Silver River Museum facts for kids
Museum entrance
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| Established | 1991 |
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| Location | Silver Springs, Florida |
The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center is a cool nature museum. It's located inside Silver Springs State Park in Silver Springs, Florida. This is a town near Ocala. The museum gets its name from the beautiful Silver River. This river flows right through the park.
The museum and center are run by Marion County Public Schools. They work together with the Florida Park Service. Both groups help put on fun and educational events. The idea for this center started in 1987. It first received money from a special grant called the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship. The museum and center officially opened in 1991. Since then, they have offered daily classes for students in Marion County.
What You Can See at the Museum
When the museum first opened, it had the main museum building. It also had classrooms for students. Over time, new parts were added to the museum. These include a new section of the museum building. There is also a place to eat lunch and a research library.
You can also explore a pioneer settlement from the late 1800s. This area shows how people lived in Florida back then. It has buildings like those used by "Florida cracker" pioneers. There is even a one-room schoolhouse. This school was used by African-American students around 1930. It was a time when schools were separated by race.
The old farm buildings from the 19th century are used during the week. School groups come here for classes. But on weekends, these buildings are open for everyone to visit. You can see houses, a meeting house, sheds, and a blacksmith shop. The museum also teaches about the natural world and history of the area.
Ocali Country Days Event
Every year, usually in early November, the Center and Park host a special event. It's called Ocali Country Days. This event helps raise money for the museum. It's like stepping back in time to the 19th century. You can see displays, listen to talks, and watch performances. People dressed in old clothes act out history.
From Tuesday to Friday, the event is open to school groups. Public, private, and home-schooled children can visit with their teachers. They need to make reservations with the Center ahead of time. In 2008, only 1,200 students and teachers could attend each day. All those spots were filled up quickly. So, it's always a good idea to book early!
The Ocali Country Days event is open to everyone on Saturday and Sunday. It has become a very popular yearly attraction in the area.
More Information
- Museum website
