Museum of Florida History Opens New Permanent Exhibit, Forever Changed: La Florida 1513-1821

New permanent exhibit is the largest addition in museum’s 35 year history

Tallahassee, Florida –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner is encouraging Florida residents and visitors to view the new permanent exhibit at the Museum of Florida History. The new permanent exhibit, titled Forever Changed: La Florida 1513-1821, highlights the arrival of European nations to Florida and their interaction with Florida’s native population. It is the largest addition to the Museum of Florida History in the museum’s 35 year history.

“Our new permanent exhibit can be enjoyed by people of all ages,” said Secretary Detzner. “The exhibit is uniquely educational and entertaining in how it offers information about Florida history in an interactive and fun environment.”

Phase one of the new exhibit, which opens to the public tomorrow, Saturday, March, 3, 2012, features three sections. The section referred to as “Land of Many Cultures” highlights the people living in “Florida” in 1513, when several hundred to potentially a million people were in Florida, including the Timucua, Apalachee and Calusa Indians. Also featured in the “Land of Many Cultures” is a recreated native dwelling.

The other two sections in phase one of the new exhibit include “Spanish Exploration” and “Meeting of Many Cultures. The “Spanish Exploration” section is highlighted by a Spanish ship that visitors can walk through while learning about the age of exploration. The “Meeting of Many Cultures” section includes life-size figures of real people who interacted in the sixteenth century.

All of the phase one sections include artifacts, drawings and interactive activities. When the next phase of the museum is complete, the exhibit will cover Florida history through 1821. The completion of the museum is one of the many ways the Museum of Florida History is commemorating the state’s 500th anniversary through the official Viva Florida 500 commemoration in 2013.

About the Department of State’s Museum of Florida History

The Museum of Florida History is part of the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, and is located in the R. A. Gray Building at 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida.  The site is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday and holidays, 12:00 noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free.  For more information, contact 850.245.6400 or go online to www.museumoffloridahistory.com.