The Constitution Convention Museum State Park located in Port St. Joe, is the location of Florida’s first constitutional convention. This 14 acre park houses a museum, artifacts from the time period, and a monument that commemorates the birth of the state of Florida.
Visitors to this area can take a self-guided tour through the museum which highlights Florida’s first constitution and houses artifacts from this era. View the displays and exhibits and learn from the audio-animated mannequin demonstration of the debates that took place and the process involved in drafting a state constitution.
St. Joseph (now Port St. Joe) was a boomtown at the time and was selected over Tallahassee to host Florida’s first State Constitution Convention. The location brought in 56 territorial delegates who drafted Florida’s first constitution in 1838. This constitution became the Organic Law of Florida when the territory was admitted to the Union in 1845 as the 27th state.
The museum itself has limited hours. Always check with the Florida State Parks website for updates and current openings. The grounds are always open to both locals and visitors and feature 14 acres of pines, majestic oaks and southern magnolias. The Constitution Convention Monument sits in the center of the property and the memorial mall is lined with sabal palms and a stunning vista that leads to the St. Joseph Bayfront.
Location: Northwest Florida
Additional Resources: Official Website
Cortney Tarell