Park Summary for Print - Forest Capital Museum State Park

Welcome to Forest Capital Museum State Park

The importance of forestry in Florida dates back to the early 1800s. The museum celebrates the heritage of Florida's forest industry. The heart of the museum is dedicated to longleaf pines and the 5,000 products manufactured from them. The 50-plus-year-old longleaf pines growing on the museum grounds provide a majestic canopy and create an enjoyable walking trail for visitors. Adjacent to the museum is an authentic 19th century Cracker homestead, much like those scattered throughout Florida at the turn of the century. Rangers lead interpretive tours during special events and upon request. Three covered pavilions, that seat up to 60 people each, are available. The park is open Thursday through Monday, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Located south of Perry, on U.S. 19.

Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries.
For Information about Forest Capital Museum State Park, please call 850-584-3227.

Hours of Operation

The park is open every Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The park is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Forest Capital is also closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Driving Directions

1 mile south of Perry on US 19 - South Alternate 27.

Park Fees

Admission Fee - Entrance to the park is free.

Museum Entrance fee: $1.00 for adults. Children under 6 are free.

Pavilion rental fee: $30.00 plus tax.

Activities at Forest Capital Museum State Park

	Interpretive Exhibit Adjacent to the museum is the North Florida Cracker Homestead interpretive site. The homestead was built in 1864 and depicts the common home and life style of that period. The term "cracker" was used to describe those who used the cracking sound of a long whip to herd their cattle. Guided tours are available for groups call 850-584-3227.
	Pets Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Forest Capital Museum State Park. They must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times and can not be left unattended.
	Picnicking Pavilions: We offer three covered pavilions, each seat up to sixty people. The pavilions can be reserved for family reunions, birthday parties, corporate events and more. Please call the park for more information, 850-584-3227.
	Visitor Center Gift Shop and Lobby: The octagonal lobby of the Visitor Center features rare Peck Cypress walls that serve as a backdrop for exhibits and photographs of early forest logging operations. The center provides information on Florida State Parks and offers a variety of novelty gifts. Museum: The Forest Capital Museum is an octagon structure made from Cypress and Pine wood with high beamed ceilings topped with a glass dome. The museum offers a fundamental understanding of the evolution, ecology and productivity of our forest. The whole family will enjoy the exhibits of lifelike animals native to the area. Early turpentine production once crucial to naval stores comes to life in a diorama. Antique turpentine tools are displayed. Diagrams and photographs explain and depict the life and cycles of a forest. The center of the museum is dedicated to displaying products that are derived from our forest. The beauty of Florida's native wood is displayed in a carved map of Florida with each of the sixty-seven counties carved from a species of wood native to their area. "Terry-the Talking-Tree" will sum it all up with a message that tells us about the importance of our forest. Admission: $1.00

Special Events for Forest Capital Museum State Park

FOREST CAPITAL TRADITIONAL AND FINE ART SHOW
Date: May 3rd through May 17th, 2008.
Description: Forest Capital Museum State Park will host a traditional and fine art show May 3rd through May 17th as part of the 1st Forest Capital Music and Art Festival taking place on May 10th.

In the museum, showing proudly with our original works of art, will be the exhibit Inspirations from the Forest. This exhibit was produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the National Endowment for the Arts. The 16-panel exhibition illustrates how artists, writers and musicians draw inspiration from the world of nature. “The men and women who work in our forests and rangelands have very special connections to the land,” said curator Jim Deutsch of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. “Through this exhibition, we are exploring the ways in which our forests—timberlands, grasslands, mountains and waterways—have inspired artists to create enduring works of art that impress upon us the importance of preserving our natural resources.” The artists featured in the exhibition are:
- Keith Bear, flute maker and storyteller, North Dakota
- Angie Bulletts, cradleboard maker, Arizona
- Jim Denney, landscape painter, Oregon
- Terry Evans, photographer, Illinois
- Jack Holcomb, guitar maker, Georgia
- Dorica Jackson, Chilkat weaver, Alaska
- Paula Morin, photographer, Illinois
- Heather Murphy, wildlife painter, Washington state
- Hank Nelson, logger poet, Alaska
- Leona Pooyouma, wicker basket weaver, Arizona
Among the many artist gathering for this event will be our featured artist, Darin Mauldin. His beautiful stained, leaded an etched glass artwork, will be center stage in the museum.

