The Tallahassee Museum announces new tree top adventure course with zip lines coming to Tallahassee and Leon County
Zip over to the Museum!
On Wednesday, February 15, the Tallahassee Museum’s board of trustees approved plans to design, build and operate a tree top adventure course with zip lines. This decision was reached after several months of feasibility and marketing studies as well as extensive investigation and analysis. The Museum’s board directed management to move forward with the project as quickly as possible.
Once operational later this spring, course visitors will be able to explore nature from high in the trees having fun moving safely from tree to tree and challenging themselves with thrilling elements such as tightropes, crab walks, jungle bridges, nets, and best of all, zip lines. The course will be suitable for a variety of participants based upon body heights rather than ages.
Treetop Adventure Concept of Sanford, Fl has been commissioned to design and build the course, which will feature over 70 games and challenges including 10 zip lines. It is anticipated that construction will begin within a month and be completed in late April or early May. Financing is being provided by Florida Commerce Credit Union.
The course will be intentionally designed to blend with the Museum’s natural environment, inspired by the trees and the natural flow of the terrain and flora. Several courses of various difficulty levels will be built, including a children’s course, an intermediate course, and a 2-hour “signature course” for the truly adventurous.
Come enjoy all the Tallahassee Museum has to offer while celebrating our region's heritage and culture during Fall Farm Day on Saturday, November 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be various types of tractors and engines on display outside of the 1880s farmstead as well as demonstrations in cane syrup making, cordage methods, indigo dying, wood carving, stilling, the making of goat's milk soap, and blacksmithing.
Jim Gary's Twentieth Century Dinosaurs are back and they look wonderful! It has been nearly twenty years since Jim Gary brought his amazing dinosaur sculptures to the Tallahassee Museum for their southeastern U.S. debut. Since then, they have traveled the U.S. and world visiting such far away places as Japan and Australia, captivating the imaginations of millions of people.
Although Jim and his dinosaurs traveled far and wide and his fame and recognition followed, he remembered his show in Tallahassee and how well his sculptures fit within our natural setting. In fact, during one of our conversations back then, he commented that he could almost hear them coming to life and crashing through the palmetto!
I know that I am honored and pleased that Jim's dinosaurs will be calling the Tallahassee Museum home for many years to come. I certainly see them joining many of the Museum's other iconic features as must see visits for both our local audiences as well as tourists. As a recent newspaper headline noted, Jersey's loss is Florida's gain.
On a personal note, I feel very privileged to be entrusted with keeping Jim's legacy and his dinosaurs alive and am pretty confident that Jim would be very pleased seeing them in their new home.
It took a fair amount of time, money and the effort of many people to bring Jim Gary's Twentieth Century Dinosaurs to Tallahassee. Most importantly, I'd like to extend the Museum's appreciation and thank you to the Jim Gary Foundation and Mr. and Mrs. Arlene Berg and their son, Jeremy, for their efforts in preserving Jim's work and selecting the Tallahassee Museum for the exhibition's home! Working with Arlene and Jeremy over these past few months has truly been a treat (even when we were unloading them from the semi trucks in August's near 100 degree heat!).
The Tallahassee Museum’s male Florida panther recently underwent an innovative stem cell procedure that could potentially help heal a problem in his leg and also help big cats with injuries worldwide.
“This treatment is the first known attempt of its kind in a panther in the United States and the gradual results are closely being monitored by the panther’s vet and Museum staff,” said Tallahassee Museum Animal Curator Mike Jones. “The Museum is appreciative of the opportunity to participate in this cutting edge process that will hopefully help our panther as well as help pave the way for this technique to help other large cats.”
During the treatment, Dr. Norm Griggs of Shepherds Spring Animal Hospital, the consulting veterinarian, removed about two ounces of belly fat from the cat. The fat was then air shipped to a firm in California where it was broken down and approximately 33 million stem cells were isolated and saved. The stem cells were then flown back to Tallahassee where Dr. Griggs carefully injected about eight million cells directly into the panther’s front right elbow. The remaining cells are being stored in California for backup procedures, if needed. The entire process took 72 hours to complete.
Wicked fun abounds for the young in age and faint at heart to those with creepier cravings at the Tallahassee Museum’s 17th annual Halloween Howl, set for October 28th & 29th from 6-10 pm nightly. The Tallahassee Museum welcomes the ‘spooktacular’ season with the highly anticipated event held on the Museum grounds. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for children for non-members and $8 for adults, $6 for children for Museum Members (children under three free).
