 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
27. Florida Constitution Museum200 Allen Memorial Way
Opened in 1955, the museum depicts the brief (1829-1843) but momentous history of St. Joseph, Florida’s Constitution City. The museum in located in a lovely tree-lined 14-acre park. A boomtown founded in 1835, St. Joseph competed with Apalachicola as a trading port on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The original settlement lasted only nine years, but during its short life the city hosted Florida's first State Constitution Convention. The museum commemorates the work of the 56 territorial delegates who drafted Florida's first constitution in 1838. Following four more constitution conventions, Florida was finally admitted to the Union in 1845 as the 27th state. Visitors can take a self-guided tour through displays and exhibits of 19th century life in St. Joseph. Life-size, audio-animated mannequins in the replicated convention hall demonstrate the debate and process of drafting a state constitution.
By 1840, it was clear that the city of St. Joseph could not compete commercially with Apalachicola; and the town laid aside its role as a commercial metropolis and served as an attractive pleasure resort. In the summer of 1841, yellow fever reached epidemic proportions in the entire territory, and St. Joseph was especially hard hit. The population declined from already fewer than 6,000 to 400 in less than one year. Many of the deserted houses were dismantled and shipped to Apalachicola for reconstruction. Some still remain there today. Click on the photos below to view some of those houses moved from St. Joseph to Apalachicola
The hurricane of September 1844 completely destroyed what remained of the town of St. Joseph. Museum tours are available Thursday-Monday from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
|
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
