Tallahassee Museum
The Tallahassee Museum in Tallahassee, Florida, is a hidden gem that gives visitors a unique mix of natural history, cultural history, and outdoor adventures. The museum is in the middle of 52 acres of lush forest. It gives visitors a glimpse into the history and ecology of North Florida.
When Alexander D. Turnbull Jr. started the museum in 1957, it was just a small nature trail in his backyard. Over the years, it has grown into a huge campus with a wide range of exhibits, animals, and artifacts that show North Florida’s rich cultural and natural history.
One of the best things about the museum is its collection of wildlife, which has over 100 animals from over 30 different species. Visitors can see Florida panthers, black bears, red wolves, and other native animals in naturalistic habitats that look like their natural environments.
The museum has a lot of mounted animals, including the world’s largest stuffed largemouth bass and a 14-foot alligator. These displays give people a rare chance to see up close how these fascinating creatures are built and how they act.
The Tallahassee Museum has more than just displays of animals. It is also home to historic buildings that show what the area was like in the past. The Bellevue Plantation House, which was built in 1840 and was once a well-known plantation, is one of the most interesting buildings. Today, people can take tours of the house and learn about how the people who lived and worked there spent their days.
The Cottom Farmstead is another historic building. It is a group of buildings that used to be a working farm in the early 1900s. The farmhouse, barn, smokehouse, and other outbuildings on the farm have all been carefully brought back to how they looked when they were first built. Visitors can look around the farmstead and see how the first people to live and work in North Florida did it.
The Tallahassee Museum has more than just animals and old buildings. It also has many interactive exhibits that let people experience the natural and cultural history of the area for themselves. The Tree-to-Tree Adventure Course is one of the most popular exhibits. It is a set of zip lines and obstacles that take people high above the treetops. The course is fun for people of all ages and skill levels and is a great way to explore the natural area around the museum.
The Discovery Center is another interactive exhibit. It has hands-on exhibits and educational displays that teach visitors about the ecology and history of the area. The center has hands-on displays about things like Florida’s aquifers, the effects of hurricanes, and the Gulf of Mexico’s ecosystem.
The museum’s nature trails are a quiet way to explore the forest around it for people who want a less busy time. The trails go through a variety of ecosystems, such as hardwood hammocks, pine forests, and cypress swamps, giving visitors the chance to see native animals and plants up close.
The Tallahassee Museum also hosts several events throughout the year. One of the most popular is “Haunted Forest,” which takes place around Halloween and turns the museum’s nature trails into a scary place to visit. There are also some educational programs and workshops at the museum, such as nature camps for kids, workshops on birding, and photography classes.
Overall, the Tallahassee Museum is a one-of-a-kind place to visit that offers a wide range of activities that show the rich cultural and natural history of North Florida. The museum has something for everyone, whether they like animals, history, or outdoor activities. The Tallahassee Museum is a must-see for anyone traveling to Tallahassee or the surrounding area. It is in a beautiful natural setting and has interesting exhibits.