Learning Milton history – Press Gazette

MILTON — The Arcadia Mill site has been a historical landmark in Santa Rosa County for 200 years. Arcadia Mill site manager Adrianne Sams Walker was recently at Locklin Technical College to provide an update on the archaeological site.

The site offers tours to the public, both for recreation and education. Arcadia Mill's education program adheres to the Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, according to Walker.

“We offer tour options for all grades designed for school groups, home school students, and educational organizations,” Walker said.

In addition to the tour, all educational visits include outdoor activities at the Discovery Pavilion. Students also learn about water power and observe replicas of 19th century mill technology she said.

The University of West Florida Historic Trust with the Arcadia Mill is supporting education through the “Museum in a Trunk.” Teachers can check out a “civil war” museum trunk and teach lessons in a unique way in their classrooms for 20 dollars a week. The trunk includes clothing, games, toys, and home goods that represent daily life in the county during the Civil War.

According the UWF Historic Trust website, during the 19th century, Arcadia Mill was a multi-facet operation with a water-powered sawmill, lumber mill, bucket and pail factory, shingle mill, textile mill, and experimental silk operation. The mill included industrial and residential facilities.

Walker manages daily operations and facilities at Arcadia Mill. She has a Bachelor's in Geo-Archaeology from Murray State University and a Master's in Historical Archaeology from UWF. In addition to her position as Site Manager, Walker is a Research Associate for UWF Historic Trust. She teaches the Arcadia Mill section of the Division of Anthropology and Archaeology Terrestrial Field School.

Arcadia Mill is located on 5709 Mill Pond Lane in Milton. For more information, call 850-626-3084 or email arcadiamill@uwf.edu.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Learning Milton history