Focus Magazine of SWFL Cheers To Your Style | Page 85

Where else can you go to one place to tour through the
history of Florida, see the oldest Manatee in the world and
take a trip through the stars at a high tech, 3-D simulation
planetarium? The South Florida Museum brings all three
of these enticing experiences and there isn’t a kid or adult
around that will be able to resist the excitement. There is so
much to see and do that we have created two articles: one
for the Bishop Planetarium and this one, for the museum
and Parker Manatee Aquarium. A single trip to the South
Florida Museum offers you the captivating history of Florida
through fossils and archeological finds and then whisks you
to visit ‘Snooty’ – the beloved Manatee. Once touched by
the museum and aquarium, you not only have a visit, but
you create memories that stay for a lifetime.

The first thing that you notice when you enter the South
Florida Museum is the very warm and welcoming atmosphere. Unlike other huge venues, this is a very personal
place, designed to give you the feeling of an invited friend.
As you tour through the various areas, you go from the
past to the present and then to the future. Every section
is arranged to bring a personal experience, addressing the
antiquities of our area of Florida as well as some of today’s
most important environmental issues and topics.
We will start with the museum, which is the largest cultural
history and natural museum on the gulf coast of Florida.
The museum interprets everything from the Pleistocene
era to the present and includes fossil evidence from some
of Florida’s earliest mammals and marine species. There
is a Montague Tallant collection of artifacts that represent
prehistoric as well as post-contact archeology; each piece
taking you back into Florida’s past. The collection of exhibits
cover local maritime traditions, early 20th-century medical
practices and even the exploration of the New World by the
Spanish. A spectacular must-see is the Spanish Plaza which
features full-scale replicas of a manor house from the 16th
century, chapel and the birthplace of the renowned conquistador, Hernando DeSoto. The Environmental Wing has been
set aside to bring attention to the Florida ecology and the
bio-diversity in the Pine Uplands and Riverine Galleries. The
museum participates as a ‘host’ to traveling exhibits bringing
informational and educational connections to the community
to see, that would otherwise not be available.
Sharing and educational outreach are a high priority at the
South Florida Museum. Jeff Rodgers is the Director of Education and working with his incredible staff and volunteers,
they have teamed up to offer an array of programs. From
school field trips, to learning resources, and even specialized
lectures and home school projects, you are in awe of all of
the opportunities for learning and fun. This also includes
a ‘Summer Camp’ for kids entering grades 2 through 5 as
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FOCUS of SWFL 2014 85