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)
A view of the 200-foot (61 m) tubular bell carillon
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park Location in Florida
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 fun state park located in White Springs, Florida. You can find it right along the beautiful Suwannee River in northern Florida.

This park is named after 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 special that it's actually Florida's state song! Even though Stephen Foster never visited Florida, his music captured the feeling of home and the river.

Stephen Foster Museum

The Stephen Foster Museum is a great place to learn about the life and music of Stephen Foster. Inside, you'll see cool displays and exhibits that tell the stories behind his most famous songs. One of these is "Old Folks at Home," which you might know better as "(Way Down Upon the) Swanee River."

It was Josiah K. Lilly, Sr. who first thought of creating a memorial for Stephen Foster back in 1931. Josiah K. Lilly, Sr. was the son of Eli Lilly, who started a famous pharmaceutical company.

The Giant Carillon Bells

One of the most amazing things at the park is the huge 97-bell carillon. A carillon is like a giant musical instrument made of bells. This one is the largest of its kind, with so many tubular bells! It was put together in the summer of 1958. It took skilled workers more than a year to build all these bells.

The carillon plays Stephen Foster's songs throughout the day, filling the park with music. Inside the carillon tower, there's another museum area. Here, you can learn even more about Stephen Foster and how the carillon works. In 2017, the carillon was damaged by a lightning storm, but repairs have been started to make the bells play again.

Images for kids

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  The peaceful Suwannee River

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  The Stephen Foster Museum building

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  The historic Spring House