Cedar Key Museum State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cedar Key Museum State Park |
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 Cedar Key Museum State Park
Location in Florida
Cedar Key Museum State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Levy County, Florida, United States |
| Nearest city | Cedar Key, Florida |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
The Cedar Key State Museum is a fascinating Florida State Park located in Cedar Key, Florida. This park covers about 18 acres and is a wonderful place to explore history and nature. It showcases amazing collections and tells the story of life in Cedar Key from long ago.
The museum started with a local resident named Saint Clair Whitman. He loved collecting things and even set up the first museum in his own home! His collection included beautiful sea shells and ancient artifacts from Native American cultures. Today, the museum displays these items, along with detailed dioramas that show what life was like around Cedar Key. You can find lots of historical information here too.
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The Historic Whitman House
A very special part of the museum is the Saint Clair Whitman House. This house was built in the 1880s and Mr. Whitman bought it in the 1920s. It has been carefully restored to look just like it did between 1920 and 1930. Imagine stepping back in time to see how people lived! The house was moved to the museum site in 1991 and opened for everyone to visit. A special brick path called the Memory Walk connects the house to the main museum building.
Explore the Nature Trail
Besides the museum, there's also a short nature trail to enjoy. It's a great way to see some of Florida's natural beauty. You might spot various animals living in the park. Look out for gray squirrels, doves, and singing mockingbirds. You could also see bright blue jays, busy woodpeckers, and tiny green tree frogs. The trail and museum grounds are also home to many native plants.
John Muir's Famous Visit
A famous naturalist named John Muir once visited Cedar Key. This was in 1867, during his incredible walk all the way from Kentucky to Florida. He wrote about his experience, saying how amazing it was to see the vast Gulf of Mexico after being surrounded by forests for so long. He described it as "stretching away unbounded, except by the sky."
John Muir was deeply inspired by nature. His visit to Cedar Key was an important moment in his journey. To remember his time here, a special historic marker was placed on the museum grounds in 1983. It helps visitors learn about this important connection to a legendary nature explorer.
Images for kids
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Inside the Whitman House, showing a bedroom
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A dining area in the Whitman House
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The living room of the Whitman House
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A kitchen area in the Whitman House
