Come to the Wild Side of Tallahassee, FL
Looking for a wild adventure? Come walk among the cypress with the wild creatures at the Tallahassee Museum. Known as “The Junior Museum” when I was a kid, is a place you can spend all day with the family! Located along the shores, wetlands and cypress groves of Lake Bradford in northwest Tallahassee, it’s right among the perfect natural setting for exploration and observation.
The Tallahassee Museum has been home to Birthday Parties and special events, Scouting activity days, workshops, classes and guest exhibits for over 50 years! Originally housed downtown at the McMillan House in 1958 and it was used for Junior League meetings, school board meetings and received loans through the Treasure Chest program. In 1960, 10 acres of land on Lake Bradford was purchased. The first exhibit built on the property was the Big Bend Farm buildings. In the next few years, four more buildings including a classroom were added. More land was purchased in 1972 and construction began to develop the Wildlife Exhibit. Small animals that were injured or orphaned were added to the exhibit because they could not survive in the wild. Volunteers were an integral part of the success of the museum. Adult volunteer programs as well as youth volunteer programs have helped to maintain this museum over the years.
Pack a picnic lunch or grab a light lunch at the Trail Break Cafe’. There are boardwalks roaming through the forest and over parts of Lake Bradford and overlooking the wildlife habitats. There are great views of Red Fox, Cougars,Black Bear, Bald Eagle and Red Hawk aviaries and my favorite are the entertaining otters. The Big Bend Farm is modeled after a real working 1800’s era farm. Sheep, goats, Donkeys and mules, chickens and a peacock are easy to observe and often on exhibit for petting.
Other exhibits include an 1890s school, a 1937 church, and at three buildings of a mid-19th century cotton plantation explore Southern communities as expressed through education, religion and agriculture. The important function of railroads in defining communities is represented by a 1920s Seaboard Air Line caboose and an exhibit about life on the rails.
Bring the kids out and discover your wild side at the Tallahassee Museum! There’s plenty of room to run and play, see and do! Don’t forget your camera,.. allow at least 2 hours for a great experience and when you are finished, consider joining the museum and saving on future visits.
9 am – 5 pm: Monday-Saturday
12:30 pm – 5 pm: Sunday
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day and New Year’s Day
| Tallahassee Museum 3945 Museum Drive Tallahassee, FL 32310 |
Admission Rates:
| Adults | $9.00 |
| Seniors (65+) | $8.50 |
| College Students (w/I.D.) | $8.50 |
| Children (4-15) | $6.00 |
| Children (3 and under) | Free |
| Members | Free |