Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park
IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park Location in Florida Show map of Florida Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Hamilton County, Florida, USA
Nearest city	White Springs, Florida
Established	1950
Governing body	Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park is a special state park located in White Springs, Florida. You can find it along the beautiful Suwannee River in the northern part of the state.

This park celebrates the life and music of Stephen Foster, a famous American composer. He wrote many well-known songs, including "Old Folks At Home," which is also called "Way Down Upon the Suwannee River." This song is so important that it became Florida's official state song!

Exploring the Stephen Foster Museum
The Amazing Carillon Tower
Images for kids
See also

Exploring the Stephen Foster Museum

The Stephen Foster Museum is a great place to learn about this talented composer. Inside, you'll find dioramas and exhibits that tell the stories behind his famous songs. One of the main highlights is the exhibit about "Old Folks at Home," often known by its first line, "(Way Down Upon the) Swanee River."

It's interesting to know that Stephen Foster never actually visited Florida. The idea for this memorial came from Josiah K. Lilly Sr. in 1931. He wanted to honor Foster's music and legacy.

The Amazing Carillon Tower

What is a Carillon?

A carillon is a musical instrument made of many bells, usually found in a tower. A musician plays it using a keyboard and pedals. The carillon at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park is very special!

History of the Carillon

This carillon was first built by J. C. Deagan, Inc. for the 1939 World's Fair in New York. It was part of Florida's exhibit building. Back then, it had 75 bells and weighed 25 tons, making it the largest carillon in the world by the number of bells! The Florida Stephen Foster Memorial Association gave it as a gift, planning to move it to White Springs after the fair.

Installation and Repairs

It took some time, but the carillon was finally installed at the park in the summer of 1958. By then, even more bells had been added, bringing the total to 97! Building such a huge set of bells was a massive project for the craftsmen.

Today, the carillon plays Stephen Foster's songs throughout the day, filling the park with music. Inside the tower, there's another museum area with exhibits about Stephen Foster and the carillon itself. In 2017, an electrical storm damaged the carillon, and repairs were started to fix the bells.