Families with an appetite for amusement enjoy the Not-So-Spooky Trail, The Carnival Games and Steampunk Village, featuring Victorian era games, magic and more. Those seeking a fright are terrified in the dark woods of the Haunted Trail and sent into a trance by the living dead on the Zombie Maze, while all guests enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the grounds. Ghoulish sounds from the incomparable children’s entertainer Safari Man and family-friendly rockers Rhythm Abuse echo from the main entertainment stage sponsored by Tallahassee State Bank.
In 1993, a unique, widely-acclaimed large-scale traveling exhibit made its Southeastern U.S. debut amid fanfare and the amazement of families, children, scores of dinosaur fanatics and auto enthusiasts at the Tallahassee Museum -- a living museum offering engaging experiences focused on North Florida's natural environment, native wildlife and cultural history. 18 Years later, Jim Gary's Twentieth Century Dinosaurs is returning to the Tallahassee Museum in October as a long-term attraction after traveling the world for years. Some of the 21 exhibit pieces span as much as 43 feet in length and weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Gary, a renowned artist and creator, crafted hundreds of other abstract metal works for more than three decades before passing away in 2006.
"The special bond formed between Tallahassee Museum and Jim Gary began when the exhibit made its first stop here in 1993," said Russell S. Daws, executive director/chief executive officer at the Museum. "Jim and I began our working relationship during his first museum show at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia in 1979. When I relocated to Tallahassee, I knew we needed to bring his amazing show to town, and we kept in touch up until his passing. We always knew we wanted to bring Jim Gary's Twentieth Century Dinosaurs back to Tallahassee, where it is a natural fit for our outdoor environment. Now, with his passing and the establishment of the Jim Gary Foundation, we are honored to serve as the long-term home of his work. We look forward to caring for the collection with care and the respect it deserves while keeping Jim's legacy alive by educating and entertaining Tallahassee residents and visitors for years to come."
Gary himself, who fashioned each work using thousands of parts reclaimed from junked automobiles of the 1950's, 60's and 70's, created every piece featured in the exhibit. A completely self-taught artist, he scoured junkyards across the country and welded each piece by hand with painstaking precision and accuracy before painting his creations in shockingly bright and beautiful colors. Often noted as saying, "Old Chryslers make the finest dinosaurs," his remarkable intricate creations continue to inspire and entertain audiences.
The Tallahassee Museum recently invited guests to eat, drink and get down with the dinos at Prehistoric Zoobilee 2011 on Friday, October 14th. Terrifying triceratops, bloodcurdling allosaurus and other prehistoric creatures from the new Jim Gary’s Twentieth Century Dinosaurs exhibit made their debut as carnivores, herbivores and omnivores enjoyed succulent tastes from approximately 20 area restaurants.
The dynamic band Exit 199 rocked the dance floor with sounds from the 70s to today’s modern music while attendees took breaks from doing the pterodactyl tango only to partake in mouth-watering cuisine from local restaurants. We'd like to thank the following restaurants for providing succulent tastes and treats: LeRoc Bistro from Hotel Duval, Po’ Boys Creole Café, Marco’s Pizza, Another Broken Egg, Bagel Bagel, Barnaby's, Crisper's, Masa, Los Amigos, El Mercadito, The Cake Shop, Classic Fare Catering, Barnacle Bills, Beef O'Brady's, Myra Jeans, Trail Break Cafe, D&D Mullet and Eat More Butt Chicken & Ribs.
“For nearly 20 years now, Zoobilee has boasted crowds of more than 700 people each year who enjoy the best in Tallahassee food, beverages and live music in the outstanding outdoor fall atmosphere, all while supporting the unique experience of the Museum” said Russell Daws, CEO & executive director, Tallahassee Museum.
The Tallahassee Museum invites shoppers to cross off holiday lists with unique, personalized goods while benefitting a cause at the 46th Annual Market Days, December 3 and 4, 2011 at the North Florida Fairgrounds. Acclaimed as a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 event, the juried arts and crafts festival features gifts from stocking stuffers and affordable goods perfect for teachers and friends to under the tree extravagance, home decor and even a bit of personal indulgence for those seeking the perfect present for themselves. Including highly sought annual exhibitors and first time artisans, more than 300 carefully selected vendors come from across the country to exhibit at Market Days, including more than 60 new merchants this year. Limited to just 1,000 tickets, Early Bird attendees peruse stress-free and get first dibs on top gifts, before the rush of the crowds arrive.
