Cedar Key Museum State Park
Cedar Key Museum State Park encompasses 18 acres and offers an opportunity to imagine yourself as naturalist John Muir, taking a quiet walk past large pines and oaks down to view Cedar Key's expansive salt marshes.
The exhibits are now vintage examples from the 1950s to 1960s by the University of Florida design team, which at the time developed numerous displays for state parks. This offers a unique opportunity not only to learn about the history of Cedar Key, but also to appreciate the incredible artistry that went into these museum displays.
The historic Whitman home commemorates the life of St. Clair Whitman, whose collections of seashells and native American artifacts are featured in the museum. The home has been restored to how it would have looked in the 1920s, offering yet another portal into the past.
The museum features shell and artifact collections and intricate dioramas spanning from prehistoric times to the early 1900s. You can learn about the history of Cedar Key and the people who lived in the area. The museum is a window into Florida’s past and ways of life that have all but vanished, from the indigenous people who once lived off the land to the timber loggers who shipped cedar across the state.
Designed by architect Charles Kuhn in 1961, the building is an outstanding example of mid-century modern architecture, plus a testament to the outstanding craftsmanship of the University of Florida exhibits team.
The intricate dioramas were all made by hand, down to the smallest of details – like the pipe in the hand of a sailor and needles on the branch of a pine tree.
The Whitman House at Cedar Key Museum State Park is temporarily closed.
Amenities include:
Accessible Amenities
Canoe Kayak Launch
Interpretive Exhibit
Museum
Nature Trail
Parking
Restroom Facilities
Water Fountain
