The Cedar Key Museum State Park (12231 S.W. 166 Court; 352-543-5350) memorializes that town's boom-time years as a pre-Civil War railroad and steamboat terminal, natural fiber center, salt making town and pencil manufacturing hub. With locally grown cedar and graphite from Russia, the offshore town more than a century ago housed the nation's biggest pencil factory. Hurricanes, fires and the loss of cedar tree brought that era to an end. Just down the street is the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum (609 Second St.; 352-543-5549), home to an extensive collection of photographs, period clothing, tools and equipment. Walking-tour booklets of the island can be purchased here.

Henry B. Plant's railroad empire of the late 19th century concentrated on crossing the state from Jacksonville to the Gulf Coast. South of High Springs, on U.S. Hwy .441, the Archer Historical Museum (Magnolia and Main Sts.; 352-495-1044 ), in a railroad depot, contains memorabilia from the lives of noted Floridians.

The Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial Park (SR 16 near Starke; 904-533- 3196) offers exhibits at a World War II training camp. In Gainesville, "A Walk Through Time" Veterans Memorial (S.W. 41st Place near Kanapaha Park) recognizes, by name, Alachua County and University of Florida war dead from 1775 to 1993. Tallahassee's Vietnam War Memorial (Monroe Street and Apalachee Parkway) lists 1,897 Floridians who died in that conflict.

Other significant historical sites in Tallahassee include the Knott House Museum (301 E. Park Ave.; 850-922-2459), the Old State Capitol (400 S. Monroe St.; 850-487-1902) - featuring Christopher Still's "In Ages Past" murals depicting state history and the 1948 Supreme Court Building (500 S. Duval St.; 850-488-0125).

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