"Market Days is widely recognized as one of the finest arts and crafts shows in the Southeast as well as our region's most treasured holiday shopping tradition," says Russell Daws, Tallahassee Museum Executive Director/CEO. "The continued support of participating vendors, thousands of shoppers and our dedicated Market Days committee result in raising vital funds for the iconic Tallahassee Museum and our educational community programs."
Market Days 2011 300+ selected vendors, including more than 60 new artisans
- Dec. 3, 2011, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Early Bird Shopping – 1,000 shoppers
- Dec. 3, 2011, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. General Shopping
- Dec. 4, 2011 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. General Shopping
North Florida Fairgrounds Tallahassee
Admission: $6 admission at the gate, $4 for children ages 6-12, Children 5 and under admitted free $25 Early Bird admission*
Tickets: Early Bird tickets are available at www.marketdays.org, by phone at 850-575-8684 or at retail locations: My Favorite Things, The Carriage Shop, Elinor Doyle Florist and the Tallahassee Museum.
A not-to-be-missed exhibitor this year includes feature artist Gary Cliett. A longtime vendor at Market Days, Cliett is most widely known for his heralded two-dimensional paper sculptures—though they are only the beginning of his amazing creations—which also include the original Market Days logo still in use today.
The Tallahassee Museum is proud to announce it has received a $3,000 grant from Target. This grant will enable the Tallahassee Museum to provide cultural and natural history programs to a number of Leon County Public Schools during the 2011-12 school year.
The Target grant recognizes the Tallahassee Museum’s outstanding efforts to promote knowledge and understanding of the Big Bend’s cultural history and natural environment. It will fund the Museum on the Move programming which offers engaging, in-school educational presentations to selected elementary schools in Leon County.
World renown exhibit opens at the Tallahassee Museum, October 14 at Zoobilee
In 1993, a unique, widely-acclaimed large-scale traveling exhibit made its Southeastern U.S. debut amid fanfare and the amazement of families, children, scores of dinosaur fanatics and auto enthusiasts at the Tallahassee Museum -- a living museum offering engaging experiences focused on North Florida's natural environment, native wildlife and cultural history. 18 Years later, Jim Gary's Twentieth Century Dinosaurs is returning to the Tallahassee Museum in October as a long-term attraction after traveling the world for years. Some of the 21 exhibit pieces span as much as 43 feet in length and weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Gary, a renowned artist and creator, crafted hundreds of other abstract metal works for more than three decades before passing away in 2006.
"The special bond formed between Tallahassee Museum and Jim Gary began when the exhibit made its first stop here in 1993," said Russell S. Daws, executive director/chief executive officer at the Museum. "Jim and I began our working relationship during his first museum show at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia in 1979. When I relocated to Tallahassee, I knew we needed to bring his amazing show to town, and we kept in touch up until his passing. We always knew we wanted to bring Jim Gary's Twentieth Century Dinosaurs back to Tallahassee, where it is a natural fit for our outdoor environment. Now, with his passing and the establishment of the Jim Gary Foundation, we are honored to serve as the long-term home of his work. We look forward to caring for the collection with care and the respect it deserves while keeping Jim's legacy alive by educating and entertaining Tallahassee residents and visitors for years to come."
The Tallahassee Museum is proud to announce the return of $2 Saturdays throughout the entire month of September, including Labor Day weekend (September 3). This opportunity allows guests full access to the Museum’s exhibits, historic buildings, nature trails and natural-habitat wildlife area at a very affordable price.
“We are pleased to provide this special offer for folks of all ages,” said Tallahassee Museum Executive Director and CEO Russell S. Daws. “$2 Saturdays allow everyone to enjoy all the wonders of the Museum at a perfect time as we start to make the transition to the much anticipated autumn temperatures in our beautiful tree canopy covered campus.”
Our annual Habitat Club and Donor Reception was recently held in the Horizon Ballroom of the beautiful Hotel Duval. I always look forward to this event when so many new and long-time friends of the Museum join together to socialize, celebrate the accomplishments of the Museum and hear about our upcoming hopes and plans. Most importantly, it is another opportunity for the Museum to thank those who so generously contribute their financial support to the Museum.
This year’s theme was appropriately titled “On the Horizon” as our supporters were treated to a sneak peak at several projects the Museum is pursuing including elements of the new interpretive plan, an exhibition of dinosaurs, and the possibilities of a new tree top adventure and trail.
In addition to the preview of the Museum’s future, our supporters were warmly thanked for all they have and continue to do for the Museum and the community we serve.
