Tuning into history is clear on the shores of Lake Minneola.

A Quonset hut from 1943 still stands, along with a member of the Greatest Generation.

"My name is Charles Eugene Konsler," says the strong man sitting at a table, surrounded by artifacts from World War II.

At age 92, Charles Konsler is the driving force behind the World War II Museum at the Clermont Historic Village. The farm boy from Kentucky with baby blue eyes is still careful to share what he did during his military career.

"I'll say a job of photographing all of Italy and Spain, because they didn't have satellites back then," Charles wonders.

 

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The pilot who served during World War II and the Korean War, maintains a collections of uniforms, articles and pieces of propaganda.  Three days a week, he's ready to help put together the pieces of history.

"I have often wondered. I've said, 'What would have happened, if Hitler, had been successful. What would we be doing today?'"

Today, the pilot is happy to stay on the ground.

"I have yet to crank a plane up," he says, adding since his military days, he's never gotten back in the cockpit, but still gets behind the wheel.

"Oh yeah, I drive every day."

And Charles' memory is still as sharp as it can be, as he recalls the movie that was put on hold in London for a special announcement.

"The lights came on, the fellow ran out on the stage, and said, 'It's over. The war is over.' And everybody just started screaming and hollered and going on," he recalls.

About this destination

Where: Clermont, Lake County

Open:
Friday:  1-3 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Info Line:
352-593-8496

General Admission:
Free.  Donations are appreciated

Address:
490 West Avenue, Clermont, FL

Website: http://www.s-lchs.org/

Parking:
Free

Accessibility Note:
A ramp leads into the WWII Museum.  There are no steps to navigate.

GPS Longitude & Latitude:
Latitude: 28.557298
Longitude: -81.770922

Latitude:  28° 33' 26.2722"
Longitude: -81° 46' 15.3186"

Drive Times:
From Orlando: 40 minutes
From Tampa: 1 hour, 15 minutes

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