Orman House Historic State Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Orman House Historic State Park is a small state park located in the charming town of Apalachicola, Florida.


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Summary

The park is home to the beautifully restored Orman House, a historic antebellum mansion built in 1838 by a wealthy cotton merchant, and its surrounding gardens.

Visitors can take a guided tour of the house, which is furnished with period pieces and provides a glimpse into the life of a wealthy family in the mid-1800s. The park also features a small museum that showcases the history of the region and its importance as a major port and center of the seafood industry.

In addition to the Orman House, the park offers a peaceful and scenic setting for picnicking and nature walks. Visitors can enjoy the park's trails, which wind through the lush vegetation of the area, and take in the beautiful views of the Apalachicola River.

Interesting facts about the park include that it was donated to the state of Florida in the 1970s by the Orman family and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

The best time to visit Orman House Historic State Park is in the spring or fall when the weather is mild and the park is less crowded. However, visitors can enjoy the park year-round, as it is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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