Additional Information for Cedar Key Museum State Park
Plant Life
The museum grounds are landscaped with vegetation native to Florida including Sand Pine, Slash Pine, Souther Red Cedar, Live Oak, Sabal Palm, Wax Myrtle, Saw Palmetto, and Yaupon. South Eastern Native Americans brewed a tea by boiling the roasted leaves of the Yaupon Holly tree. This tea was dark in color and called the black drink or cassina. Sweating, fasting, and vomiting were ways in which cassina drinkers sought to ritually purify themselves. The entrance to the museum is surrounded by Coontie; a lush green native plant. Coontie belongs to one of the oldest plant families on earth; the cycads. Native Americans harvested the Coontie roots, removed the poisonous compounds and pounded it into flour. In South Florida Coontie leaves provide larval food for the Atala butterfly.
Wildlife
Small gray squirrels, doves, mocking birds, blue jays, woodpeckers, and green tree frogs can be seen on the museum grounds and along the walking trail.
Resources
Housed within the museum is one of the most complete shell collections ever assembled. Also, included are displays pertaining to the railroad, the Civil War, and the manufacturing of pencils and fiber brushes. There is a small walking trail to the water where a visitor might see various water birds including the brown pelican.
Pets
Please see our General Parks Pet Policy for more information.
Links
Florida Division of Recreation and Parks neither endorses links nor approves of links to external sources. External links are made available to assist the Internet user in his or her search. The Florida Division of Recreation and Parks takes no responsibility for a link's operation or content. The links that are shown are not an exclusive listing of organizations available within the State.