By Linda Deaton, Chief Curator of Collections & Exhibits
The transition from spring to summer occurred recently on the summer solstice June 21. Now as temperatures rise, we'll be looking for ways to cool off. But how did people stay cool before air-conditioning? Here are some artifacts that show how people kept the heat at bay in the 19th and 20th centuries and they may even give you some ideas to help you stay cool this summer.
**All images can be viewed full size by clicking each picture, most files are over 300mb which may be slow in downloading, depending on your connection
White ostrich feather fan with mother of pearl ribs
Paper hand fan advertising the Home Furniture Company on the back
A hand fan's function to create a cooling breeze hasn't changed since the ancient Egyptians used palm fronds for the same purpose. Over the centuries the hand fan became a popular fashion accessory for ladies of good taste. By the Victorian era, it was a must-have accessory for all women no matter their social class. In the early 20th century, mass-produced paper fans became a medium to advertise and promote theatres, funeral homes, hotels, shops, and stores.
Gathered net parasol
The Tallahassee Museum invites you to view our Summer Guest Animal - Tayras (one male, one female).
Come meet two visiting Tayras (Eira Barbara) and learn about their fascinating lives in Central and South America. As members of the Mustelidae family, they are cousins to otters, weasels, minks, skunks, ferrets, badgers, and wolverines. These animals are similar in form to otters, but have longer legs for roaming the forests of Mexico, Argentina, and the island of Trinidad. The mammals are excellent swimmers and climbers, and their diet usually consists of a wide variety of foods, from beetles and grubs, to bird eggs, small mammals, amphibians, as well as home gardens and orchards. Their appetite for fruits separates them from the rest of the Mustelidae family members.
The Tallahassee Museum held its annual Habitat Club and Donors Reception June 2, 2011 at the Hotel Duval, Horizon Ballroom.
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From L to R: Dorothy Melton, Judy V. Phipps, Russell S. Daws (Exec. Dir/CEO) |
From L to R: Emory Hingst, Marguerite Martin (PR/Marketing) |
The Tallahassee Museum is celebrating two recent additions to the Museum team: a Florida Panther mascot, and a “live” two year old male panther.
“This young panther has a lot of energy, curiosity and playfulness,” said Museum Animal Curator Mike Jones. “He adds new excitement to the Museum’s panther exhibit.”
Born and raised in Jupiter, Florida at the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, the juvenile panther was recently brought to the Museum with the transportation assistance of Cat Life Foundation.
Equally exciting is the recent announcement of the Museum’s official Florida Panther mascot, affectionately known as “FP,” who is available for community events and private appearances as he works to fulfill his mission to help people understand the importance of Florida’s natural and cultural resources.
I am ever so thankful that Tallahassee is having such a beautiful and enjoyable spring! It certainly helps to overshadow the divisive political process that is taking place within our state and nation! I find myself being reminded of George Bernard Shaw’s quote: “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.”
Speaking of democracy, I recently returned from a trip to our nation’s capital where I joined more than 300 other museum directors, trustees, and staff from 45 states as part of the American Association of Museum’s Advocacy Day activities. Over the course of two days, we were honored to receive heartfelt welcomes, personal museum stories, and poignant and motivational remarks from a number of Congressional leaders.
We also met with our respective members of Congress to discuss the serious challenges facing America’s museums and to remind them of the significant economic, social, and educational contributions made by museums. Furthermore, we asked that they sustain federal funding for museums, which currently is about $35 million annually.
I enjoyed visiting the offices and staff of Senator Nelson, Senator Rubio, and Representative Southerland. In each case, I was pleased to find receptive ears and an appreciation for museums. It was also quite clear that our elected representatives have very difficult choices to make, very limited resources to allocate, and value the input they receive from their constituents.
Students from Jefferson County Open School in Colorado traveled to the Museum recently for their annual trip to help the Museum with a number of improvement projects.
Mike Jones, Animal Curator at the Tallahassee Museum, says “the relationship that the Museum has enjoyed with the Jefferson County Open School has existed for 30 years. Many of my colleagues from other institutions have expressed amazement at the long history and the amount of assistance the group has provided for the Museum.”
In October, I had the pleasure of participating in the third of four scheduled meetings of our Interpretive Planning Advisory Committee. As you might remember, this committee is charged with helping us in our work with the Haley Sharpe Design firm to redevelop, enhance and better integrate the Museum’s stories about our region’s history, environment and people. The committee is composed of a very diverse group of individuals from the region and beyond, including humanities and history scholars, museum and zoo directors, business people, board members, conservationists and designers.
