The world's most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany's work, on Winter Park's Park Avenue, about 24 miles from Lake Nona.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is on Park Avenue in Winter Park, about 24 driving miles from Lake Nona Town Center. It holds what it describes as the most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany anywhere. Its best-known piece is the Tiffany Chapel, built for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and reconstructed inside the museum. A dedicated wing displays art and architectural pieces from Laurelton Hall, Tiffany's Long Island estate. The museum was founded in 1942 and has been on Park Avenue since 1995.
Few visitors expect one of the world's great collections of American decorative art to be on a small-town main street near Orlando. The Morse Museum's Tiffany glass, lamps, jewelry and windows, and above all its reconstructed Tiffany Chapel, draw visitors from around the world.
This guide is written for people weighing a move to Lake Nona. It covers how far the museum is, what is there and how to combine it with a day in Winter Park.
How far is the Morse Museum from Lake Nona?
The Morse Museum is about 24 driving miles north of Lake Nona Town Center, on Park Avenue in downtown Winter Park.
The usual route takes SR 417 north, a toll road, and then local roads west into Winter Park. Park Avenue parking is a mix of time-limited street parking and public lots. On weekdays, SunRail from Meadow Woods to Winter Park Station is another option; SunRail does not run regular weekend service.
| Distance from Lake Nona Town Center | About 24 miles |
|---|---|
| Location | 445 N. Park Avenue, Winter Park |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Known for | Louis Comfort Tiffany collection; the Tiffany Chapel |
| Plan for | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
What is the Tiffany Chapel?
The Tiffany Chapel is a complete chapel interior Louis Comfort Tiffany designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, now reconstructed inside the Morse Museum.
It is a room of mosaics, leaded-glass windows and a glass-mosaic altar, and it is the centerpiece of any visit. The chapel had a long journey after the exposition before the museum's founders acquired and restored it, and seeing it in person is very different from seeing photographs.
What else is in the Morse Museum's collection?
Beyond the chapel, the museum shows Tiffany's lamps, windows, jewelry, pottery and glass, along with American art pottery, paintings and decorative arts.
Much of the Tiffany collection came from Laurelton Hall, Tiffany's estate on Long Island, which the museum's founders rescued after a fire in the 1950s. A wing of the museum is dedicated to Laurelton Hall and displays architectural pieces and art from the house. Displays rotate, so there is often something new on view between visits.
How long should you plan for a visit?
About an hour and a half to two hours is enough for most visitors to see the chapel, the Laurelton Hall wing and the main galleries.
Because it sits on Park Avenue, the museum is easy to combine with lunch, shopping or the Scenic Boat Tour. See our Winter Park day trip guide for more.
When is the best time to visit the Morse Museum?
Weekday mornings are the quietest, and the museum has traditionally offered special evening hours and a holiday event in Winter Park's Central Park.
The holiday event, Christmas in the Park, has long been a Winter Park tradition, with Tiffany windows displayed outdoors in Central Park. Check the museum's website for current hours, admission and any special events before you go.
How does the Morse Museum fit alongside Lake Nona's other nearby museums?
The Morse is the centerpiece of Winter Park's museums, and Orlando's Loch Haven Park museums are a short drive south.
See our guides to the Orlando Museum of Art, the Mennello Museum of American Art and the Orlando Science Center. For more of Orlando, see the Explore Orlando hub.
Pros, Cons and Our Take
Pros
- An exceptional Tiffany collection, including the Tiffany Chapel.
- On Park Avenue, easy to combine with a day in Winter Park.
- A manageable visit of about two hours.
- On weekdays, reachable by SunRail from Meadow Woods.
Cons
- About 24 miles each way, with tolls if you drive.
- Park Avenue parking fills on weekends.
- Focused on decorative arts, which may not suit every visitor.
- SunRail does not run regular weekend service.
Our Take
The Morse Museum is the one Orlando-area museum we would tell any art lover not to miss. The Tiffany Chapel alone justifies the trip, and pairing the museum with lunch and a walk on Park Avenue makes a complete day out from Lake Nona.
What the Neighbors Know
For Lake Nona residents, the Morse is usually part of a Winter Park day rather than a trip on its own, and it is a favorite for showing visitors something they didn't expect near Orlando. If regular trips north matter to you, compare Lake Nona neighborhoods by how quickly they reach SR 417.
Official Sources
- Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
- Winter Park Chamber of Commerce: things to see and do
- SunRail schedules and stations
Buying or selling in Lake Nona? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the Morse Museum from Lake Nona?
About 24 driving miles from Lake Nona Town Center, on Park Avenue in Winter Park. The usual route takes SR 417 north, a toll road.
What is the Morse Museum known for?
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is known for its collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, which it describes as the most comprehensive anywhere, including the Tiffany Chapel.
What is the Tiffany Chapel?
The Tiffany Chapel is a chapel interior Louis Comfort Tiffany designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It is reconstructed and displayed inside the Morse Museum.
How long does a visit to the Morse Museum take?
About an hour and a half to two hours is enough for most visitors to see the Tiffany Chapel, the Laurelton Hall wing and the main galleries.
