Pioneer Florida

Monday was another day with a surprise destination for me. I was told that our destination would be outside and would cost $6. We headed east through the Ocala National Forest and to my delight arrived at the Pioneer Settlement in Barberville, FL. Growing up close to the Genesee Country Museum, I love a good living history museum and I especially love checking them out in other states because its so interesting to see how pioneers in different areas of the country lived. What’s cool about this place is that it is located on the grounds of the former Central School of Barberville (c. 1919) which is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The grounds also comprise of a variety of pioneer buildings including:

Pierson Railroad Depot (c. 1885)

I love how this display has palm trees and snow covered pines!

Turpentine Comm./Store (c. early 1900s)

Also a gift shop

Turpentine Still (c. 1924)

Lewis Log Cabin (c. 1875)

Midway United Methodist Church (c. 1890)

Quarters House (c. 1920s)

Newspapers=wallpaper

There are also a variety of shops you can check out that have interpreters on weekends and special event days (Print Shop, Wheelwright Shop/Carriage House, Woodwright Shop, Blacksmith Shop).

In the stocks

On the way home we stopped at Sonny’s BBQ which is my favorite place to dine. What’s better than fried corn nuggets and a BBQ sandwich on garlic bread!? The rest of the day was spent packing for our camping trip to Jacksonville.