Maclay Gardens are in Bloom inTallahassee, Florida

Maclay Gardens in Tallahassee

The most beautiful corner of Florida's capital city is now in bloom, thanks to warm weather and an early spring!
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park spreads across hundreds of acres of hills, forests and water off Thomasville Road in Tallahassee. It is a stunning place year-round, but spring is the season when all eyes turn to the beautiful gardens that give the park its name.

Park officials report that the azaleas and dogwoods both began to bloom in late February and, as they are all across North Florida, the trees and shrubs are alive with flowers and color right now.

Path at Maclay Gardens

Maclay Gardens originated in 1923 when the land was bought by Alfred B. Maclay, a key figure in the New York financial markets. He and his wife, Louise Fleishman Maclay, named their Florida place Killearn Plantation and Gardens and set about creating a wonderland of blooming trees and plants, flowers, water features, open greens and winding paths. Over the next 21 years, the Maclays developed the gardens and even hosted the Duke and Duchess of Windsor there.

Stunning Beauty at Maclay Gardens

Mr. Maclay died in 1944, but Mrs. Maclay continued to work on the development of the gardens until 1953 when she donated the entire property to the State of Florida. Originally called Killearn Gardens State Park, the stunning site was renamed Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park during the 1970s and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

The entire park now covers 873 acres, with the ornamental gardens and related historic structures comprising 28 full acres.

The Maclay House itself will be open to the public through April 30th. The park entrance fee is $6 per vehicle ($4 if the driver is the only occupant) or $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, etc. There is a separate $6 per adult fee to see the gardens ($3 for children ages 2-12).

To learn more about Maclay Gardens and to see additional pictures, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/maclaygardens1.html.

Best Autumn Drives #5 - Highway 190 in Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia

Overlook at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park

Highway 190, which passes along the crest of Pine Mountain through the full length of Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Georgia, is one of the most beautiful fall drives in the South.
The park takes its name from the President that led the United States through the dark days of the Great Depression and World War II. In fact, President Roosevelt died at his Little White House near Warm Springs on the northern slopes of Pine Mountain. He frequented the beautiful scenery now included in the more than 9,000 acres of the state park.

Highway 190 enters the park at the Callaway Store and Overlook just north of Hamilton, Georgia. From there it winds its way along the top of the mountain, past overlooks, the park office, cabins, picnic areas, trail heads and other points of interest until it exits the park just outside Warm Springs. The total length is just under 12 miles.

Roosevelt Statue at Dowdell's Knob

Along the way, be sure to take Dowdell Knob Road out to Dowdell's Knob, a favorite picnic spot of President Roosevelt. The knob is a hilltop that projects from the side of the mountain and provides a spectacular, panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.  During the fall it overlooks an amazing natural canvas of color, especially reds and golds.

Highway 190 itself is simply a spectacular drive in years when the leaves are good.  Along much of the route, the trees form natural arches over the roadway. When these take on their full color, the scene as you pass through the trees is simply amazing.

The drive is also just minutes away from Pine Mountain's famed Callaway Gardens, which also offers spectacular fall scenery.  The grounds of the Little White House near the northern end of the highway are also beautiful in the fall.

If you want to enjoy a great lunch while visiting Pine Mountain, consider the Callaway Country Store located at the southern entrance to the state park. The dining room there has what may be the best fried chicken in Georgia and features spectacular views from your table.  You can also take a picnic and enjoy the mountain scenery itself as there are plenty of great picnic spots along the road and the weather is usually mild, but cool (be sure to take a sweater or jacket).

To learn more about Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fdrstatepark.

You can also check out the views from Dowdell's Knob at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/dowdellsknob.

You can read about the Little White House and President Roosevelt at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/littlewhitehouse.

And, last but not least, read about Callaway Gardens at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/callawaygardens1.

Oak Mountain State Park & Peavine Falls - Pelham, Alabama

On the southern edge of Birmingham in Pelham, Alabama's beautiful Oak Mountain State Park spreads out over nearly 10,000 acres of pristine and historic mountain country.

Situated in Shelby County, an area rich in historic sites, the popular state park is a great place to explore the natural history of Alabama. With over 50 miles of hiking trails that lead up and down mountain ridges as well as a paved drive leading up to picnic tables and overlooks high atop the mountain, the expansive park is perfect for exploring the outdoors and learning more about the birds and wildlife of the state.


