• Regional Troop Field Trips
• Interactive Education Resources
• GSCC Archive Team Resources
• Docent Training Program

Memberships

• Corporate
• Nonprofit Groups
• Individual