FROM DINING AND SNORKELING TO GLASS-BOTTOM BOAT RIDES AND TRAILS, WAKULLA SPRINGS HAS PROVIDED FUN-FILLED DAYS TO VISITORS SINCE THE 1930S, BUT ITS HISTORY AS A NATURAL ATTRACTION STRETCHES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

ONGOING RESEARCH AT THIS NATIONAL REGISTER-LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC DISTRICT HAS REVEALED CONTINUOUS USE OF THE SITE SINCE THE LAST ICE AGE, WHEN PALEOINDIAN PEOPLES HUNTED MASTODONS THERE. THE REMAINS OF ONE SUCH MASTODON WERE DISCOVERED IN 1930. ITS MEDIA COVERAGE DREW NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE PRISTINE SPRINGS, SPURRING ITS USE IN MOTION PICTURES, INCLUDING THREE TARZAN CLASSICS, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, AND SEVERAL OTHER HITS.

TODAY, YOU CAN SEE THE WAKULLA SPRINGS MASTODON AT THE MUSEUM OF FLORIDA HISTORY IN TALLAHASSEE. YOU CAN ALSO VISIT EDWARD BALL WAKULLA SPRINGS STATE PARK, JUST 30 MINUTES FROM THE STATE CAPITAL, WHERE ON-SITE EXHIBITS EXPLORE THE AREA’S HISTORY THROUGH THE MILLENNIA.

WHILE THERE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT WITH AN INVIGORATING PLUNGE INTO THE SPRINGS, BUT ANY VISIT TO HISTORIC WAKULLA SPRINGS IS A TRULY “COOL” EXPERIENCE.

Courtesy of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources