Fort Christmas Historical Park is about 15 miles east of Orlando near the small town of Christmas (1330 SR 420; 407-568-4149). There is a replica of the 1837 Second Seminole War fort as well as original pioneer homes that have been moved to the site to preserve them, including a 1904 dog-trot style Cracker house, 1915 farm house, 1917 ranch house and 1927 rural home. Exhibits in the fort focus on the Seminole War and pioneer heritage. Farm implements and a sugar cane grinder recall the 1880s settlement era.

The Osceola County Historical Society & Pioneer Enrichment Center in Kissimmee (750 N. Bass Rd.; 407-396-8644) recalls the days when Florida cow hunters, called "crackers" for the sound their cattle whips made, rounded up free-ranging herds and shipped them to Cuba and the Confederacy. The complex includes Cracker houses from 1880 and 1899, a one-room country store and a museum of pioneer artifacts in the midst of an orange grove.

Homeland Heritage Park about six miles south of Bartow on U.S. 17 (863-534-3766) also includes buildings reflecting rural life at the end of the 19th century. The Bethel Methodist Church is restored to its 1880s appearance, when it was the center of the farming community of Homeland. The park is the location of the annual Cracker Storytelling Festival in October. Just to the south near Bowling Green on U.S. 17 is Paynes Creek State Historic Site (888 Lake Branch Rd.; 863- 375-4717) covering the Third Seminole War and pre-Civil War pioneer life in Florida. An annual Arts and Crafts Festival is held here every December.

The Cracker Trail Museum and Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs, just south of Wauchula on U.S. 17 (2822 Museum Dr.; 863-735-0119) focuses on Florida's cattle ranching history. Cattle are also the center of attention at the Lake Kissimmee State Park, off SR 60, 15 miles east of Lake Wales (863-696-1112) that features living history demonstrations of an 1876 "Cow Camp" on weekends.

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