By Layla Bellows
Florida’s Palm Coast is, of course, known for its miles of untouched beaches, acres of protected forests, and the many rivers and streams that run throughout
Flagler County. Scratch the surface of this
ecologically rich part of the state, however, and you’ll find a good dose of Florida history as well. Whether looking to remain outdoors, find an adventure or get inside to beat the heat, Flagler’s got a historical spot for you.
If hiking, canoeing, bird watching and all else outdoors are on the vacation to-do list, take a trip to
Bulow Plantation State Park, where you’ll find all those activities as well as the ruins of — you guessed it — Bulow Plantation. This park does double duty with its access to Bulow Creek (a state canoe trail) and the somewhat eerie remains of the plantation house and slave quarters as well as a sugar mill and springhouse. The site tells the larger tale of Florida’s plantations, burned and destroyed by Seminole Indians in 1836, during the Second Seminole War. The
Mala Compra Plantation met the same fate that year. General Joseph Hernandez, Florida’s first delegate to the U.S. Congress, grew cotton and oranges here, and James Audubon also visited the plantation. Today, the archaeological remains provide an example of a coastal plantation layout.
To get a deeper glimpse into Florida’s farming history, head no further than the
Florida Agricultural Museum in Palm Coast, where you’ll find an 1890s pioneer homestead, an early 1900s dry goods store, five buildings from a Depression-era citrus business, a 5,000-square-foot dairy barn and the archaeological site of a water-powered sawmill. Needless to say, the buildings didn’t just happen to be on the site: They were all moved from their original locations and restored as a museum devoted to learning and fun. Museum guides dress in period costume and lead visitors through hands-on farm activities; the barnyard animals can eat carrots right out of your hand, so be sure to bring a good supply. Even the animals have history here: The Florida Agricultural Museum is part of a statewide heritage livestock preservation program and has a stock of cracker cattle and horses (shown).
A day cavorting with dolphins at
Marineland might not sound like a dip in history, but this attraction, widely known for offering visitors the opportunity to swim with dolphins, is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Initially opened as Marine Studios in 1938, the original intent of its founders (including Leo Tolstoy’s grandson) was to create a place where marine life could be filmed for TV and movies. Who knew a day of good, old-fashioned tourism could also serve as a lesson in history?
Image courtesy the Florida Agricultural Museum.