Tallahassee – The Capital of Florida
45 km north of the Gulf of Mexico and 20 km south of the Georgia state line on the foothills of the Apalachian Mountains, Tallahassee is the junction between Florida’s Panhandle and the peninsula, an area known as the Big Bend.
According to acronymmonster, Tallahassee is geographically closer to Atlanta than to Miami and is similar in lifestyle, topography and climate to the neighboring northern state of Georgia. The capital of Florida does not have the hustle and bustle of a big city and not the hustle and bustle of central Florida tourists, but rather a small-town charm and the flair of the Old South. The streets are quiet with trees overgrown with Spanish moss and fragrant magnolias. There is information on the official website.
Landmarks
Florida State Capitol
S. Duval St., Open Monday to Friday 8 am-5pm, free admission
The modern tower of the State Capitol with its sober, simple design fits into the small-town atmosphere only to a limited extent. Many consider it the ugliest seat of government in the United States. What is architecturally unappealing finds a certain balance in the fact that you get a beautiful view of the city from the viewing gallery on the 22nd floor. Meetings of the legislative bodies take place only from March to May of each year; the meetings are public. The viewing gallery can be visited at any time during the opening times, and there are free guided tours every hour on the hour (45 minutes).
Florida Historic Capitol Museum
S. Monroe St., Open Monday through Friday 10 am-4:30pm, Saturday 10 am-4:30pm, Sunday 12 pm-4:30pm, free admission
. The white dome with the red and white striped awnings corresponds to the appearance of 1902.
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
Located across from the Old Capitol.
The monument shows the American flag framed by two granite towers in which the names of the Florida soldiers who died in Vietnam (1942) or who went missing (83) are embedded.
Canopy Roads
Tallahassee is particularly known for the so-called Canopy Roads. These are streets that are overgrown by old oaks with epiphytes, creating a tunnel effect. The name comes from the lush vegetation that surrounds trees and bushes like a cushion and hangs low in thick veils. The shady streets framed by hanging plants are typical of the deep south. In recent years, however, many hurricanes have ruffled their original splendor. Canopy Roads include Meridian Road, Old Bainbridge Road, Centerville Road, Miccosukee Road and Old St. Augustine Road.
Historic city center
The historic city center of Tallahassees is surrounded by parks, which lead the visitor to the following attractions in particular:
Knott House Museum
301 E. Park Ave., free admission, guided tours every hour on the hour Wednesday through Friday 1pm – 3pm, Saturday 10am – 3pm
In the premises of the Knott House Museum on May 20, 1865, the liberation of the slaves was proclaimed. William Knott’s wife wrote poems and immortalized them in the furniture, which is why the house was nicknamed “The House that Rhymes” (the house that writes). In 1928 the family left the house. Victorian furniture and a large collection of mirrors can be viewed.
First Presbyterian Church
102 N. Adams St.
Tallahassee’s oldest Greek Revival style church.
Riley House Museum
419 E. Jefferson St., Open: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., donation expected
Dedicated to the freedom movement of the colored population.
Tallahassee Museum
3945 Museum Dr., Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $ 9
Just minutes from downtown, in an extensive nature reserve, is the Museum of History and Science. A special attraction is a faithfully rebuilt farm from 1880.
Alfred B. Maclay State Gardens
3540 Thomasville Road, Exit 30 off Interstate 10 and then follow Thomasville Rd. North, open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, admission $ 6 per vehicle for up to 8 people; Additional admission to the garden in the months of January to April $ 6 per person.
During the main flowering season from January to April, more than 200 types of flowers bloom here.
Excursion destinations
Wakulla Springs State Park
550 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, FL 32305, Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, admission $ 6 per car (up to 8 people), glass-bottom boat ride $ 8
About 12 miles south of Tallahassee on SR 267 is the natural attraction of Wakulla Springs. The source of the Wakulla River is one of the largest in the world with 40,000 liters per second. Wakulla is Indian and means something like “strange water”. The original Tarzan was filmed in this area with Johnny Weissmüller. Fish, turtles, and birds can be seen on a glass-bottom boat trip; there is also a 3-mile river boat tour.
Natural Bridge Battlefield State Historic Site
1022 Desoto Park Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, admission $ 3 per car (up to 8 people)
Also after about 20 km southbound, but on Highway 363, one reaches the Natural Bridge Battlefield, where Union troops coming from the north were defeated by the Confederates. Tallahassee was the only city not occupied by Union forces during the Civil War. The fight is re-enacted on March 6th each year.
