Description - Nearly 300 species of trees are represented at the Forest Capital State Museum which depicts Florida's early timber industry. This is a great place to bring school-aged children. From the 300 species over 5,000 products are made. Young children find the "talking tree" particularly entertaining. Don't miss the self-guided tour of the Cracker Homestead which features a house, barn, well, arbor, and garden.
Copyright: - Florida Division of Recreation & Parks
Forest Capital State Museum
- The importance of forestry in Florida dates back to the early 1800s, and Forest Capital State Museum celebrates the timber that built Florida. The heart of the museum is dedicated to longleaf pines, which grow on the museum grounds, and the 5,000 products manufactured from them.
The geodesic dome, forming the center of the museum, houses an unusual map that features the unique woods of Florida including: lignumvitae, the hardest wood; leadwood or black ironwood, the heaviest wood; and buttonwood, the wood that burns the hottest and produces very little smoke.
Exhibit cases are made of different native woods and exhibits interpret such topics as turpentine production. Adjacent to the museum is the Cracker Homestead Interpretive Site. The homestead is typical of those that once dotted the pinewoods of north Florida at the turn of the century.
Each October, Forest Capital State Museum is the focal point for the Florida Forest Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors to celebrate the state's timber industry.
Recreation - The State Museum has picnic tables and a visitor center. The visitor center is open 9 A.M. to Noon and from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. Thursday through Monday year-round. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The park grounds are open 8 A.M. to sunset throughout the year.
Climate - Florida experiences mild, comfortable winters and warm to hot, humid summers. The area offers a great warm escape for outdoor recreation during the cold northern months. Summer temperatures average in the low 80's Fahrenheit and mid 20's Celsius. Winters are mild with temperatures averaging between the high 40's to the high 50's Fahrenheit. The average precipitation for the north central area is diverse. The central western area receives more than 60 inches per year while the central eastern tract receives about 50 inches. August and September are peak months of the hurricane season that lasts from June 1 through November 30.
Forest Capital State Museum is located in Perry along U.S. Highway 19.