As students return to campus after spring break, it is easy to get overwhelmed or bogged down by all the responsibilities that were left behind for a week. In these high-stress times, it is important to find small ways to relax. While it may not be a convenient option to go to the shining beaches of South Florida, there are plenty of beautiful locations and attractions right here in Tallahassee to run away to. Among these attractions is the Tallahassee Museum, a local hidden gem that features wildlife, activities and history.
The Tallahassee Museum sits on 52 acres of land that is home to a multitude of animal exhibits located along their Native Wildlife Trail. The elevated boardwalk provides guests the opportunity to see some of the native animals of the region up close and learn more about them. Some of the crowd favorites include bobcats, white-tailed deer, foxes, black bears, panthers and red wolves, among others. Their newest addition, a lively black bear, often entertains visitors by splashing around in his pool.
The museum also sports a selection of richly historic structures to transport visitors back in time to the old southern lifestyle such as their Bellevue plantation house, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Seaboard Airline Caboose and Concord Schoolhouse. They also have their 1880s Big Bend Farm which features structures reminiscent of the time, including a classic farm house kitchen.
“If you visit on Saturdays, you might get the chance to taste Ms. Judith’s delicious snickerdoodle cookies prepared on the farmhouse kitchen stove,” said Katherine Cline Ashler, Vice President of Philanthropy at the Tallahassee Museum.
On top of the wildlife and history exhibits, the museum also offers Tree-to-Tree Adventures, which are three aerial action-packed courses separated for different age groups. Their most complex course specifically for older guests, known as Soaring Cypress, takes around two and a half hours to complete and includes a total of 47 platforms, 25 obstacles and 16 ziplines.
“These allow visitors to zip through the trees while also conquering aerial obstacles,” Ashler said. “It is incredibly fun for all ages and something we are very proud to offer.”
One of the Tallahassee Museum’s main goals is to enhance their community’s understanding of the region’s natural and cultural environments. To uphold this, they offer a wide variety of workshops, programs and classes for all ages throughout the year. Their educational programs value exploratory and object-based learning that allows people to be interactive and dive in-depth with the subject, whether it’s blacksmithing or working with animals. Their experiences for adults include Florida wildlife tours, big bend farm tours, a group night prowl and other scheduled workshops.
The museum additionally boasts a Jim Gary 20th Century Dinosaur collection that they received in 2011. These colorful sculptures were constructed from car parts and line the Museum’s dinosaur trail. Jim Gary was an African American artist who passed away in 2006, making his stunning creations even more treasurable today.
“The large pink dino is always a favorite to get a photo with,” Ashler added. “They provide a great way to see art and science combined in these beautiful sculptures.”
The museum is not only a great natural and cultural day excursion for students to take, but a fascinating place to potentially work or get volunteer hours. They operate a volunteer program perfect for nature and animal lovers alike that includes assisting with the animals, education programs and event assistance.
For more information, visit their website at tallahasseemuseum.org or take a visit between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 3945 Museum Drive.