James Gamble Rogers II (1901-1990) was one of the defining architects of Winter Park, helping to lend the community its distinctive character. Born in Winnetka, Illinois and educated at Dartmouth College, Rogers trained at his father's Daytona Beach architectural firm until 1928, when he opened a practice in Winter Park.Over the next sixty years, his name would become synonymous with traditional residential architecture in the growing community. His style flowed effortlessly from French Provincial to Spanish Colonial. As his firm grew, Rogers' work expanded to commercial and government projects, although his true passion was the human scale of residential dwellings.

Some of his best-known buildings include the Florida State Supreme Court Building (1949) in Tallahassee and the Olin Library on the Rollins Campus, which he drew with a still-steady hand at age 85. Other Winter Park landmarks designed by Rogers include the Greeneda Court shopping area on Park Avenue and the Holt and Mizener homes. Rogers was the recipient of the 1984 Hamilton Holt Medal presented by Rollins College in recognition of "a neighbor and friend, whose talents have given shape and character to our campus for nearly four decades."An excellent synopsis of his life and work is the 2004 biography “The Architecture of James Gamble Rogers II in Winter Park, Florida,” by Patrick and Debra McClane.

In 2022, Friends of Casa Feliz opened a permanent exhibit honoring James Gamble Rogers II.

You can request a private tour of the exhibit via email to susan@casafeliz.us or attend the scheduled historic home tours on Tuesdays or Thursdays.