Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Capital Museum State Park

Question: What is "Spanish moss"?
Answer: Spanish moss is an epiphyte that is related to the pineapple. It lives off the air, rain, and decaying organic matter, not the tree. Most often found in large oak trees, Spanish moss cannot kill a tree. Its biggest threat to the tree is because it can absorb large amounts of water and it's wet weight can cause branches to break. Spanish moss is used by wildlife. In the tree canopy it shelters rat snakes, bats, insects and other creatures and birds use it in nest building.

Question: What is a "cracker"?
Answer: "Cracker" is a term used to describe settlers who lived in the rural areas. They may have acquired the name from the early Floridians who cracked their whips to drive their cattle and oxen.

Question: What is the breezeway or "dogtrot"?
Answer: The breezeway or "dogtrot" is a distinctive element of architectural style in Florida. The breezeway actually separates two, single room cabins, creating a large open porch area between the two cabins, most often referred to as a "dogtrot."

Question: Why is there no grass, only sand, in the yard of the cracker homestead?
Answer: To protect the home from fire and snakes, the yard of the homestead was kept free of grass. The sand yard was swept with a gulberry bush, which was usually a child’s daily chore.

Question: Did the early settlers make sugar from the sugar cane grown in the garden?
Answer: No. The sugar cane that was grown in the garden was used to make cane syrup. The cane grinder would grind the cane. Then the cane juice was cooked in the large iron kettle to make cane syrup, a thick, sweet syrup used to eat with meat, breads, and vegetables.

Question: What would have been planted in the garden?
Answer: Even today, the garden on the homestead produces many favorites known to the early settlers. Corn, beans, mustard, collards, turnips, and sugar cane are a few of the vegetables that were grown by the homesteaders.

Question: What tree produces the largest pinecones?
Answer: The longleaf pine produces the largest pinecones. Forest Capital State Museum is home to many longleaf pines, which date nearly 60 to 70 years old.