The Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center is located in the Silver River State Park

Silver River State Park

Silver River State Park is a nearly 5,000 acre Florida State Park east of Ocala. Adjacent to Silver Springs and the Ocklawaha River, the park is a mile south of State Road 40 on State Road 35 .-Ecology:...

, near Silver Springs

Silver Springs, Florida

Silver Springs is a U.S. populated place and spring in Marion County, Florida, just to the east of the city of Ocala. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area....

, east of Ocala in Marion County

Marion County, Florida

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....

, Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, USA. The museum is named after the Silver River, which flows through the State Park.

The Marion County Public School System operates the museum and center in cooperation with the Florida Park Service

Florida State Parks

The Florida State Parks encompass the majority of the lands that fall under the authority of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. There are 160 such entities, including nature reserves, recreation areas, and historic sites, which can be found in every corner of the state...

, with both hosting educational events. The concept of the center dates back to 1987, and initial funding was provided through a Christa McAullife Fellowship. In 1991, the museum and center opened to provide daily classes for the students of Marion County.

Facilities

The initial facilities consisted of the museum itself, together with classroom buildings. More recent additions include a new wing to the museum, a lunch pavilion, a research library, a Florida cracker

Florida cracker

Florida cracker refers to original colonial-era English and American pioneer settlers of what is now the U.S. state of Florida, and their descendants. The first Florida crackers arrived in 1763 when Spain traded Florida to Great Britain...

 pioneer settlement of the late 1800s, and a one-room schoolhouse used by African-American students during racial segregation

Racial segregation

Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...

(c1930).

The Center's 19th century farm buildings (houses, meeting house/school, sheds, blacksmith, etc.) and museum of the natural and social history of the area are used during the week by the school district for classes, but are open to the public on the weekends.

Ocali Country Days

For one week, early in November, the Center and Park put on the Ocali Country Days as a fund raiser. This is a 19th century, living history event with displays, talks, and performances incorporating living historians. For that Tuesday through Friday it is open to public, private and home school-age children and their teachers who have made reservations with the Center. In 2008, attendance was limited to 1,200 students and teachers per day and this quota was filled every day. So make your reservations early.

The event is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday and has become a popular annual attraction in the area.