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Florida's
Capitol Hill
Photo Courtesy of Visit Florida |
Most visitors to Tallahassee
are struck at once by the vast amounts of greenery and flowers that adorn the city's landscape.
Moss-covered oaks connect high above the streets to form green canopies,
springtime presents colorful azalea and magnolia blossoms, and winter brings
hundreds of varieties of camellia, blooming pear trees and holly. But Florida's
capital city has much more to offer than scenery. Tallahassee's history
has shaped the development of Florida and birthed a wealth of buildings
that are now historic
landmarks. Remnants of Floridian history abound, from the
Columns—the center of political activity through much of the
19th century—to the Old
State Capitol, a stunning piece of architecture erected in 1845,
the year Florida achieved statehood. Frequently in the shadow of Florida's
mammoth tourist destinations—Miami,
Orlando and Tampa—vacationers
often overlook the history, culture and beauty of Tallahassee, elements
that are reflected in a menagerie of attractions,
historic sites and recreational hot spots worth discovering.
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Tallahassee's
Canopy Roads
Photo Courtesy of Visit Florida |
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ORIENTATION
Nestled between the
foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and the juncture of Florida's peninsula
and panhandle in Leon County, Tallahassee is 20 mi (32 km) north of the
Gulf of Mexico and 14 mi (23 km) south of the Georgia
border. Tallahassee is surrounded by several state parks and situated
on the northeastern edge of Apalachicola
National Forest. Inside Florida, Tallahassee is 166 mi (267 km)
west of Jacksonville,
104 mi (167 km) northeast of Panama
City and 262 mi (422 km) northwest of Orlando. Albany,
Georgia, is 97 mi (156 km) north of Tallahassee, and Montgomery,
Alabama, is 213
mi (343 km) to the northwest.
HISTORY
Recognized as an important
center for more than eight centuries, Tallahassee has made the transition
from an American Indian ceremonial ground to the head of government for
the state, playing a central role throughout the development of Florida's
history. Apalachee Indians populated the Tallahassee area from 500 to
1528, settling in villages and flourishing in the realms of agriculture
and art. An expedition of Spanish travelers led by Panfilo de Narvaez
arrived in 1528, marking the first meeting between Europeans and local
Indians. From 1528 to 1607, Spanish invaders decimated the Apalachee population
with warfare and new diseases brought from Europe. Creek Indians—emigrants
from Georgia and Alabama—entered the region in 1725 and became known
as Seminoles, meaning runaways. In 1763, the Tallahassee area became British
property when Spain ceded Florida to England
in exchange for Cuba. Spain regained possession of Florida in 1783, but
in 1818 American General Andrew Jackson invaded Florida and drove the
Seminole Indians out of Leon County. Four years later, the territory of
Florida was created by an act of Congress, and in 1823, Tallahassee became
the site of Florida government.
Founded in 1830 and
now the oldest building in the city, the Columns served as the center
of financial, political and social development in Florida's early history.
Commerce flourished with the completion of the Tallahassee-St. Marks Railroad
in 1834, and in 1845 Florida became the 27th state. One of the 11 Southern
states that separated itself from the United
States to form a coalition called the Confederate States of America,
Floridian soldiers repelled Union forces—the 22 Northern states—at
the Civil War Battle of Natural Bridge in 1865, making Tallahassee the
only uncaptured Confederate capital east of the Mississippi
River.
Tallahassee's recent
history is characterized by high annexation activity as a means of increasing
growth. By 1979, Tallahassee had expanded from 160 acres (65 ha) to an
area covering 16640 acres (6734 ha). Since then, 48000 additional acres
(19425 ha) were incorporated, and by January of 2004, the city covered
a territory of over 64000 acres (25899 ha). The majority of these annexations
were achieved through a voluntary procedure whereby the owners of properties
petition to be included in the city.
Today, Tallahassee
is a neo-metropolitan city ripe with culture, politics and old-fashioned
charm. Historic buildings reveal the essence of Tallahassee's past, while
new venues, attractions and political structures solidify the city's role
in Florida's future.
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|
Month |
Avg.
Daily Temperature |
Average
Precip. |
|
Min |
Max |
| Jan
|
40°F
(4 °C) |
64°F
(18 °C) |
114
mm |
| Feb |
42°F
(6 °C) |
67°F
(19 °C) | 122
mm |
| Mar
|
48°F
(9 °C) |
73°F
(23 °C) |
151
mm |
| Apr |
53°F
(12 °C) |
80°F
(27 °C) |
93
mm |
| May
|
62°F
(17 °C) |
87°F
(31 °C) |
111
mm |
| Jun
|
69°F
(21 °C) |
90°F
(32 °C) |
181
mm |
| Jul |
72°F
(22 °C) |
91°F
(33 °C) |
215
mm |
|
Aug |
72°F
(22 °C) |
91°F
(33 °C) |
180
mm |
|
Sep |
68°F
(20 °C) |
88°F
(31 °C) |
146
mm |
|
Oct |
57°F
(14 °C) |
81°F
(27 °C) | 82
mm |
|
Nov |
47°F
(8 °C) |
72°F
(22 °C) |
85
mm |
|
Dec |
41°F
(5 °C) |
65°F
(18 °C) |
104
mm |
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| | Climate
data from the
Southeast Regional Climate Center |
CLIMATE
For the most part,
Tallahassee offers temperate and enjoyable weather. The city experiences
a four season climate, but extremely high or low temperatures are rare.
Tallahassee is exceptionally moist and humid, receiving 65 in (1651 mm)
of rain per year. In the summer months of June, July and August, the temperature
can reach up to 90°F (32°C), while the winter months of December,
January and February yield temperatures that average 50°F (10°C).
