🦢 Taxidermy swan one of 150 artifacts in ‘Orlando Collected’ exhibit

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando turns 150 this year, and its story is being told through 150 rare artifacts in the "Orlando Collected" exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Museum.

The exhibit represents everything from Tupperware to the Orlando Magic. There’s even a nearly 100-year-old taxidermy swan on display.

Watch below to see more of what’s in the exhibit.

His name is Billy and he roamed Lane Lucerne from about 1910 to 1933, according to OCRHM.

“He wasn’t the nicest swan. He was known for chasing children and he would bite at people’s car tires. He murdered his mate and drowned her in the lake,” Collections Registrar Kara Kovalev said.

The bird so popular that he was preserved. After his passing, almost 100 years ago, he was stuffed and put in a custom glass display case.

“You can see some of his feathers starting to show age,” Kovalev said. “It’s very strange how people have idolized him over the years. It’s really weird.”

Swans have become an iconic symbol of Orlando with many now congregating around Lake Eola.

Billy is just one of 150 artifacts telling the story of The City Beautiful as part of the “Orlando Collected” exhibit.

“We have a brick from the Orlando Arena, the O-rena, from 1989 where the Magic started playing,” Assistant Curator of Collections Jeremy Hileman said. “That really brought Orlando to a new level to get the entertainment and touring shows. It’s a testament to what Orlando grew to.”

There’s even rare sports memorabilia on display like the original seats from the baseball grandstands of historic Tinker Field.

They’ve even got a basketball shoe signed by Shaq during his rookie year on the Magic.

It wasn’t just sports and entertainment that moved Orlando forward over the past 150 years, the city was also known for an iconic business.

“Tupperware was huge in Orlando. The Tupperware Home Parties, this was their headquarters in Orlando and it became a tourist attraction here. They would have these huge Jubilee’s every year,” Kovalev said.

And Brownie Wise was the powerhouse behind Tupperware’s Home Parties, serving as the vice president. One of her dresses she’s believed to have worn to the 1954 Jubilee is on display.

“Brownie was the queen of Tupperware. She was in charge of everything and the sales women wanted to emulate her and be her,” Kovalev said.

At that time, Tupperware consultants were rewarded with pins. As they would hit milestones for sales, they would add pennants on to their name tag.

“Orlando Collected” was collective effort from residents, historians and organizations lending items to the exhibit.

“We’re using them to tell individual stories of Orlando and it is a special thing,” Hileman said.

“We need to preserve that history that was and is Orlando, but it’s changing so we need to keep that time capsule of what it was and have that for the future when it’s different,” Kovalev said.

You can pick up an artifact guide and check out “Orlando Collective” through Jan. 11, 2026, at the Orange County Regional History Museum. Click HERE to purchase a ticket to the museum.

General Admission Prices

• Adults $10
• Seniors (55+) $8
• Students & Military $7* (with valid I.D.)
• Children (Ages 5-12) $6
• Children (Ages 4 and under) Free
• Members Free
• Orange County Employees Free* (with valid I.D.)
• Florida Educators Free* (with valid I.D.)(all levels of education, including colleges and universities)
• Museums for All Ticket Free
• OCLS Library Cardholders $2 off regular admission
• Wells’Built Combo Ticket $10
• Bungalower Buddy Buy one admission, get a second admission of equal or lesser value free