Originally posted to Suite101 (defunct) on November 2, 2011
Some History on St. Joseph State Park
Not surprisingly, the peninsula was first inhabited by Native Americans, namely the hunter-gatherers from the Weeden Island, Mississippian, and Fort Walton tribes. Sometimes, remains of shell tools and pottery are found there.
The peninsula takes its name from the Spanish explorers who discovered it in the early 1500s and settled there in 1701, constructing a fort, Presidio San Jose, and a mission at the tip of the peninsula. The settlement only lasted a few years.
A century later, settlers from Apalachicola moved to the peninsula to establish a port. A lighthouse was also built around that time to serve the town of Saint Joseph, whose people were wiped out by the yellow fever in 1841.
In 1868, the Stone family purchased the peninsula and in 1940 sold it to the U.S. Government for military training. The state park was then established in 1967.
Activities for Both the Quiet and Adventurous
Gulf Beach on the peninsula can be reached by a handy boardwalk that leads from the parking lot to the 9.5 miles of clean, white sandy beaches and clear blue water. Shell collectors won’t be disappointed here. All shapes and sizes lay in abundance, just waiting to be taken home.
Hiking along the bay shore yields discoveries of monarch butterflies and other signs of wildlife. More flora and fauna can be found within the Wilderness Preserve at the end of the peninsula, only reachable on foot or aboard a kayak.
A wide variety of marine life can be observed or obtained through snorkeling and fishing on both the gulf and bay sides of St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. These include whiting, pompano, blue crabs, and bay scallops.
Bird Watchers will find excellent opportunities to observe 243 species, because the area is a stopover point during fall migration. Birding tours are offered each October as Part of the Florida Panhandle Birding and Wildflower Festival. Monarch butterflies also name this spot on their migration itinerary.
If a daytime excursion to the Peninsula is not enough, there are plenty of camping facilities to be found. There are 120 campsites equipped with water, electricity, picnic tables, and grills. Eight cabins can be reserved from one day to eleven months in advance. The cabins contain kitchens, fireplaces, bathrooms, heat, and air conditioning. For those who like to rough it, the Wilderness Preserve allows camping as well.
For more information on St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, call 800-227-1327 or visit the Florida State Parks Web site.
