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St. Cloud is a lakeside city in Osceola County, Florida, on the southern shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga about 25 miles southeast of downtown Orlando. Its name comes from the St. Cloud sugar plantation that developer Hamilton Disston ran here in the 1880s, and the town itself was founded in 1909 as a retirement colony for Union veterans of the Civil War, which earned it the nickname Soldier City.
The historic downtown along Pennsylvania Avenue keeps early twentieth-century storefronts, the Hunter Arms Hotel and the old railroad depot, while Mount Peace Cemetery holds hundreds of graves of Grand Army of the Republic veterans. The St. Cloud Heritage Museum tells this unusual story through photos, uniforms and pioneer artifacts.
The heart of town is the lakefront, with a long paved trail, a marina, a fishing pier and sunset views over East Lake Toho. Beyond the city, ranch land and cypress swamps stretch south toward the Florida prairie, and the theme parks around Kissimmee and Orlando are a short drive away.
The city's main gathering place on the shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga, with a long paved lakeside trail, a fishing pier, a marina and boat ramp, playgrounds and picnic pavilions. It is busiest at sunset and during community events. Bring bug spray on summer evenings and watch for wading birds along the shore.
A large, shallow lake of about 12,000 acres on the north edge of St. Cloud, popular for largemouth bass fishing, boating and birdwatching. Ospreys, herons and alligators are common along its grassy shores. Launch from the city marina, check weather before heading out, and keep a safe distance from wildlife.
A canal dug in the 1880s during Hamilton Disston's drainage projects that links East Lake Tohopekaliga with Lake Tohopekaliga to the west. Today it is used by boaters and anglers, and a road bridge offers views of the water and passing boats. Look for herons and turtles along the grassy banks.
A small local museum downtown that tells the story of St. Cloud's founding as a retirement colony for Union Civil War veterans, with old photographs, uniforms, household items and displays on the Disston sugar plantation era. Volunteers are happy to share stories. Opening hours are limited, so check before you visit.
A historic cemetery founded in the city's early years, where hundreds of Union veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic are buried beneath rows of weathered markers. Memorials honor the soldiers who founded the town, making it a moving stop for history lovers and genealogists. Visit quietly, stay on paths and respect ongoing burials.
A historic hotel building in downtown St. Cloud dating from the town's first years, when it housed visitors and veterans' families arriving in the new colony. Its large frame facade is one of the most recognizable old buildings in town and a link to the colony's founding era. It is best viewed from the street during a downtown walk.
The town's old railroad station, a reminder of the days when veterans and settlers arrived by train to start new lives in the colony. The building has been reused by a local veterans' post, fitting for a city founded by soldiers. Look for it near downtown and pair it with a walk along Pennsylvania Avenue.
The old commercial core of St. Cloud, centered on Pennsylvania Avenue with brick storefronts from the early 1900s, local cafes, antique shops and restaurants. Street names honor the states the veteran founders came from. Stroll it in the morning, then walk a few blocks north to the lakefront for views over the water.
A large nature preserve and eco-attraction in the ranch country east of St. Cloud, protecting pine flatwoods, cypress swamps and prairie. Visitors explore on guided coach safaris, horseback rides and zip lines, spotting deer, wild turkeys and alligators. Book tours ahead and wear closed shoes and sun protection.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Benoît Prieur, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Benoît Prieur, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Benoît Prieur, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Benoît Prieur, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Benoît Prieur, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
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Photo: Ebyabe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Benoît Prieur, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Benoît Prieur, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