Visitors vacationing during the warmer seasons are advised to bring plenty
of sunscreen and cool clothing.
TRANSPORTATION
A number of transportation
services ensure visitors have no difficulty getting to Tallahassee and
navigating the city's points of interest. By car, Tallahassee can easily
be accessed by Interstate Route 10 from the east and the west, U.S. Route
319 from the northeast and U.S. Route 27 from the northwest. The Tallahassee
Regional Airport is serviced by six national and regional airlines.
The city can also be accessed by train aboard the transcontinental Sunset
Amtrak Railway, which travels through Los
Angeles, New
Orleans, Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami and a host of other major
centers.
Inside Tallahassee,
the city's public transit system, Taltran
City Bus, operates 31 routes that cover the majority of the city,
as well as campus shuttles at Florida
State University and Florida
A&M University. For visitors that desire more freedom, rental
cars are available at the airport and several locations throughout
the city.
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| The
Museum of Florida History |
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ATTRACTIONS
Museums
The Museum
of Florida History, opened in 1977, showcases artifacts and exhibits
pertaining to past and present cultures in Florida. Nearly 44,000 items
are on display at five Tallahassee venues: the Main
Gallery, the Old Capitol, Union
Bank, Mission
San Luis de Apalachee and the Knott
House, each delving into a different time period of Florida's
history. The role that Floridians have played in national and global events
is also explored.
Located on the Florida
A&M University campus, the Black
Archives Research Center and Museum features photographs, manuscripts,
oral history tapes, art works and rare maps that relate to the history
and culture of Africans and African-Americans. The museum is housed in
the oldest building on campus, the 1907 Carnegie Library.
Automobile enthusiasts
relish the chance to visit the Antique
Car Museum, where an extensive collection of antique and collectible
automobiles are on display, including Lincoln's 1860 horse-drawn hearse
and the Batmobile from the 1992 film Batman Returns. In addition to cars,
the museum houses a collection of sports memorabilia, antique toys, bicycles
and rare artifacts.
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Pebble
Hill Plantation |
Historic Sites
Plantations
The Tallahassee area boasts one of America's largest concentrations of
original plantations. The space between Tallahassee and Thomasville,
Georgia—just 28 mi (45 km) away—is home to 71 plantations. One
of the most impressive is Pebble
Hill Plantation. Situated 25 mi (40 km) north of Tallahassee near
Thomasville, Pebble Hill Plantation's main house was built in 1850 and
showcases collections of 19th century furniture, porcelain, silver, crystal
and glassware. The grounds of Pebble Hill are steeped in tradition, culture
and elegant grandeur, and guests have the chance to learn about the plantation's
history on guided tours—offered in five languages—that visit
the cow barn, the stables, the carriage house, the carpenter's shop, the
fire engine house, the cemetery and the garage.
Lake Jackson Mounds
State Archaeological Site
Located at the tip of Lake Jackson, the mounds at this site are remains
of a ceremonial center that existed between 1200 and 1500. Lake
Jackson Mounds State Archaeological Site features six earth temple
mounds, the largest of which towers 36 ft (11 m) and has a base of 278
ft by 312 ft (85 m by 95 m). A number of historical artifacts have been
culled from the site, including copper breastplates, necklaces, bracelets,
anklets and cloaks. The site also features a short hike that takes visitors
past a grist mill from the 19th century. Interpretive programs and guided
tours of the site are available upon request.
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| The
Brokaw-McDougall House |
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The Brokaw-McDougall
House
This historic home is a fine example of 19th century antebellum architecture.
Very few alterations have been made to the original Brokaw-McDougall
House, which bears a Classical Revival-style with strong Italianate
influence. Gas light fixtures, immense pocket doors and 14-foot ceilings
patterned with molded plaster are a few of the special characteristics of
this home. The gardens are embellished with massive oak trees and several
varieties of camellias in bloom from January to March. Located in the city's
Calhoun Street Historic District, the Brokaw-McDougall House is open to
the public from Monday to Friday.
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Alfred
B. Maclay State Gardens |
Parks and Recreation
Covering
307 acres, Alfred
B. Maclay State Gardens were started in 1923 by Alfred B. Maclay
and his wife Louise on the grounds of their southern estate. In addition
to native plants, the gardens are rife with azaleas, camellias and oriental
magnolias. The Maclay House has been partially restored and now serves
as an information center about camellias. Although the park was designed
to be in bloom during winter and early spring—at which time the family
occupied the residence—the abundance of trees and shrubs planted
by the couple has fostered a milieu of year-round beauty.
Tallahassee is at
the doorstep of Apalachicola National Forest, a haven of recreation that
covers more than 500,000 acres. Ochlockonee river, which forms part of
the park's northern boundary near Tallahassee, is a popular locale for
water-based adventure, attracting boaters, rafters and fishermen. Miles
of trails and roads facilitate hiking, horseback riding and off-road ATV
excursions. Several recreation areas, many of which are fraught with amenities,
make for easy enjoyment of activities ranging from swimming and waterskiing
to camping and picnicking.
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Florida's
New State Capitol Building
Photo Courtesy of Visit Florida |
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State Capitol Buildings
A 22-story
tower flanked by the house and senate chambers, both of which feature
public viewing galleries, the new Florida
State Capitol affords visitors the opportunity to see government
in action from March to April. A panoramic view of the city is available
from the 22nd floor, and guided tours are offered daily.
The Old State Capitol,
adorned with candy-striped awnings and a stained-glass dome, has been
restored to reflect its 1902 splendor. In 1978 the building was converted
into a museum, which now houses special exhibits that explore the history
of the building and the state. Guests are invited to take self-guided
tours of the house and senate chambers, the supreme court, the rotunda
and the governor's suite.