The Alabama Wildlife Center, located at Oak Mountain State Park, is the oldest and largest animal rehabilitation center in the state. Each year its staff and volunteers care for over 2,500 injured wild animals. The center is open to the public, as is the Treetop Nature Trail, an elevated boardwalk that allows up close and personal views of Alabama birdlife including Great Barn Owls, hawks and more.

One of the most popular points of interest in the park is Peavine Falls, a beautiful waterfall formed by a 60-foot cascade down the mountainside. Accessible from several hiking trails, the falls run best in rainy weather and were one of the first major attractions at Oak Mountain. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) opened a trail to the waterfall when the park was under the development during the Great Depression.

To learn more about the history and points of interest at Oak Mountain State Park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/oakmountain.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park - Cross Creek, Florida

Some of the best known and most loved books about life in Florida in the early 20th century were written in this picturesque frame home in the small community of Cross Creek, Florida.

It was the home of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, a Northern-born writer who came to Florida permanently after visiting the state with her husband in 1928. The couple bought a 72-acre farm in Cross Creek, which is located on the east side of Orange Lake between Gainesville and Ocala. Her husband didn't care for life in the hot scrub and pine woods, but Marjorie remained to become one of the best-known writers in American history.


The books she wrote and based on the landscape and her neighbors in and around Cross Creek included "Cross Creek" and "South Moon Under." Her 1938 book, "The Yearling," was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1939 and was used as the basis for a popular movie of the same name.

The farm at Cross Creek has been beautifully preserved and looks much as it did when Rawlings lived and wrote there. Visitors can walk through the rusty iron gate and into the orchard described in her writings, tour the house where she lived and entertained an array of famous visitors including poet Robert Frost, novelist Margaret Mitchell and actor Gregory Peck.

Tours of the house are now given Thursday through Sunday, but the grounds can be explored daily. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/rawlings.

Rainbow Springs State Park - Dunnellon, Florida

Untold numbers of people remember Rainboat Springs as a unique Florida amusement park. For much of the 20th century, visitors to the spring could ride in "submarine boats," take a leaf-shaped monorail through the treetops, view a rodeo and take part in a variety of other amusements.

That was in the days before the completion of the interstate highway system diverted traffic from roads such as U.S. Highway 41, steering would be visitors away from attractions like Rainbow Springs and on their way to newer and larger destinations in such places as Orlando. The fall off in traffic proved devastating to many well known Florida attractions and they were eventually forced to close their doors. Rainbow Springs was among them.

The people of the Dunnellon area, however, loved Rainbow Springs and spearheaded an effort to preserve the beautiful first magnitude spring and save it from development. Their voices reached Tallahassee and the State of Florida stepped in. The former amusement park is now a Florida State Park and while its focus is different, the stunning natural beauty is still very much a part of its appeal.

Located just three miles north of downtown Dunnellon on U.S. Highway 41, Rainbow Springs State Park preserves over 1,400 acres surrounding the head spring and much of the short but strikingly beautiful Rainbow River. There are no more "submarine boats" or monorails, but visitors can enjoy the crystal clear waters of the spring and walk the paths in the now preserved gardens of the original amusement park. There are striking waterfalls and beautiful flowers.

To learn more about Rainbow Springs State Park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/rainbowsprings.

Summer Escapes #3 - FDR State Park, Georgia

From the time my parents carried me there when I was around four years old, Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park at Pine Mountain, Georgia, has been one of my favorite summer destinations.

From its beautiful views, waterfalls, rock formations, Liberty Bell shaped swimming pool, cabins, campground, picnic areas and hiking trails to its proximity to such other destinations as Callaway Gardens, Warm Springs and FDR's Little White House, the park is a magnificent place to escape for an afternoon, a few days or even a week during the summer.

FDR State Park is steeped in America's Presidential history. Future President Franklin D. Roosevelt fell in love with the sweeping vistas and natural beauty of Pine Mountain when he first arrived in nearby Warm Springs in 1924 to try the pools of natural warm water as a possible treatment for his disabling polio. Over the years that followed, he purchased a farm at the mountain and his Little White House became the only home he ever owned.

Roosevelt often drove the then rocky and rough roads atop the mountain in his famous hand-controlled car, stopping to talk to neighbors and viewing the scenery. Dowdell's Knob, within today's state park, was the President's favorite picnic area during the difficult days of the Great Depression and World War II. A statue of Roosevelt can be seen there today and visitors can still picnic near the President's stone barbeque grill.

Today's state park was a favorite Depression era works project of the President. He told sometimes skeptical neighbors that he could envision a day when Pine Mountain would become a great destination for residents of the coastal plains. His prediction was prophetic. More than 750,000 people visit the mountain and other area attractions each year.

