Mary Erickson
Broker Associate
Realty Executives Oceanside
On this week of where the locals go, I'll be talking about The Silver River Museum.
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. The museum serves school groups Monday through Friday so they are closed to the public on weekdays. However, they welcome and encourage the public to visit the Museum on Saturdays and Sundays between 10 am and 4 pm and invite you to join them for one of their special educational events during the year.
Front Gallery
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.
History Wing
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.
Dugout Canoes: Paddling Through The Americas
This exhibit hall features 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 Silver River Museum collections consist of over 10,000 objects dating from the Ice Age to the golden age of tourism at Silver Springs. Major collection categories include prehistoric Native Americans, the historic period, fossils, Silver Springs memorabilia and postcards. While some objects are on exhibit, many others are curated and available for research and education purposes. If you are interested in accessing the collections, please contact the museum with plenty of advance notice to schedule an appointment.
Prehistoric Florida
Historical
Fossils
Teaching Kits
The Silver River Museum maintains a collection of teaching kits that are available for loan to teachers at local schools. Kits include hands-on specimens and instructional materials teachers can use to bring a small piece of the museum into the classroom. Contact the museum resource teacher for more information about teaching kits.
Felburn Research Library
The Felburn Research Library collection includes books on biology, botany, zoology, ecology, geology, hydrology, natural history, archaeology, paleontology, history, earth science, and resource conservation. Many of the books are specific to Florida and/or the Southeastern United States. The construction of the library building was made possible with the generous support of the Felburn Foundation.
Marion County Public Schools employees may access the library during normal working hours or search the collections online. School staff may check out library resources from the Felburn Research Library through the Media Specialist at their school
While we do not check books out to the public, visitors may also use the library as a reference collection with prior notice. Library visits by the public should be scheduled at least one week in advance.
Ocali Country Days Festival
Ocali Country Days is scheduled for November 13-14, 2021. 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.
Silver River Knap-In and Prehistoric Arts Festival
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. The next Knap-In is scheduled for Feb 19-20, 2022. 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.
Florida Springs Festival
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. More details can be found at Florida SpringsFest on Facebook.
The museum volunteers bring a unique strength to the museum and help in many different ways. Some assist with museum tours and field trips, help in the pioneer “cracker” village, work as blacksmiths and serve as first mates aboard the museum tour boat. They also staff the front desk and gift shop, and help with numerous other projects.
Monthly volunteer meetings are held on the first Monday of the month during the school year. Volunteers complete standard Marion County Public Schools volunteer applications and are subject to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement background check. The museum provides training and uniforms, and volunteers are provided worker’s compensation insurance while working.
If you are interested in getting involved, please call the museum and they will be happy to answer questions. Becoming a Silver River Museum volunteer is a great way to meet others, have fun, get outdoors and help with a very worthwhile cause.
If you're interested in buying or selling in the Ocala area, be sure to contact me, Mary Erickson!
Mary Erickson
REALTOR ®
Phone: 386-444-1924
Email: MaryErickson@RealtyExecutives.com
Website: Over55Ocala.com