Story by Kathleen Walls, World Footprints • 1w •
When we think of Florida’s statehood, the bustling city of Tallahassee comes to mind. But, Florida moved into statehood in a smaller, less-known place. A convention held at St. Joseph, Florida led to the drafting of the constitution for the Territory of Florida on December 3, 1838, and also to the state’s first constitution. On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state. We’re exploring the wealth of attractions in this historic community.
The Constitution Convention Museum State Park
Today, the town of St. Joseph has become Port St. Joe. The Constitution Convention Museum State Park brings that little-known story to life with a replicated convention hall where life-size, audio-animated mannequins of delegates Robert Raymond Reid, William P. Duvall, David Y. Levy, and Thomas L Baltzell tell of drafting a state constitution.
Other exhibits share the stories of the Native Americans here and how the United States gained Florida from Spain when Andrew Jackson invaded it claiming Native American raids on settlers in neighboring Georgia. Spain eventually sold it to the United States.
One of my favorite exhibits is a steam engine from Florida’s first railroad. The Lake Wimico and St. Joseph Canal and Railroad were built to detour shipping from the port of Apalachicola. The museum displays numerous artifacts that tell the story of the town of St. Joseph.
Be sure to walk behind the museum to see the Saint Joe Lumber & Export Co. steam locomotive #11 displayed there.
Port St Joe 1800s parlor at Constitution Convention SP Photo: Kathleen Walls
The Waterways of Port St. Joe
As I drove into Port St. Joe, I marveled at the vast amounts of waterways. The city sits on the Gulf of Mexico, but a narrow strip of land called St. Joseph Peninsula parallels the larger land mass forming St. Joe Bay. Much of the peninsula is undeveloped and is now part of the nine-mile-long St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway runs through Port St. Joe on its way from St. Marks, Florida to Brownsville, Texas. Today, Port St. Joe is once more dependent on the waterways supporting a fast-developing tourist destination.
Kayak the Bay
Fighting Conch Rentals provides an excellent way to explore the bay on kayaks. On our trip, a beautiful bald eagle flew right over our heads and perched in a tree on the shore. Our guide, Kevin, told us warmer weather often brings manatees, alligators, and numerous wild birds along the route. The water is so shallow in places we could reach out and pick shells off the bottom.
Kayaking on the Bay, Photo: Kathleen Walls
Eco-Tour Around Cape San Blas
An Eco-Tour with Salty Fish Excursions offers another way to explore the waterways. Captain Chris and his first mate and wife, Sandra, pointed out a few dolphins as we cruised. They took us across St. Joseph Bay to the tip of St. Joseph Peninsular, called Cape San Blas, into the Gulf of Mexico. We got a view from the water of T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park where we could see primitive parts of Cape San Blas that would have involved a seven-mile hike on land. The cruise yielded a great view of the marsh grasses and a few palmettos on some of the highest dunes in the country.
T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
Do explore T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park by land. In 2002, Dr. Beach named it the No. 1 beach in the nation. The ten miles of white sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico make this park popular for swimming, fishing, shelling, snorkeling, or any other beach fun, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Its Shady Pines campground features 36 standard-facility campsites and 10 tent-only campsites. On the tip of the cape, there are 14 primitive sites; some offer a fantastic view of the gulf. Some of these sites can be reached by kayak otherwise, it’s a five-or six-mile hike. The Scallop Cove Too concession stand rents kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, pontoon boats, and dive flags.
If you are looking for more luxury, the park offers eight air-conditioned cabins.
William J. “Billy Joe” Rish Recreation Area
The William J. “Billy Joe” Rish Recreation Area is a 100-acre park with boardwalk access to the beach and the bay. Amenities include a swimming pool, a nature trail, and two family-style rental cabins.
The accommodation for people with disabilities makes this recreation area unique. I was amazed at the special beach wheelchairs with large wide tires and other equipment to make the beach accessible to people with disabilities. The equipment is included in the $6 entrance fee. Even their swimming pool features a special chair lift and wheelchair access ramp. The day-use facilities are open to anyone, but the overnight cabin rentals are only for persons with disabilities.
Two ramps, one to the bay and the other to the gulf, are designed for wheelchairs. The ramps include lookout sections along the walkways with large open squares at eye level for a person in a wheelchair.
Florida Wildlife! Photo: Kathleen Wells
St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve
If you like to hike, St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve is a great place to see migratory birds and other wildlife. Be sure to check out the observation tower at their visitors’ center to get an overlook of the preserve. The preserve offers a 30-minute tram tour on the third Thursday of the month.
Gulf County, with all its beaches, makes a perfect place for sea turtles to lay their eggs. The center educates people about what we can do to protect the fragile eggs from predators and human destruction. During nesting season, May through October, center volunteers survey six miles of beach. They look for tracks the females make when nesting to mark and protect the nests.
Outside, live tortoise ambassadors introduce visitors to the different species. On the porch wall, posters show the different kinds of sea turtles, ranging from the Leatherbacks that are 4’3” to 5’ 9” long and weigh up to 1100 pounds to the smallest, Kemp’s Riley, between 21” and 38” and weighing up to about 100 pounds. The loggerheads and greens are between them in size.
Our guide Pam told us climate change affects the sex of the hatchlings. “The colder temperature will produce males, the higher females. Think ‘Hot Chicks’ and ‘Cool Dudes.’
Tortoises at Forgotten Coast Turtle Center Photo: Kathleen Walls
Dining in Port St Joe
As you might expect, dining in Port St Joe focuses on seafood. An excellent choice, Skully’s Low Country Boil offers only two dishes, the low country boil or a shrimp gumbo. Longbills specializes in fresh seafood dishes along with a variety of other items. Krazyfish Grille serves a huge variety of seafood. Shrimp and grits are the specialty at Sand Dollar Café Indian Pass Raw Bar and Shipwrecked Raw Bar both specialize in oysters on the half shell. If you want to buy a sack and shuck your own, try Indian Lagoon Oyster Company.
Port St Joe Lodging Options
In this small community, lodging options lean toward bed-and-breakfast inns and private rental homes.
Located on the bay, Cape Blas Inn provides seven rooms. Guests have use of kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, bikes, and a hot tub on the dock overlooking the bay. Their breakfasts are delicious.
For a private rental home, consider Sweet Necessity on the Gulf. This home boasts five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths, including three master suites. It’s beautifully decorated, pet friendly, and has its own pool.