Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park is a Florida State Park located in White Springs off U.S. 41, along the Suwannee River in north Florida.

Fauna

Among the wildlife of the park are Gopher Tortoises, Box turtles, American Alligators, White-tailed deer, Wood Ducks and a variety of birds.

Recreational activities

Activities include picnicking, hiking and bicycling, as well as horseback riding, canoeing, and wildlife viewing.

Amenities include picnic tables, wooded trails, access to the Suwannee River, riverside cabin, and a 97-bell carillon. There is a craft shop that sells Florida and Southeastern folk art and crafts.

Stephen Foster Museum

The Stephen Foster Museum honors the accomplishments of American composer Stephen Foster, and features dioramas and exhibits about his famous songs, including Old Folks at Home, more commonly known by the words of its first line as "(Way Down Upon the) Swanee River". The honor of Stephen Foster (who never visited Florida) was the idea of Josiah K. Lilly, Sr., the son of Eli Lilly, who proposed the memorial in 1931.

Carillion

The Stephen Foster Memorial Carillon, the park's 97 tubular bell carillon tower, was built in 1957 by the J.C. Deagan Company. Over four decades, the company built and installed in excess of 500 carillions worldwide based on their own 1916 design. The setup at White Springs was their largest and last carillion. It is noted as the "world's...
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