For two days I was captivated by the committee’s intellect and level of discussion, including subjects as diverse as the settlement and economic development of our area, biodiversity, “Southern sensibilities,” wildlife biology, slavery, population and cultural dynamics, migration, immigration, architecture, and even old vs. new Tallahassee. I was especially impressed by how well Bill Haley integrated and shaped the diversity of subjects being discussed into the early foundations that will result in overarching themes for the Museum’s future interpretive pursuit. In fact, these embryonic themes will soon be tested among our audiences through survey work being conducted by Kerr and Downs Research on our behalf.
While we still have a lot more work ahead of us, my level of excitement and optimism for this interpretive planning effort and what it can do for the Museum’s future is growing exponentially.
The Tallahassee Museum recently elected three new individuals to the Museum’s Board of Trustees during the annual corporate meeting. In addition, five board officers were elected and seven board members were re-elected to serve for the coming year. “Made up of business and civic leaders who are passionate about the future of children, families, our natural and cultural environment, and building a strong Tallahassee community, the Board is an important part of what makes the Tallahassee Museum successful,” said Tallahassee Museum executive director/ceo Russell Daws. “We are thrilled to have persons of this leadership take time out of their busy schedules to help us carry out our valuable mission.”
The following individuals were elected as new board members:
- Michael Carter, Partner and CPA, Carr, Riggs and Ingram, LLC
- Kent Hutchinson, CPA, formerly of APOGA, retired
- Tom McPherson, former Representative and Senator for the state of Florida, retired
The following board officers were elected:
- President, Michael T. Stehlik, AVP & Investment Portfolio Manager, Capital City Bank
- Vice President, Robert C. Downie II, Robert Downie Consulting LLC
A team of researchers from The Florida State University is using a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to equip fourth- and fifth-graders with handheld digital journals to monitor natural habitats and analyze wildlife behavior at the Tallahassee Museum.
Habitat Tracker — a joint project of FSU’s College of Communication & Information, College of Education and Learning Systems Institute and the Tallahassee Museum — is designed to encourage students to conduct scientific research through online and mobile technologies. It will help students master the new “scientific inquiry and nature of science” benchmarks advocated by national science education reform efforts and mandated by Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science.
“Students will collect and analyze data about the Tallahassee Museum’s wildlife habitats before, during and after visits to the museum, learning about collaboration and scientific research by sharing their observations with other students,” said Paul Marty, associate professor in the College of Communication & Information, and the project’s principal investigator. Co-principal investigators are Ian Douglas, associate professor at the Learning Systems Institute, Sherry Southerland, professor in the College of Education, and Victor Sampson, assistant professor in the College of Education.
The Tallahassee Museum’s Preschool was named Child Care Program of the Year by the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region. At a June 18 “Evening With The Stars” program, the Early Learning Coalition presented the award to the Museum’s Preschool for its excellent service in the field of early childhood education. It was one of nine preschools nominated for Child Care Program of the Year by early childhood professionals, educators and parents in the region that includes Leon, Liberty, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison and Taylor counties.
Early Learning Coalition Board Chairman Larry DiPietro presented the award, given in recognition of child-care programs that best exemplify innovation, dedication, leadership, respect for children and families, and commitment to professional growth.
Congratulations to Early Childhood Coordinator Karen Gay, along with the talented and dedicated Preschool staff, who are: Jessica Andrews, teacher; Jennifer Strike, teacher; Shawn Sharpton, aide; Sheila Blanton, aide; and Sara Dunbar, aide.
The Tallahassee Museum’s renowned summer camp program has begun, offering 35 nature-based and history-based camps for children ages 3 ½ to 14.
The Tallahassee Museum provides wholesome, outdoor summer experiences for youth, including nature-based camps and field trips to learn about wildlife and the environment, history-based camps to learn about communities and ways of life from yesteryear, and science-based camps covering subjects such as geology, flight, and hurricanes.
As each day passes and I continue to hear the tragic news about the death and destruction occurring in our Gulf of Mexico, I often wonder if there is something the Museum should or could do to help. Yet, we can’t send money or staff because we barely have enough to keep our own doors open. I guess we could seek donations to send to the organizations that are directly confronting the environmental impact of the oil spill, but then would that not be a serious conflict with our own fundraising needs?
Then it occurred to me as I heard the enthusiastic voices of our current Summer Camp participants and remembered the discovery by our campers last summer of a critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle that was building a nest at Bald Point State Park. This discovery, the campers’ photos and the journal entries they made helped biologists find and protect the rare turtle’s nest, from which more than 100 hatchlings later safely emerged.
