Smoke House

The smoke house was a very important aspect of rural communities. Because refrigerators had not yet been invented, the smoke house was the main resource used for keeping meat fresh. This smoke house is an original structure that was built in Sumter County in the early 1900s. In the days that it was used, the meat would be salted down for several weeks to cure it; this removed the moisture from the meat. Next it would be hung in the smoke house and smoked by the fire to enhance the flavor of the meat and to keep insects away. This process helped the pioneers to keep their meat for a longer period of time.

The smoke house was donated to Cracker Country by the Southwest Florida Management District. Visitors can walk by and smell the enticing scent of the smoked meats.

Built 1900s, moved to Cracker Country in 1979, first Florida State Fair 1980