To learn more about Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park and other points of interest in the area, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fdrstatepark.

Alabama Iron and Steel Museum - Birmingham, Alabama

The iron and steel industry played a major role in the development of the modern South, particularly in the state of Alabama.

Iron and steel production was the foundation upon which the city of Birmingham was built and also gave rise to other important communities in the state, including nearby Anniston. The industry has a rich history in Alabama and undoubtedly the best place to explore it is the Alabama Iron and Steel Museum.

Located at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park near Birmingham, the museum explores the role that iron and steel production have played in the development of the state. Visitors to the outstanding museum can explore displays that allow them to walk through the history of iron and steel production in Alabama. Displays feature rare artifacts from the industry's past and life-sized exhibits demonstrating different aspects of the work involved in the production of the iron and steel that helped fuel the country's industrial explosion.

The exhibits focus around the operation of the ironworks at Tannehill in particular. These furnaces helped produce thousands of tons of iron for the Confederate war effort before they were destroyed by Union troops during Wilson's Raid through Alabama and Georgia. Displays in the museum include artillery shells and a cannon produced using Alabama iron.

The Alabama Iron and Steel Museum is open daily. For more information, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/tannehillmuseum.

Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park - Birmingham, Alabama

Located just minutes from downtown Birmingham, Alabama's Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park is a major Civil War landmark.

Covering 1,500 acres of beautiful rolling country, the park centers around historic ironworks that once produced up to 22 tons of iron per day for the Confederate war effort. Tannehill iron was used to manufacture everything from cannon and artillery projectiles to cookware for the Southern military.

The massive furnaces at Tannehill were built using slave labor between 1859 and 1863. An estimated 500 workers lived on-site, operating the charcoal fueled furnaces to produce iron from locally mined ore. The product of the operation was shipped by wagon to Montevallo and from there by rail to the massive Confederate industrial complex at Selma.

The Tannehill furnaces operated until just weeks before the end of the war. On March 31, 1865, the ironwarks was seized by 3 companies of the 8th Iowa Cavalry as part of General James H. Wilson's raid through Alabama and Georgia. The wooden structures of the ironworks were burned and the massive stone furnaces damaged.

Now beautifully restored, the Tannehill furnaces are the historical centerpiece of a massive park that also preserves other historical structures and offers a wide array of recreational opportunities including cabins, campgrounds, a miniature train, picnic areas, hiking trails and more. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/tannehill.

Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park - Pine Mountain, Georgia

President Franklin D. Roosevelt once predicted to a neighbor that Georgia's Pine Mountain would become a great resort for residents of the Deep South. It offered them, the President said, the opportunity to explore beautiful mountain scenery that was remarkably close to the Gulf Coastal Plain.

Roosevelt's prediction, made more than 70 years ago, has come true. Pine Mountain is now the setting for the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park and hundreds of thousands of people come each year to enjoy the mountain and such attractions as the Little White House, Warm Springs and Callaway Gardens.

Some of the most spectaculat scenery on the mountain can now be seen at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. Established as a W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) project during the Great Depression, the park features dramatic views, waterfalls, hiking trails, cottages, campsites, picnic areas, a Liberty Bell shaped swimming pool, scenic Lake Delano and historic Dowdell's Knob. The latter place was a favorite picnic spot of President Roosevelt and his original grill can still be seen there. Visitors can also absorb the spectacular view he often enjoyed and see the beautiful statue of the former President.

To learn more about the park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fdrstatepark.

Natural Falls State Park - West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma

When most people think of Oklahoma, towering waterfalls are probably not the first things to come to mind. A visit to Natural Falls State Park in West Siloam Springs, however, might change that impression.

The park, located just across the state line from the growing Northwest Arkansas metropolitan area, is home to a remarkable 77-foot waterfall. A section of the Ozarks stretches across the border into Oklahoma, giving the eastern part of the state beautiful mountains and rolling hills. Natural Falls State Park is located in this area and offers visitors the chance to explore some of the most scenic county in the state.

Originally called Dripping Springs by local residents, the waterfall has been an object of admiration for many years. If it looks familiar to you, one possible reason is that it was a featured backdrop in the popular movie, Where the Red Fern Grows. The 1974 film tells the story of a young boy growing up in Oklahoma during the days of the Great Depression and is considered by many to be an American classic.

The park also features camping and picnicking areas, hiking trails and other amenities. A paved walkway leads to the upper platform overlooking the falls, while a second trail leads down a steep set of steps to an observation deck at the bottom.