Perhaps the Museum is doing something important related to the oil spill … are we not providing future scientists, leaders, business people, and voters with the environmental, historical, and cultural experiences that provide knowledge, shape values, and instill passion and commitment? Perhaps that one sea turtle, or a visit to our living Museum, or a program we presented in a school will lead to some of our campers, program participants, or Museum visitors playing important roles in the clean-up of our Gulf. Perhaps they will find a way to prevent this type of accident or, more importantly, to resist poorly conceived or short-sighted policies that can threaten our quality of life and long-term survival.
The Tallahassee Museum was named “Non-Profit Organization of the Year” for 2010 by the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce this month during its 25th annual Small Business Excellence awards luncheon. The Museum was one of eight award winners from a field of more than 70 nominees.
“This award and recognition would not have been possible without the brain power, hard work and support of our Board of Trustees and our staff,” said Russell Daws, the Museum’s executive director and CEO. “We also hold a great debt of gratitude to all of our members, donors, and friends who have stuck with us through thick and thin and who truly recognize and value the Museum’s contributions to this community.”
The Tallahassee Museum has joined in a nationwide salute to military families by providing free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families now through Labor Day. This is part of the nationwide “Blue Star Museums” initiative launched by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Blue Star Families network.
The Museum will admit active-duty military personnel with military I.D. and their families (total of six admissions) for free starting Friday (May 28) and throughout the summer until Labor Day. This includes Reservists and members of the National Guard. The Tallahassee Museum is an ideal place for military families, like all families, to spend memorable time together, relaxing in the beauty of nature, enjoying and learning about our natural world and experiencing our region's past.
"We are proud to support and be a part of the Blue Star Museums initiative. The men and women of our military and their families help preserve our heritage and way of life on a daily basis. For this we are grateful, and this is our small way of giving back to military families for their sacrifices, which include giving up time spent together," said Russell Daws, the Museum's executive director and CEO. "We look forward to seeing Blue Star families here enjoying what we have to offer."
Free admission for military families is related to the Museum’s “We’re In It Together” campaign, launched early in the economic recession to provide free and discounted admissions to people most impacted by job losses and financial strain.
The Southeast Tourism Society has named Market Days a Top 20 event in the Southeast for December, placing it in a distinguished group of events recommended by travel industry experts. Market Days, a juried arts and crafts show now in its 45th year, is one of the Southeast’s largest and best, attracting approximately 300 fine artists and top-quality crafts makers from around the nation and up to 15,000 holiday shoppers. This year’s show is set for Dec. 4-5, at the North Florida Fairgrounds in Tallahassee, Fla.
Top 20 recognition by the Southeast Tourism Society positions Market Days 2010 to receive extensive media exposure in the United
States and Canada, including print, internet, TV and radio. Society President William Hardman, announcing the fall Top 20 Events, said the society distributes the listings to more than 800 newspapers, magazines and broadcast stations, and to AAA and other travel-related organizations. Hardman added that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution prints the Atlanta-headquartered society’s Top 20 Events as a quarterly feature in its travel pages, and Top 20 Events were recently featured on the New Orleans-based radio show “Travel Talk Radio.”
Children from disadvantaged families will be able to attend the Tallahassee Museum’s nature-based summer camps starting in June thanks to a grant from The PBSJ Foundation, Inc., and the generous support of Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc. The Foundation awarded the Museum a $5,000 grant to underwrite summer 
camp scholarships for children who might not otherwise be able to attend.
The Tallahassee Museum provides wholesome, outdoor summer experiences for youth, including nature-based camps and field trips to learn about wildlife and the 
environment, history-based camps to learn about communities and ways of life from yesteryear, and science-based camps covering subjects such as geology, flight, and hurricanes.
“In these difficult economic times, this generous gift from the PBSJ Foundation and Peter Brown Construction will make a big difference in the lives of childrenwho would not have been able to participate due to financial limitations,” said Russell Daws, the Tallahassee Museum’s executive director and CEO. “What these kids are going to learn and experience will have a profound impact on their lives and future, thanks to the generous support of the PBSJ Foundation and Peter Brown Construction.”
The PBSJ Corporation and Peter Brown Construction have a long history of giving back to the communities in which their employees live and work. What began as the passion of individual employees for community service has become a hallmark of the PBSJ/Peter Brown Construction corporate culture. Through the PBSJ Foundation, PBSJ companies support worthy charitable causes, ranging from scholarships to youth education and development programs.
