
The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center is a program of Marion County Public Schools. The museum is located within the Silver Springs State Park in Ocala, Florida, and works in close cooperation with the Florida Park Service. Visitors learn about the cultural and natural history of Florida, and the importance of protecting and conserving cultural and natural resources.
The Silver River Museum consists of three main galleries and a gift shop. Visitors enter through a main front gallery where exhibits feature prehistoric artifacts dating back 12,000 years, rare Florida fossils, and the natural history of North Central Florida. The second gallery of the museum is the history wing which tells the story of Florida after the arrival of Europeans. Exhibits depict the earliest Spanish explorers, Seminole Indians, the Civil War, steamboats, Silver Springs and more. The construction of history wing was made possible with the generous support of the Felburn Foundation.
The third gallery features "Dugout Canoes: Paddling Through the Americas" all about Native American canoes from across North and South America; including several examples from Florida. Exhibits are interactive with hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. The exhibit was produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History with support from the AEC Trust, Lastinger Family Foundation, State of Florida, and Visit Gainesville. The construction of canoes exhibit wing was made possible with the generous support of the Felburn Foundation.
The pioneer “cracker” village is a collection of buildings that portray life on the Florida frontier. The village is an assortment of historic and replica structures typical of the 1800’s and includes several cabins, a one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, sugar cane mill and syrup kettle, wood-fired pottery kiln. Public tours of the pioneer “cracker” village are offered monthly, on the second and fourth Saturday morning. Tours are free; however regular state park admission fees do apply.
Also included in this outdoor museum is a collection of Seminole buildings that are a recreation of a small traditional South Florida camp, where an extended family lived together. The kitchen and cook fire was the center of the camp. Individual “chickees” or houses, covering raised platforms, were for sleeping, sewing, and making crafts. Smoke form the cooking fire kept insects away during the day and mosquito nets were essential for sleeping at night. These buildings were built by Seminole and Miccosukee craftsmen. Tribal members from South Florida use the camp each year during special events to teach visitors about traditional Seminole and Miccosukee culture and history.
The Ocali Country Days festival takes place on the second weekend of November each year. This popular event celebrates the pioneer spirit and folk life of old Florida with live music, food, vendors and “old timey” craft demonstrations. Visitors can interact with skilled crafters to learn more about blacksmithing, making sugar cane syrup, cooking over an open hearth, log cabins, traditional Seminole cooking and arts, pioneer cattle and horses, spinning, weaving and quilting, and more.
The Silver River Knap-In and Prehistoric Arts Festival is the largest event of its kind in the southeast and takes place on the third weekend of each February. Flint Knapping is the art of recreating ancient stone tools like spear points and arrow heads. Artisans from across the country attend this unique event to demonstrate making stone tools, pottery, traditional bows and arrows, hide tanning, shell carving, fire making and more. Hands-on activities include archery, tomahawk and spear throwing ranges.
The Florida Springs Festival is an annual family-friendly two-day event held the first weekend in March at Silver Springs State Park. SpringsFest includes programs by rangers and scientists, glass bottom boat tours, games, food and craft vendors, mermaids, and live music.
page information credit: Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center, Marion County Public Schools
photos from the sources listed above, as well as publicly posted online sites with thanks to the contributors