Fees: Museum entrance fee is $1.00
Contact: For more information, call 850-584-3227.
HERITAGE DAY
Date: Friday, October 24, 2008. 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Description: Volunteers dressed in period costumes will perform a living history at the 1863 Cracker Homestead. Demonstrators and artisans will exhibit period crafts and skills from the 1800's. Exhibitions include:

Pine straw basket weaving
Palmetto palm weaving
Spinning and weaving
Blacksmith
Plowing with mule
Civil war encampment
Cracker history, Florida history
Cracker cooking
Cracker whip demo
Cracker cowboy
Quilting
Crocheting, Knitting, Tatting and other needle arts
Traditional herbs exhibit
Petting zoo
Storytelling

No pets please, only working companion animals will be allowed.

Fees: Admission is $1.00
Contact: For more information, call 850-584-3227.
53RD FLORIDA FOREST FESTIVAL
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008. 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Description: Taylor County, the states leading producer of forest products and timberland acreage, invites everyone to attend the 53rd Florida Forest Festival in celebration of Florida’s forest and forest industries. The month long celebration culminates on Saturday October 25th with a downtown parade starting at 10:00am and then over to Forest Capital State Park for a day filled with fun and entertainment. The world’s largest free fish fry will begin at noon. Live music and entertainment will be ongoing throughout the day. There will be displays of antique cars, forestry equipment, arts and crafts, and vendors galore. Heavy equipment and chainsaw operators will demonstrate their skills as they compete for prizes. Admission to the museum and cracker homestead will be free for the day. At the homestead, demonstrators will take you back in time to the late 1800’s as we honor Florida’s early settlers and their way of life. In conjunction with the celebration there will be pageants, parades, storytelling, and just two blocks from the park there will be a carnival.
It’s all TREE-RIFIC!!! Bring your lawn chairs and dress for seasonal temperatures. No pets please, only working companion animals will be allowed.

Fees: This event is FREE!
Contact: For more information, call 850-584-3227.

Forest Capital Museum State Park Ranger Programs

RANGER INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM
Interpretive programs focus on the Cracker homestead and the turn of the century lifestyle. The Cracker Homestead is available for self-guided tours. Ranger led tours occur during special events and upon request through coordination with park staff.
Call (850) 584-3227 for more details.
MUSEUM
The museum offers a fundamental understanding of the evolution, ecology and productivity of our forest. The whole family will enjoy the exhibits of lifelike animals native to the local forest. Open Thursday through Monday. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday. Ranger led tours occur during special events and upon request through coordination with park staff.
Call (850) 584-3227 for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Capital Museum State Park

Question: What is "Spanish moss"?
Answer: Spanish moss is an epiphyte that is related to the pineapple. It lives off the air, rain, and decaying organic matter, not the tree. Most often found in large oak trees, Spanish moss cannot kill a tree. Its biggest threat to the tree is because it can absorb large amounts of water and it's wet weight can cause branches to break. Spanish moss is used by wildlife. In the tree canopy it shelters rat snakes, bats, insects and other creatures and birds use it in nest building.

Question: What is a "cracker"?
Answer: "Cracker" is a term used to describe settlers who lived in the rural areas. They may have acquired the name from the early Floridians who cracked their whips to drive their cattle and oxen.

Question: What is the breezeway or "dogtrot"?
Answer: The breezeway or "dogtrot" is a distinctive element of architectural style in Florida. The breezeway actually separates two, single room cabins, creating a large open porch area between the two cabins, most often referred to as a "dogtrot."

Question: Why is there no grass, only sand, in the yard of the cracker homestead?
Answer: To protect the home from fire and snakes, the yard of the homestead was kept free of grass. The sand yard was swept with a gulberry bush, which was usually a child’s daily chore.

Question: Did the early settlers make sugar from the sugar cane grown in the garden?
Answer: No. The sugar cane that was grown in the garden was used to make cane syrup. The cane grinder would grind the cane. Then the cane juice was cooked in the large iron kettle to make cane syrup, a thick, sweet syrup used to eat with meat, breads, and vegetables.

Question: What would have been planted in the garden?
Answer: Even today, the garden on the homestead produces many favorites known to the early settlers. Corn, beans, mustard, collards, turnips, and sugar cane are a few of the vegetables that were grown by the homesteaders.

Question: What tree produces the largest pinecones?
Answer: The longleaf pine produces the largest pinecones. Forest Capital State Museum is home to many longleaf pines, which date nearly 60 to 70 years old.

Forest Capital Museum State Park History

Forest Capital State Museum was opened in 1973. The museum interprets the history of the forestry industry and its valuable resources. The park and museum cover 13 acres and is adjacent to the Visitor Center is the Cracker homestead. The homestead is typical of those that were once found throughout the pinewoods of North Florida at the turn of the century.

Forest Capital Museum State Park Volunteer Information

Volunteers can do many things -- greet visitors, conduct tours, help rangers remove exotic plants or maintain the natural beauty of a beach, waterway or trail.