The Capen-Showalter House
Winter Park’s historic Capen-Showalter House is ready to shine again, after news of its impending demolition broke in June 2013. The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park History Museum, the Friends of Casa Feliz, and hundreds of community supporters rescued the historic home by raising $450,000 in four months to relocate it to the Polasek Museum.
To move the 200-ton building, contractors cut the house into two halves — nicknamed Fred and Ginger — and floated the parts across Lake Osceola in a one-of-a-kind event that attracted national news coverage. The renovation process included reattaching the two halves of the house, restoring the original 1885 pine floors, and equipping the structure with accessible restrooms. The project won the 2014 Organizational Achievement Award from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation in recognition of this remarkable achievement.
“We are thrilled to mark the 130th anniversary of the Capen-Showalter House at the Polasek Museum and welcome the community to visit and enjoy an irreplaceable part of Winter Park’s history,” said Debbie Komanski, Executive Director. “This renewed home will be used to host many of our events and will benefit residents and guests to Central Florida for years to come. We could not have accomplished this work without the dedication of our construction and design team and the support of the whole community.”
The completed house, measuring 4,200-square-feet, contains museum offices, history exhibits, artworks, collections from the Polasek Museum, and is available for workshops, meetings, and special events. For more information about renting The Capen House for your next event, please click here.
“Show me the sculptor who can make a really good figure and I will point him out as the most original artist in the world!”
ALBIN POLASEK