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Celebrating the Opening of the Bill Nygren Buggy Collection
Join Us on September 10, 2026 @ 430pm for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Opening Reception!
The Seminole County Historical Society invites the community to celebrate a milestone in preserving Florida's history during A Night of Moving and Shaking in Seminole County Gala on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Museum of Seminole County History, 300 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL.
The evening will commemorate the grand opening of the Museum's newest expansion and the Bill Nygren Buggy Collection Exhibit, a one-of-a-kind educational experience that showcases the evolution of personal transportation in America from 1790 through the early 1900s. The opening of the exhibit is the culmination of almost fifteen years of work by dozens of individuals, groups, and businesses. It has been made possible through the generous donation of former Geneva-native Bill Nygren and his family.
The celebration begins with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 pm, followed by an Opening Reception from 5:00 to 7:00 pm that will be hosted by the Seminole County Historical Society. Community leaders, supporters, history enthusiasts, and the public are invited to attend this special event honoring years of planning, fundraising, and preservation.
The Bill Nygren Buggy Collection features almost three dozen horse-drawn vehicles that tell the story of transportation before the automobile. These carriages and buggies, once owned and used by everyday Americans, represent the craftsmanship, engineering, and innovation that laid the foundation for today's automotive industry.
Visitors will discover how advances made during the Industrial Revolution transformed manufacturing and transportation while gaining a deeper appreciation for life in the US between 1790 and 1920. The exhibit also includes interactive learning opportunities designed to engage visitors of all ages. The exhibit has been designed to incorporate STEM education concepts so that children will learn that there’s more to history than just facts, documents, and artifacts. The exhibit is expected to become the only museum collection of its kind in Florida, providing a unique educational resource for school groups, families, tourists, and history enthusiasts in Central Florida and beyond.
The Museum of Seminole County History serves as one of Central Florida's premier cultural destinations, preserving the stories, artifacts, and heritage that have shaped the region for generations. The Seminole County Historical Society, a nonprofit organization, provides ongoing support for the museum's exhibits, educational initiatives, and preservation efforts.
For more information, visit www.seminolecountyhistoricalsociety.com.
How the Collection Came to Be
Fundraising for the Nygren Buggy Collection
The Seminole County Historical Society in Sanford, FL is raising money to renovate a warehouse near its museum which will house a large donation of 32 buggies/carriages that trace the history of personal transportation in the US from 1790 to the early 1900s.
These horse-drawn vehicles were owned by the "common man" and the technology used in their design and construction was the precursor of today's automobile. This interactive exhibit will teach Central Florida's school children, history buffs and tourists about the advances in manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution and will give viewers insight into horse-drawn vehicles in the "old days," a mere 150 years ago! Kids will be able to harness a model horse, hitch it up to a small carriage, test out reining, and learn about hand-made versus machine-made parts of the buggy, like springs and axles. This interactive exhibit will be the only buggy museum collection in the state of Florida.
The Seminole County Historical Society is the non-profit agency that supports the Museum of Seminole County History, a major cultural venue in Central Florida. We are continuing to fund raise the $150,000 goal we need to make this museum expansion possible. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please reach out to us if you'd like to learn more.
Buggy collector Bill Nygren of Geneva, Florida.
Photos from the Nygren Collection
