There are a lot of wonderful things about Big Canoe, Georgia. From the old moonshine still tucked in the woods but visible from one of the many walking trails, to the two gorgeous waterfalls, to an old cabin built in the nineteenth century and moved onto the Big Canoe property, one just never knows what surprises they may find inside the Big Canoe gates. Which may explain why I was so surprised to find a nature museum on the top floor of the Property Owners Association Building. This modern but natural looking building sits on the shore of Lake Sconti. The inside of the building houses the offices for the Big Canoe Property Owners Association, as well as a main room filled with tables and chairs available for club meetings, weddings and special events. But the top floor of this building houses an actual nature museum. The museum is small but packs a powerful amount of knowledge of the variety of wildlife that lives in North Georgia.
History of The Museum
The Robert B. Platt Museum was started by Dr. Platt himself. Dr. Platt was very instrumental in the development of Big Canoe during it's first fifteen years in existence. He played an important part in conserving and even enhancing the natural beauty of the Big Canoe community. Dr. Platt was a Professor Emeritus at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1981, Dr. Platt and his wife Deanie developed the museum to showcase the mammals and birds native to North Georgia. The hope was that the museum would help area residents have a better appreciation for the wildlife in the area. The museum was eventually turned over as a gift to the Property Owners Association, which is why it is housed in the POA building.
Museum Wildlife
The museum houses two cases of wild animals and two dioramas, all of which have been stuffed and mounted by a professional taxidermist. There are also a few ducks mounted on the wall, and a gorgeous large coyote with a pheasant in his mouth. One look at that coyote and you are glad he's not alive because he's quite ferocious looking, but beautiful at the same time.
The cases of animals are showcases for birds and mammals of the area. One case has everything from a series of warblers to a series of hawks and owls. The mammal showcase has a bobcat, a beaver and an assortment of birds. These cases are a wonderful way to educate children ( and adults as well) on the native wildlife of North Georgia.
The two dioramas show not only animals but also native plants of the North Georgia mountains. Tucked in between the cases and dioramas are cozy seating areas and views of the lake are visible out of the windows. Not only is this a wonderful place to visit to learn about native plants and animals, but it's a nice place to just relax as well.
I feel so fortunate to live in a place as peaceful and beautiful as Big Canoe. And an extra blessing is this quaint nature museum. I mean, after all, how many gated communities do you know of that can boast that along with all of their other amenities such as hiking trails, tennis and a fitness center, they have a nature museum within their gates?
Rosemarie Heindel
Harry Norman Realty
Cell: 404-861-1857
Office: 770-893-2400
Rosemarie.heindel@harrynorman.com
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