To learn more about Natural Falls State Park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/naturalfalls.

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.

Maclay Gardens State Park - Tallahassee, Florida

It will only be a few weeks now before the spectacular flowering plants at Tallahassee's Maclay Gardens State Park begin to bloom.

The photographs in this post were taken on March 24th last year and provide a good idea of how the gardens will appear in about three weeks. Maclay is always quite stunning during the last week of March and first week of April.

The gardens were conceived and planted by Alfred B. and Louise Maclay, who purchased the property on the north side of Tallahassee to serve as a winter home. They began working on the gardens in 1923, naming them "Killearn" after a village in Scotland. For the next two decades, the planting and cultivation of the gardens was a labor of love for Mr. and Mrs. Maclay. Over that time they planted a stunning variety of flowering plants and trees.

Mr. Maclay passed away in 1944, but by then the gardens had achieved worldwide recognition as one of the most beautiful places in the United States. They now are the focal point of Maclay Gardens State Park, located just off Thomasville Road (U.S. 319) in Tallahassee.

Maclay Gardens are listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/maclaygardens1.

Mount Magazine State Park - Paris, Arkansas

Sometimes described as an "island in the sky," Mount Magazine is the highest point between the Appalachians and the Rockies.

Located on Scenic Highway 309 south of Paris, Arkansas, the mountain features magnificent views from towering bluffs, a lodge, restaurant, cabins, hiking trails, seasonal waterfalls and more.

The mountain was given its name, "Magazine," by early French hunters and fur trappers who explored the Arkansas River Valley during the late 1600s and 1700s. The massive outline of the mountain became a natural landmark. The name is the French word for "barn." From a distance, the mountain does bear something of a barn-like appearance.

During the Civil War the mountain served as a refuge from those fleeing the armies of both sides. Its high bluffs provided outstanding lookout points from which military movements could be watched.

After the war, Mount Magazine became popular as a resort area, a reputation that it still enjoys today. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/armagazine.

Queen Wilhelmina State Park - Arkansas

The Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma include the tallest peaks between the Appalachians and the Rockies. Crowning one of the most picturesque of the Ouachitas can be found Queen Wilhelmina State Park, home of the site of the famed Arkansas "castle in the sky."

Located at an elevation of 3,000 feet less than 30 minutes from Mena, Arkansas, the park is home to both scenic beauty and a rich history.

The site was first developed for recreation in 1897 by the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad. Financed largely by Dutch investors, railroad officials developed a magnificent lodge on the mountain top here. Named after Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, the lodge was described as a "castle in the sky."

The project never met with commercial success, however, and the lodge closed just three years after it had opened. It was later destroyed by fire.

In 1957, the State of Arkansas acquired the beautiful site and developed Queen Wilhelmina State Park. The park features spectacular views of the ridges and valleys of the Ouachitas and is located on the Talimena Drive, a scenic highway that winds for miles along the tops of the ridges.

The park features historic sites, a hotel, restaurant, camping areas, picnicking, hiking trails and even a miniature railroad that circles the modern hotel.

To learn more, please visit http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ARWilhelmina1.html.

Suwannee River State Park - Live Oak, Florida

This beautiful and historic state park is nestled along the banks of the picturesque Suwannee River near Live Oak, Florida.

Located within the borders of the park is the site of the lost Florida town of Columbus. A prosperous community during the antebellum area, the town was an important riverboat port and commercial center. At its height it was home to more than 500 people, but not a single building remains today. Only an old cemetery along one of the park's hiking trails has survived.

The park is also the site of a Confederate fort built to protect the railroad bridge over the Suwannee River during the Civil War. Union troops named this bridge as one of their key objectives during their East Florida invasion of 1864, but were soundly defeated by a Southern army at the Battle of Olustee and turned back to Jacksonville without ever approaching their planned target on the Suwannee.

To learn more about Suwannee River State Park, please visit our new page on the park at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/suwannee1.

Petit Jean State Park - Arkansas

One of the most spectacular natural and historical preserves in the South, Petit Jean State Park is located just off I-40 and convenient to the Little Rock metro area.

The oldest unit in the Arkansas State Park system, the park preserves a beautiful natural and historical setting on Petit Jean Mountain.

The mountain takes its name from the old Arkansas legend of "Petit Jean," a young French girl that disguised herself as a cabin boy to follow her lover on his journey of exploration to America. Her identity was eventually discovered and she accompanied him as he and his men made their way up the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers.

