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The beautiful museum grounds look west to the monument. Monument is dedicated to the 56 delegates who drafted Florida's first constitution in 1838. This museum display shows two delegates drafting the constitution for the territory of Florida in 1838. The Constitution Convention Museum commemorates the drafting of Florida's first state constitution.
Constitution Convention Museum State Park
The museum welcomes visitors to explore Florida's road to statehood.
Florida Governor LeRoy Collins registers at the museum for its 1956 dedication ceremony. Museum Dedication
A family enjoys the museum in 1965. Museum, 1965
The monument was dedicated in January 1923. 1923 Dedication
The monument previously stood in need of attention and repair. Since becoming part of the state park system, the monument has been well-maintained. Monument in the Past
The monument at Constitution Convention Museum State Park is surrounded by the mall and drive. Monument and Road.

History and Culture

More than 150 years ago, St. Joseph was selected over Tallahassee (the territorial capital) as the site of the state's Constitution Convention because of antagonism between East Florida and Middle Florida. The first of Florida's five constitutions was drafted by a convention that met on December 3, 1838. By working diligently for 34 days, the elected delegates hammered out a framework for Florida's future and finished their work on January 11, 1839. The Territorial Legislative Council had called the convention without congressional authorization after a referendum election in 1837 showed a territory-wide majority in favor of statehood.

Florida Governor LeRoy Collins registers at the museum for its 1956 dedication ceremony.

Museum Dedication

Constitution Convention Museum State Park was donated to the state of Florida by the city of Port St. Joe in 1950. The museum was dedicated in 1956 with Governor LeRoy Collins attending the ceremony. The museum was one of the first two museum buildngs constructed by the Florida Park Service; the John Gorrie Museum was the other one.

A family enjoys the museum in 1965.

Museum, 1965

Visitors to the museum today can enjoy a pause on the lawn, much as this family did in 1965.

The monument was dedicated in January 1923.

1923 Dedication

In January 1923, only 84 years after Florida's first state constitution was drafted, citizens dedicated this monument in honor of the delegates who pioneered Florida's bid for statehood.

The monument previously stood in need of attention and repair. Since becoming part of the state park system, the monument has been well-maintained.

Monument in the Past

In the years following its dedication, the monument descended into a state of neglect and disrepair.

The monument at Constitution Convention Museum State Park is surrounded by the mall and drive.

Monument and Road.

Seen here in its earlier days, the monument and mall today provide the most striking feature of the park, with a vista that stretches to the edge of St. Joseph Bay.