mulberry phosphate museum

Not quite what we expected. The area that (we think) had information about the phosphate mining (which is why we put this on our list of places to stop) was closed because a meeting was taking place. We did get to see some fossils and did two geocaches, but this ended up being a very quick stop.

Phosphate mining is one of the most important industries in Florida, and vital to many other businesses, starting with growing our food. This little museum helps make clear how phosphate relates to your own life, and how important this mining is to you. We recommend a visit to anyone who is in the Lakeland/Bartow area. Great for kids, who are always interested in fossils. There is a pile of phosphate ore where the kids can dig for their own fossil finds. I found a shark tooth!

We were aware of Mulberry's phosphate mining, so my wife and I made a trip here from the east coast of Florida just to check out this museum and see what we could of phosphate mining. The museum is interesting and well worth the time and trouble to travel here. We also spent some time exploring the dig pit. We found some small bones and pieces of coral, but more interestingly we uncovered many small fossil sharks teeth -- not surprising since this area was once under the ocean and sharks easily lose teeth, which they are always replacing.

The museum trailers weren't very exciting, but my two 8 year old sons really enjoyed digging for fossils (sharks teeth and bones). It was good entertainment for about an hour and a half and didn't cost us a thing, other than a donation. My sons really enjoyed it, but they are in to archeology and history. Go for the digging, thats the fun, the rest is fairly boring.

Liked the fossils...but it was not what was expected. There were not a lot of things to keep a short attention span occupied.

This is a great spot...these volunteers have taken such pride in maintaining the information, dig pit, and fossils/displays in the museum. Many people don't realize this area is the phosphate capital of the country, and it is important to understand how critical phosphate is to our daily life. Please leave a donation...it is important to continue to fund these types of places, and find ways to appreciate the volunteers who dedicate their time and talent!

A small museum with 3 rooms of displays. One room has fossils and a perhistoric animal diorama and a small display case area with souvenirs that may be purchased; a second has information on the history of the area and the history of phosphate mining in Florida; and the third room was about the phosphate industry, one wall in that room had a display that might be considered phosphate industry propaganda. The fossil displays are labeled. The low light level in the fossil area and the need to read the discriptions may make it challenge to fully appreciate the displays. There is a fair amount of reading, so younger children might be ready to move through the displays quickly. There is a small train engine used in the phosphate mines and a caboose on display in front of the museum. The caboose can be entered from the fossil room.Next to the museum, there is a huge mining bucket with mining waste that can be searched for fossils . For train fans, there are railroad tracks immediately behind the museum, you might be there when a train passes.

This is a great free and education site where you can even dig to find your own fossils! Kids and adults can learn about Phosphate-did you know that Florida produces 75% of the US Phosphate? I think I got this stat right if not I can go back and review this intresting info at the Mulberry Phosphate Musuem!

A must-see for anyone interested in the history of Florida ...See old skeletons (fossels) of ancient animals, etc. Fun and educational!

I love finding little local gems that are a great value and teach more about our local history. I always knew phosphate mining was a big thing out in the middle of Florida, having driven by Mosiac and other mining plants and locations many times. But I can’t say I had the slightest idea what phosphate was useful for or when and how mining in mid-Florida got started. I realize these are not questions likely to keep anyone awake at night, but when I stumbled upon information about the Mulberry Phosphate Museum, it went to the top of my list of “Cool, Cheap Daytrips from Tampa”. First, let’s put this right out there – the museum is free so you are going to be disappointed if you're expecting videos and touch-screen displays. It’s made up of three to four box cars/trailers. One explains phosphate mining and the many uses of phosphate in everything from farming to food production. A second room presented the history of Mulberry with historic maps and photographs of the town in the early 20th century, the height of the phosphate wealth in the area. The third was my favorite and is packed with fossils found during the mining process. They have a pretty amazing collection with prehistoric cat teeth, mammoth teeth, and all sorts of marine animal fossils. Cute little gift shop where you can buy fossilized shark’s teeth, but if you do buy some – consider it a donation to keep this lovely place going since you can get your own for free with just a little bit of sweat equity. Outside the museum is a huge dig bucket used for the mining and it’s overflowing with waste rock from the actual process. All visitors are invited to dig for treasure and whatever you find, is yours to keep. With a little patience and a good eye, you can easily go home with a few shark teeth. Overall, an enjoyable and informative museum. Great for a stretch break if you are driving through the area and, combined with Bok Tower or some of the other attractions in the area, not a bad stop on a lazy exploration day through mid-Florida. Lovingly kept and with a wealth of information for those who care to stop.

Always the same pile of stuff for the kids to look for sharks teeth Never a new pile of phoshpate never found anything bigger than a1/4 inch If that most teeth broke in more than half so dont hope for much

Family and I took a week in Lakeland at Geoholiday Imperial Lakes timeshare, got blistered at the beach so we spent a morning at the Mulberry Phosphate Museum. a quaint stop, not loads of excitement UNTIL, the kids found the first sharks tooth in the phosphate mine tailings in front of the museum, then Katie-bar-the-door!! The displays inside were nice, Ms South spent plenty of time teaching us the prehistory of Florida and its effects on Polk County. Displays were instructive and interesting to a 10 and 15 yr old. The Mulberry History Room was neat, showed a window into a world-no-more. Well worth a morning digging into local science when youre tired of the MouseHouse or beach.

Museum has several good fossil exhibits of items taken from the Phosphate Mining industry and some dredge buckets. Exhibits are housed in several railroad freight cars near the City Hall. The tour is free and is well done.

Very nice place to visit. Have taken my grandchildren on several occasions. They really enjoy checking out the caboose and searching for fossils in the rock pile. And of course they enjoy getting a souvenir or two.

We stop at this place every trip to Florida. It's fairly close to my parents place in Lakeland. The museum is nice and has a suprisingly nice collection of bones, teeth and fossils. The realy high point for us is looking for shark teeth. Once you find one, you know what to look for and will find them easily. Dig small holes, large ones, just rake your fingers through the stones and you'll find the same shark teeth that the gift shops sell for a couple bucks a piece. Lots of fun.