North Florida's history and economy has been rooted in the business of forestry since the early 1800s.
In 1965, Congressman Don Fuqua proclaimed Taylor County, with over 525,000 acres of forested land, the "Tree Capital of the South." Commemorating this honor, Forest Capital Museum State Park opened in 1968.
The museum pays homage to the area's notorious longleaf pines with nearly 5,000 products manufactured from pine.
In 1972, Senator Pete Gibson's family donated the Cracker Homestead to the park. The homestead was built by Wiley W. Whiddon's family in 1863. The home is a classic Cracker dogtrot design, constructed from handhewn logs, and features a clay and stick fireplace in each room.
Surrounding buildings illustrate first hand, what early life in Florida was like.