jada stephens

March 10, 2026 4:14 pm by Jada Stephens | Staff Writer

Community members gathered Saturday, March 7 at The Grove Museum for the ninth annual Grove Day celebration, an event that brought together local organizations, live entertainment and educational activities highlighting Tallahassee’s history. 

The free event featured live music, food trucks, performances, museum tours and informational tables from state agencies and community groups. Visitors spent the afternoon exploring the historic grounds while learning about Florida’s cultural and environmental history. 

According to Lisa Barton, museum director at the Museum of Florida History and one of the event’s organizers, Grove Day celebrates the anniversary of the museum opening to the public and encourages residents to connect with local history. 

“Grove Day is a really important event for the Grove Museum and for the community itself,” Barton said. “We are celebrating the ninth anniversary of the Grove Museum opening to the public.” 

Barton said the site holds an important place in Tallahassee’s past and provides visitors an opportunity to learn more about the city’s history. 

“It has such a rich history going back to the early territorial days in Florida and Tallahassee,” Barton said. “Anybody can come for free and explore the historic home, the grounds and learn more about Tallahassee history.” 

The home once belonged to former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins, who lived in the house during the 1950s and 1960s. During Grove Day, visitors were able to tour the historic home and learn more about the property’s role in Florida’s political and cultural history. 

Several organizations also used the event to educate visitors about science, archaeology and Florida’s natural environment. 

Lindsay Brose Crusoe, who represented the Florida Department of Transportation’s Office of Environmental Management, shared information about the agency’s archaeology and artifact preservation efforts. 

“We’re talking about our collections and curation program and different artifacts that we have,” Crusoe said. “We also explain different ways that we do excavations and how we preserve artifacts.” 

Crusoe said participating in events like Grove Day allows the department to connect with the public and highlight work many people may not realize the agency does. 

“It’s really great for us to share with people that we even do archaeology at FDOT,”  Crusoe said. “We love doing outreach and supporting the Grove and other agencies here.” 

Joe Martinez from the Florida Geological Survey said teaching people about Florida’s geology is an important part of helping residents understand the land and environment around them. 

“Florida’s geology is always something that is important for people to know about,” Martinez said. “Learning about the rocks and the environment helps people understand the place they’re standing on.” 

Martinez said understanding the geological history of a place helps people better understand its past. 

“It’s important for people to understand the history of the soil that they’re standing on and the geologic context of where they are,” Martinez said. 

Organizers hope Grove Day will continue to bring the community together while helping visitors learn more about Tallahassee’s history and the organizations working to preserve it.