Rare animal was euthanized at UF; second panther at Museum remains in good health
The Tallahassee Museum’s 10-year-old male panther, one of two panthers at the Museum, has died after a two-month illness. The cat was humanely euthanized Friday, May 14, at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine after specialists there determined he had an aggressive internal tumor that was painful and non-treatable. “He was a great animal who was a favorite of Museum visitors and staff alike,” said Animal Curator Mike Jones. “He arrived at the Museum with his sister when they were six months old and was a happy and playful animal throughout his life. His sister remains at the Museum, in good health.”
In April, hundreds of visitors joined Museum staff, FSU art students, and the Cat Life Foundation in celebrating the pair’s 10th birthday.
The Tallahassee Museum panthers represent the endangered Florida panther in the wild and have helped to inspire thousands of Museum visitors to learn more about wildlife, the natural environment, and the importance of conservation and sustainable lifestyles.
Ok, I’m ready for some warm and dry weather! The past several months have been either too cold or too wet or both for my liking. It appears my observations are also borne out by a chill on the Museum’s recent financial statements.
Prior to December, Museum attendance and revenues were doing very well in light of the current economic conditions but then December hit and things started falling apart…the first day of Market Days was greeted by cold and wet weather, then rains impacted our normally large visitation during the holidays as well as our holiday day camps. Of course, as you know, the weather during January and February has been equally interesting! When our visitation drops, so does our retail and membership sales and renewals.
So, with this as a backdrop, you can imagine my elation when we finally had a warm, dry and beautiful day for our recent Saturday Matinee of the Arts event and over 2,000 people visited us! Clearly, people had not forgotten us!
Actually, I knew all along we had not been forgotten due to the wonderful donations we received in response to our year-end annual fund appeal. The generosity of our donors and supporters this year was just amazing and exceeded the year-end donations of a year before. Thank you again to all of you who included the Museum in your giving plans during the holidays! You really allowed us to keep going when the weather was doing its best to slow us down!
The Tallahassee Museum is having a very busy and productive fall. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, restaurants, volunteers, and participants, Zoobilee and Halloween both exceeded our expectations and have provided our education, preservation, and conservation activities with valuable revenues for the coming year. Please make a personal effort to patronize our sponsors and restaurants that support the Museum and make our events possible.
Our next and biggest fundraising event is Market Days on December 5 and 6 at the North Florida Fairgrounds. Market Days is critically important to the Museum’s budget, accounting for about 10% of our annual income, and pays for a wide range of operating expenses including animal food, educational programs, insurance and utility bills, building repairs and maintenance and free admission for Leon County schoolchildren.
Market Days is not only our region’s holiday shopping tradition but also an important economic contributor to our area with approximately 30% of Market Days attendees (15,000+) coming from outside of our region. Again, we are very fortunate to have a significant number of sponsors and volunteers helping to make Market Days possible.
I encourage you to support the Museum and our community by attending Market Days, buying an Early Bird ticket (which can now be securely purchased on-line through the Museum’s website), and by telling all of your friends about the wonderful and original gifts that can be very economically purchased.
During the Museum’s recent annual corporate meeting, new board officers and members were elected. Outgoing president Susan Baldino was thanked for her Museum leadership and accomplishments related to enhanced board governance and board fundraising and efforts to implement an interpretive planning process. Newly elected board president, Michael Stehlik of Capital City Bank, pledged to maintain the initiatives begun under Susan’s tenure, especially strengthening the Museum through strong board leadership, recruitment, and fundraising.
By Sarah Butters, Esq.*
In these difficult economic times, gifting to your favorite charities may be difficult or even anxiety provoking. Many of us have seen our portfolios shrink and our investment income decline. Leaving a legacy through testamentary gifts, however, is a great way to show your continued support for your favorite charities while ensuring your assets are available for your needs during your lifetime.
Testamentary gifts are, quite simply, gifts that are not payable to the beneficiary until the donor's death. Testamentary gifts come in many forms and most are revocable, meaning the donor can change the amount and designee at any time. Some of the most common testamentary charitable gifts are:
- Wills and Trusts: The most common testamentary gift is a specific gift of cash or assets through a last will and testament or living trust. Charities welcome gifts of cash, but check with your favored charity before gifting certain assets, like cars and real estate. These assets can carry with them liability risks, so some charities have policies that prevent them from accepting these types of gifts.
