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Safety Updates

Florida State Parks will follow local orders requiring facial coverings or masks to provide for staff and visitor safety. These requirements vary from area to area. Our main priority is the safety of our guests and staff. We will continue to review operations on a daily basis and make additional operational changes as may be deemed necessary for protection of public health. Please review individual park pages for specific information for each location.

View details about online payments, park and campground closures, park programs/events and facial coverings.

Limited Visitation at this Park

Effective November 13, 2020: Cedar Key Museum State Park is open (see hours of operation and fee information below). The Cedar Key Museum and the Whitman House remain closed until further notice. Restroom availability may be limited. Visitors are expected to maintain distances of at least six feet apart. 

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View of the path leading to Cedar Key Musuem

Cedar Key Museum State Park

Discover gulf coast history, admire exhibit design and feel salt marsh breezes

Closed for Repairs

The Whitman House is closed for an extended period of time for repairs. Please check back for updates.

Hours

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday. Museum is closed Christmas Day.

Fees

$2 per person, museum fee. Children 5 and younger admitted free.

Location

12231 S.W. 166th Court
Cedar Key FL 32625

Get directions

Contact Info

352-543-5350

Park Menu

  • Experiences & Amenities
  • History

Welcome to Cedar Key Museum State Park

Cedar Key Museum offers guests a chance to go back in time to experience the history of the area.

Cedar Key Museum State Park encompasses 18 acres and offers an opportunity to imagine yourself as naturalist John Muir, taking a quiet walk past large pines and oaks down to view Cedar Key's expansive salt marshes. John Muir did in fact spend a few months in Cedar Key in 1867, commemorated with a state historic marker located on the museum grounds.

The exhibits are now vintage examples from the 1950s to 1960s by the University of Florida design team, which at the time developed numerous displays for state parks. This offers a unique opportunity not only to learn about the history of Cedar Key, but also to appreciate the incredible craftsmanship that went into these museum displays.

The historic Whitman home commemorates the life of St. Clair Whitman, whose collections of seashells and native American artifacts are featured in the museum. The home has been restored to how it would have looked in the 1920s, offering yet another portal into the past.

Explore Florida’s history at Cedar Key Museum State Park.

Plan Your Visit

Park Manager, Ferlain Hoover
Learn

Manager's Message

Meticulously crafted, our exhibits highlight the history of Cedar Key, from the indigenous people that once lived off the land to the booming timber industry of the 19th century and beyond.
Diorama of the port of Cedar Key
Learn

Cedar Key Museum and Whitman House

The Cedar Key Museum and Whitman House are currently closed.
View of the marsh at Cedar Key
Learn

Paddle the Gulf Marshes at Cedar Key

A short walk along the tranquil nature trail will lead you to a boat launch, where you can put in your kayak or canoe and explore the salt marshes around Cedar Key.

Experiences

Birding
Birding
Geo-Seeking
Geo-Seeking
Hiking
Hiking
Paddling
Paddling
Walking and Running
Walking and Running
Weddings
Weddings
Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife Viewing

Amenities

Accessible Amenities
Accessible Amenities
Canoe Kayak Launch
Canoe Kayak Launch
Interpretive Exhibit
Interpretive Exhibit
Museum
Museum
Nature Trail
Nature Trail
Parking
Parking
Pets
Pets
Restroom Facilities
Restroom Facilities
Water Fountain
Water Fountain

Cedar Key Museum State Park Photo Gallery

Brick path under oak tree leads to the front of the Cedar Key Museum
Cedar Key Museum
Modern style furniture inside the Cedar Key Museum
Cedar Key Museum
Diorama of the port of Cedar Key
Exterior view of the St Clair Whitman house with oak overhead
Four rocking chairs on the front of the St Clair Whitman house
Cedar Key Museum State Park
Whitman House
Learn

History of Cedar Key Museum

St. Clair Whitman well known for his extensive personal collections of seashells and Native American artifacts that he displayed to the general public in the front room of his home.
Exhibits displaying items from the timber industry
Learn

The Cedar Industry

This town’s history would be complete without discussing its namesake: cedar trees, and the booming lumber industry that helped put the town on the map.

People Make the Parks

A man stands in front of a scrub habitat

Staff Spotlight

Tommy Allen's favorite part of his job is all of the people he’s met along the way, having found many friends during his time in the park service.
Volunteer

Volunteer with us!

Help fulfill the Florida State Parks' mission. Assist park employees to preserve, interpret and restore ...the Real Florida.
Florida State Parks Foundation

Florida State Parks Foundation

The statewide nonprofit partner meeting critical funding needs for universal access, conservation, education and preservation.

This Park is Recognized by:

Designated Greenway
Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage

Park Map

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Florida State Parks

Main Menu

  • Plan your visit
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    • FAQs
    • Fees
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  • Find a Park
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Contact the Statewide Information Line:
(850) 245-2157

Or send an email to:
FSP.Feedback@FloridaDEP.gov

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