Discover North Florida Wildlife & Nature at the Tallahassee Museum

By Carrie McLaren

Located southwest of town, the Tallahassee Museum is a 52-acre living museum featuring North Florida’s nature and history. 

In the wildlife area of the museum, an elevated boardwalk allows visitors to see animals in their natural surroundings. Many of the animals were either raised in captivity or are injured/orphaned individuals rescued by licensed wildlife rehabilitators. 

Don't be surprised to find Florida panthers, black bears, white-tailed deer, alligators and wild turkeys.

It's fascinating to see North Florida wildlife in such a setting -- the cypress trees towering along the waterfront are breathtaking.

The museum's guest animal program features species on loan from other institutions. On our visit, we came face to face with a 20-month old Bengal tiger. Beautiful, but thank goodness for a sturdy glass window!

Kids will also enjoy learning about Old Florida via the 1920s red wooden caboose train, an 1890s schoolhouse and Bellevue, the Tallahassee cotton plantation home of George Washington’s grand-niece. The museum also features an 1880’s farm with live blacksmith demonstrations and a garden.

If you’re looking for a thrill, check out the Tree to Tree Adventures, where you can zip through tree tops and above swamps. There are 19 zip lines and 70 obstacles throughout the course. With three courses to choose from, there’s one for every level of difficulty. It’s a great way to get a unique view at the museum’s natural surroundings. 

Plan your visit to the Tallahassee Museum, visit tallahasseemuseum.org.