Maclay Gardens State Park - Tallahassee, Florida

If you are interested in seeing one of the most beautiful places in the South, now is the time!

The spectacular and historic ornamental gardens at Maclay Gardens State Park are moving into full bloom. Long recognized as one of the most beautiful spring destinations in the country, the gardens are listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

Located on land that has was used for farming first by Native Americans and then by early settlers through the 19th century, the gardens were planted by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred B. Maclay between 1923 and 1944. They grew from a single blooming tree to become what has been called a "masterpiece of floral architecture."

Mr. Maclay died in 1944 and his "Killearn Gardens," as they were known then, were donated to the people of Florida in his memory by the Maclay family. They now form the centerpiece of a more than 1,000 acre state park named in Mr. Maclay's memory.

The entrance to the park is just one-half mile north of Interstate 10 on U.S. Highway 319 in Tallahassee. The admission fee to the park is $4 and it costs another $4 to enter the gardens themselves. To learn more, visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/maclaygardens1.