St. Johns River Center

A destination for environmental education with a dash of regional history, the St. Johns River Center in downtown Palatka tells the story of Florida’s longest and most storied river.

Resources

North Florida Panhandle Explorers Guide book cover

Overview

Location: Palatka
Address: 102 N. First Street, Palatka
Fees: None
Restrooms: Yes
Land manager: Putnam County
Phone: 386-328-2704

Open Tue-Sat 11-4, Sun 1-4. You may see crowds here on weekdays before these posted times, as the center is a destination for field trips for local schools.

Directions

From SR 19, follow SR 100 east to where it merges with US 17. Continue south along US 17 through downtown Palatka, making the final right turn off US 17 just before the bridge over the St. Johns River. Parking for the River Center is immediately on the right, with additional street parking along First Street.

About the Center

Inside this interpretive center, the kids can keep busy with a succession of hands-on activities designed to introduce them to the St. Johns River, its habitats, and history.

One of the natural history exhibits at the St. Johns River Center

No kids in tow? No problem. There’s plenty to learn by reading the interpretive panels along the walls and in the themed exhibits.

The center serves as a welcome center for the Bartram Trail in Putnam County, so you’ll find a map of Bartram Trail sites in the region.

There is also a good bit of background on naturalist William Bartram, who documented the St. Johns River by journaling and sketching what he saw in 1773 and 1774.