While camped at the base of Petit Jean Mountain, however, she supposedly became seriously ill and died. Local Native Americans carried her body to a beautiful spot on the summit of the mountain and buried her beneath a small mound of dirt and rock. The grave can still be seen today and it is alleged that the young woman's ghost haunts the top of the mountain that was named in her honor.

In addition to Petit Jean's grave, the mountain features spectacular views, unusual rock formations, a pre-Civil War pioneer cabin, waterfalls and more. Cedar Falls, seen here, is one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains (notice the people standing behind it in the photograph). The park also is the site of Rock House Cave, a unique rock shelter where ancient Native American cave paintings can still be seen.

If you would like to learn more about Petit Jean State Park, please visit our newly updated pages at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/petitjean1.

Talladega National Forest - Alabama

Some of the most beautiful scenery in the South can be found in Alabama's Talladega National Forest.

These historic lands were once part of the Creek Nation. Stripped from their Native American owners by the treaties of 1814 and 1832, the beautiful Talladega Mountains were opened to white timbering and settlement.

Over the decades that followed, much of the virgin timber was clear cut from the hills and the scenic beauty and value of the land all but disappeared. The forests were restored, however, during a massive Depression-era program that resulted in President Franklin Roosevelt's 1936 proclamation creating the Talladega National Forest.

The mountains today have been returned to a state of incredible natural beauty and form the centerpiece of one of the finest national forests in the South. Attractions include historic sites, mountain vistas, waterfalls, running streams, lakes, hiking trails, preserved wilderness areas, campsites, picnic areas and more. Alabama's beautiful Cheaha State Park is surrounded by the forest and provides a restaurant, cabins, chalets, hotel and more for those interested in exploring the highest mountains in the state.

To learn more about the Talladega National Forest, please visit our new pages at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/talladega.

Doug Ghee Accessible Trail at Cheaha State Park, Alabama

The historic mountains of the South are rich in beautiful scenery, but aren't always easy to explore for those with disabilities. Mt. Cheaha in Alabama, however, is different.

The park features the outstanding boardwalk seen here. Officially designated the Doug Ghee Accessible Trail, it gives visitors of all abilities the chance to explore some of the most beautiful terrain of Alabama's tallest mountain.

The accessible trail has no steps or steep inclines and leads from a paved parking area near Bald Rock Lodge out through the scene mountain forest to an overlook at Bald Rock, where visitors can enjoy one of the finest views in the state of Alabama.

The accessible trail follows roughly the same route as an early trail built by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers during the 1930s. When Cheaha State Park was established during the depths of the Great Depression, Bald Rock was selected as one of the original vistas where visitors could enjoy the spectacular views from the mountain. The accessible trail now gives all visitors the chance to enjoy the setting that attracted the original designers of the park.

You can learn more about Cheaha State Park and its numerous features by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/cheaha1.

Waterfalls of the Cheaha State Park Area - Alabama

The Talladega Mountains of Alabama are rich in scenic beauty, particularly in the area around Cheaha State Park.

These mountains are the highest in Alabama and offer a variety of historic sites, hiking opportunities, scenic vistas and other features rarely found so deep in the South.

Of particular interest to many visitors is the array of waterfalls found in the area immediately surrounding Mt. Cheaha. Three of these - Cheaha Falls (seen here), High Falls and Devil's Den - can be accessed via hiking trails and are relatively easy to reach.

To learn more about these falls, see additional photos and obtain directions to them from Cheaha State Park, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/cheaha2.

Cheaha State Park and Mt. Cheaha, Alabama

The photograph at right was taken from the highest point in Alabama, the top of Mt. Cheaha.

Now the site of Cheaha State Park, the mountain offers visitors a fascinating combination of scenic views, historic sites and natural wonders.

Most experts believe that Hernando de Soto's expedition marched within sight of the mountain, passing through the rich valleys below on its way down from the mountains to the bloody Battle of Mabila near the Gulf Coast. The 16th century soldiers raided Native American villages in the area for slaves and food.

In later times, the Mt. Cheaha area was part of the Creek Nation. The name, in fact, is thought to orginate from the Muskogee word "Chaha" which translates, roughly, to "high place." An important battle was fought at nearby Talladega during the Creek War of 1813-1814 and Andrew Jackson reported that Creek warriors fled into the mountains following the engagement.

Cheaha State Park itself was created in 1933 as a works project during the Great Depression. Numerous structures and trails built by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers can still be found in the park, along with a modern hotel, chalets, restaurant and more.

If you would like to learn more about this beautiful and historic state park, one of the true jewels of the Alabama State Park system, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/cheaha1.