Discover a few of Orlando’s oldest and longest running venues that will add a little history and heritage to your meeting (Rogers-Kiene Building pictured).

Incorporated in 1885, the city of Orlando features several historic buildings and businesses that to this day can offer you a unique space for a meeting or an off-site event. Here your organization could meet in one of the very first cinemas to use motion picture technology. Or host a cocktail reception where attendees can discover artifacts rich with stories and memories of Orlando’s historic heritage.

Read on to discover these and other history-filled options for your next Orlando meeting.

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Vintage Meeting Venues

Rogers-Kiene Building / CityArts (1886)

Located in the Downtown Arts District, the Rogers-Kiene Building, aka the Rogers Building, was an English gentlemen’s club when it was built in the Queen Anne style back in 1886. The building was added to the U.S National Register of Historic Places in 1983, forever preserving the rich history of this location.

Today, the building is home to downtown’s CityArts, a multi-use arts and events venue that showcases local and international artworks. With multiple spaces available throughout the building, CityArts Orlando can also serve as an excellent venue for events ranging from corporate meetings to cocktail receptions for 50 - 150 guests.

Beacham Theatre (1921)

From when it first opened in 1921 till now, the Beacham Theatre changed its name a total of eight times before landing on its current moniker, which is named after its founder. Back then, the theater was a vision of the future, as it was one of the few cinemas to incorporate motion picture technology during the age of silent films. In 1987, the City of Orlando recognized the theater as a historic landmark.

Today, it is a multi-use entertainment venue with an onsite cafe that hosts concerts and nightclub events in City District Main Street and is available for rent to host your next gathering.

Orange County Regional History Center (1927)

In 1892, the newly formed city of Orlando constructed their first courthouse, the Orange County Courthouse, in the heart of what is now known as Heritage Square Park. The courthouse was eventually replaced with a neoclassical building in 1927 and revived in 1998 with the goal of becoming a regional museum on a historic site, making way for what is now the Orange County Regional History Center.

Today, all five floors of the historic high-rise courthouse are filled with cultural stories and immersive exhibits that can bring meetings and receptions to life, accommodating small meetings to large conventions. Inspire your attendees with unique meeting packages available throughout the year and private exhibit hall access after-hours.

For large conventions the entire museum has a capacity of 1,650 for cocktail receptions; combined with Heritage Square, the capacity rises to 4,650.

Firestone Building / The Vanguard (1929)

The historic Firestone Building in downtown Orlando’s City District has been around since 1929 when it was first built for Harvey Firestone’s Tire and Rubber Company, one of the largest makers of car tires. The building was used to sell tires and repair cars until 1977.

It was thought to be shut down for good in 1991 until it found new life as a club venue. Today, it is home to popular nightclub The Vanguard, a great spot for attendees to cut loose after a productive day of meetings and is available for rent to host your next corporate event for 50 - 2,000 guests.

Dubsdread Golf Course & The Tap Room at Dubsdread (1924)

In the College Park Main Street district, 25 minutes from the Convention District, you can find “the oldest restaurant in Orlando”: The Tap Room at Dubsdread, which can accommodate private dining events for small and large groups up to 200 guests. While the restaurant has only been open for a couple of decades, the building just turned 100 years old in 2024 and originally served as the course’s clubhouse.

The historic Dubsdread Golf Course opened in 1924 and hosted the Orlando Open in the ‘40s, welcoming the likes of famous golfers such as Sam Snead, Babe Zaharias and Patty Berg.

Harry P. Leu Gardens (1936)

Part of Audubon Park Garden District, the Mizell-Leu House Historic District is home to the breathtaking Harry P. Leu Gardens, which debuted in 1936. Orlando native Harry Leu and his wife Mary planted the garden one seed at a time as they traveled around the world and brought seeds home with them, expanding their garden across 40-plus acres. After they donated the land to the city in 1966, it remained as a time capsule, preserving the family’s historic houses and the stories of their local legacy.

The property, located near downtown Orlando, is also a premier venue for corporate events, offering a modern and elegant banquet facility inside the Welcome Center with spacious rooms of varying sizes, all surrounded by the lush beauty of the gardens and the scenic shores of Lake Rowena.

Orlando Science Center (1955)

Orlando Science Center was founded in 1955, making it one of the oldest museums in the city. Originally called the Central Florida Museum, the private institution changed its name in 1984 after a large expansion and change of philosophy.

A striking five-floor facility, Orlando Science Center has more than 200,000 square feet of exhibits turned event space. The facility holds up to 2,500 guests, and the event space can be utilized in various ways to accommodate a combined or separate location for events. Each level is constructed around a rotunda featuring several interactive science exhibits, and all floors are available for private functions.

Orlando Museum of Art (1960)

Also part of Loch Haven Cultural Park, Orlando Museum of Art was founded in 1924, and its eye-catching current building has been around since 1960. Originally called the Loch Haven Art Center, the venue is Orlando’s flagship museum and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1971.

Just 10 minutes from downtown Orlando in Loch Haven Cultural Park, adjacent to Lake Formosa and part of the Ivanhoe Village Main Street district, the Orlando Museum of Art offers attractive function space that exhibits stunning pieces by glass sculpture artist Dale Chihuly and many other renowned artists. Flexible meeting space can accommodate small cocktail receptions or, for a full buyout, up to 250-plus guests who can roam freely throughout all galleries.

The Plaza Live (1963)

In 1963, Orlando’s very first two-screen movie house, The Plaza Theatre, opened in what’s now called The Milk District® just east of downtown Orlando. Since then, the spot has transformed from a cinema to a theater space, eventually becoming the music venue it is today.

Known as The Plaza Live, the venue has made a name for itself as an entertainment venue that spotlights small, up-and-coming artists, as well as big names such as Bon Iver, Rick Springfield, Kathy Griffin and many more. The building is currently owned by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.

With flexible spaces, modern amenities and a dedicated team, the Plaza Live offers the perfect backdrop for corporate events, meetings, banquets and celebrations. The Main Hall can accommodate 350 banquet, 990 theater seating and 1,330 standing-room guests.

Connect with Visit Orlando and we’ll help you select the vintage venue that best fits your group’s vibe.