On June 12, 2016, the Pulse Nightclub shooting claimed 49 victims and forever changed the lives of many more survivors, family members, and first responders, as well as the communities to which those individuals belonged. The outpouring of love and support in the wake of such tragedy linked profoundly personal histories together in unexpected ways. The artifacts found in this exhibition are physical representations of these stories; some of struggle and loss and others of triumph and hope. Each of these journeys, in many ways so different, converge in the early morning hours of that fateful day. As time moves forward, we will continue to remember these stories and honor those whose lives so significantly shaped them.

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Stories

Just imagine what stories the objects found in this exhibition could tell. Some are simple, some are profound and carry tremendous emotional weight, and some are a bit more difficult to decipher. They all share a commonality – an association with the Pulse Nightclub shooting. Some of their stories are apparent, while others took the passage of time for their tale to unfold. Each item here carries with it more than its original intended use may imply, serving as a reminder of the incalculable number of connections made during the response to this senseless act of violence.

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Stories Not Yet Told

The One Orlando Collection is comprised of over 10,000 items documenting the Pulse Nightclub shooting, as well as the subsequent outpouring of community support. A majority of these items were carefully collected by History Center staff from memorial sites around Orlando. Each object has its own story to tell, and while we have been fortunate to learn many of them, the items found here represent those for which we have few details. If you recognize any of the items seen here as your own, have further information, or would like to share a personal experience, please contact us at oneorlandocollection@ocfl.net. To see many more items in our collection visit the One Orlando Collection Digital Memorial.

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An Empty Exhibition Case

While they serve many purposes, memorial items are not left at sites of tragedy to be collected by museums, and not all of them can be preserved. If you visited one of the four temporary memorials that sprung up in our community following the Pulse Nightclub shooting, chances are you saw thousands of beautiful mementos, as well as those worn by time and the elements. Some were simply ephemeral in nature, while others were washed away in the summer rain or irreparably damaged by the intense heat of the Florida sun. This empty case represents all those thoughtful items, left by members of our community in their darkest moments of grief, that we were unable to collect. It represents the many stories that will likely go untold.

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History of the Site

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Share Your Artifact’s Story

Everyone has a story to tell. What physical object would tell an interesting story about your life? If you would like to share, please submit it to us. We will feature a selection on our social media.

What is your object? Where did you get it? Similar to those in this exhibition, write a brief story of your item. Include any memories and why it is important to you. See examples of submissions below.

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We Remember

Dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. May their lives and stories be remembered and their legacies continue to unfold. Explore items in memory of each of the 49.

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For more, visit our 2018 and 2019 Pulse remembrance exhibitions