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History and photography: Kodak recently announced that it would be retiring its Kodachrome color slide film. Undoubtedly, the popularity of digital photography adversely affected sales of this former mainstay of film. Kodachrome follows in the footsteps of many other photographic formats and processes that were popular “in their day” but became out-of-date when new innovations came to the fore. The Tallahassee Museum’s collections include examples of photography’s evolution, including these early photographs: daguerreotypes, ambrotypes and tintypes. During the 1840s–1860s, daguerreotypes were the most popular of the early photographs. Frenchman L.J.M. Daguerre in 1839 discovered that a thin sheet of light-sensitive, silver-plated copper, when exposed in a camera to natural light, developed by mercury vapor, and fixed in a hypo solution, left a “truthful likeness” on the plate. |
Welcome to summertime! It’s that special time of year when many of us have more leisure time for enjoying the great outdoors. With the tough economy, the Museum is proving to be a popular and economical choice for people who are looking for enjoyable, memorable activities. Our attendance is almost 40% higher than a year ago!
Much of our attendance growth is being fueled by our efforts to respond to the needs of our community. Our well received “We’re In It Together” campaign and its special pricing has helped to ease the recession blues and ensure that families can continue to make great memories together this summer.
Summertime is also when we send out one of our annual fund appeals. With Museum attendance up and its funding down, it is a daily challenge to make sure we have the financial resources necessary to sustain our programs, maintain the Museum, and feed the animals. Tax-deductible gifts to the annual fund help ensure that we meet the the needs of schoolchildren on field trips, families on visits, and our community partners in the neighborhoods and towns across our region. We can put your gift to use today, whether its $20 or $1,000.
Caring for Our Collections
Like people, animals need health care. The animals in the Tallahassee Museum’s living collections thrive in the care of veterinarians who truly heed the call of the wild.
One of those vets is Dr. Debbie Justice, who recently took our otters literally in hand to clean their teeth, give them vaccinations and perform physical exams. This included drawing blood for laboratory analysis to monitor the health of their internal organs and to watch for signs of possible disease.
Dr. Justice performed these maintenance and preventative procedures without a hitch, and the otter in the photo was back splashing in the pool the same afternoon.
Tallahassee Museum summer campers made a thrilling discovery recently when they witnessed and documented an extremely rare Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle nesting on the beach at Bald Point State Park, in Franklin County.
Kemp’s Ridleys are the world’s most endangered sea turtle, and they almost never nest on Florida beaches.
The discovery, made by youngsters in the Tallahassee Museum’s “Outdoor Explorers” summer camp, was greeted with celebration by park managers and marine scientists who subsequently verified the identification of the turtle based on the children’s photographs. The photos also enabled park managers to locate and provide protection for the nest.
The Joy of Paper Dolls
By Linda Deaton, Chief Curator
Do you remember paper dolls? The two-dimensional printed dolls came with a paper wardrobe. It took careful work with scissors to artfully cut out the doll and its assortment of paper clothes, making sure not to tear the white tabs that extended from the outfits, since those were needed to attach the garment to the doll’s body.
During the 20th century, publishers and toy companies produced a variety of paper dolls for children’s enjoyment. Hollywood starlets, smiling girls and boys, and even cuddly paper-doll animals provided inexpensive entertainment and kept many a child occupied for hours.
We were very pleased to have received a number of complimentary emails and good suggestions in response to the launch of last month’s inaugural Tallahassee Museum E-News. We also discovered an added benefit to this new format…we can actually track how many people viewed the E-News and which articles were most popular. Thank you!
With the conclusion of the legislative session last month, we now know that virtually no State funding was appropriated for the many cultural and historical organizations throughout the state. For the Tallahassee Museum, this may result in a funding loss of up $92,000 compared to our current year funding. The exact funding loss will not be known until later when we learn if we were able to secure any of the money that was allocated.
If you are receiving this newsletter, it is likely because you've made an annual contribution to the Tallahassee Museum in the past. In the estate planning community, we call this type of gift an "annual gift". Annual gifts are typically made from a donor's discretionary income and
used by the charity to meet annual budgetary needs. This article, however, will focus on Planned Giving, which typically refers to a major gift, made during a donor's lifetime or at death.
The Civil War comes alive this summer as the Tallahassee Museum presents an outstanding new exhibit: Florida in the Civil War. This exhibit, in the Phipps Gallery through Sept. 15, relates the often overlooked story of Florida’s important contributions to the war effort. It is on loan from the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, one of Florida’s largest history museums and a leading provider of traveling exhibitions.
Welcome to our first issue of the Tallahassee Museum E-News! I hope that you find our new format and method of delivery both effective and informative. We know there is still much for us to learn to make our E-News better. As always, we are hoping that you will share your observations and suggestions with us.
Spring has been good to the Museum so far. We had a beautiful day and good turn-out for our March Health Fair and April’s Pioneer Breakfast and Tallahassee Jazz and Blues Festival were outstanding!
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