Our primary reason for visiting Tallahassee was two-fold: we were waiting for a site to become available at our next destination, and Tallahassee is the Florida State Capitol city, so we wanted to visit that.
BTW, I mentioned yesterday that our site at Big Oak RV Park was not level. For you mechanically inclined out there, this is what we needed to do to the front wheels. Those blocks are 5 1/2 inches tall! Fortunately, Nessie was quite good at creeping up the makeshift ramp.
The State Capitol Complex is located just a few miles from "home", and includes many, many buildings devoted to the various aspects of state government. The Capitol buildings, the "Old Capitol" and the "New Capitol", are located adjacent to each other. That is the 22 story New Capitol in the background.
The grounds are immaculate. Sasha would have fun!
We wanted to visit the Old Capitol to get a taste of the history of Florida. Just beyond the information desk, this set of stairs leads up to the second floor where the House of Representatives and the Senate met.
The central portion of the Capitol sits where the first log cabin was built to house the first government. This central area was completed in 1842, and expanded several times over the years. In 1977 the New Capitol building was constructed behind and around the Old Capitol, which was then remodeled into it's present state, representing it's shape and condition in 1902. The interior colors are muted red, white and blue, and the rotunda reflects the same colors. The Old Capitol has been restored exactly to its 1902 condition, and includes many of the furnishings that were in the building at that time. When various renovations were performed, old furniture was sold at auction or given away. Thanks to the generosity of many benefactors, many of the pieces have been donated to the Old Capitol for the enjoyment of all. One of the first pieces dated to 1902 was the chandelier in the entrance lobby. Built to use electricity as well as gas, the fixtures are from a time when local power plants only provided electricity four hours a day, so gas backup was essential.
From the second floor the rotunda is a small but colorful accent in the ceiling.
On February 28, 1902, a strong storm buffeted Tallahassee. The night watchman heard a loud noise, and discovered that a portion of a wall in the uncompleted new south wing had collapsed. Extensive roof damage caused leaks throughout the Capitol, including Governor Jennings office. A few weeks later, someone placed this sign in the rotunda.
Many interesting characters inhabit the halls of the Old Capitol, including Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, a Duval County sheriff who gained fame and notoriety by using his personal ship Three Friends to smuggle guns and supplies to Cuban revolutionaries fighting the Spanish before the Spanish American War. He was elected Governor soon after.
In a small side room, several Civil War artifacts are on display. Of course, many Floridians fought for the Confederacy, about 15,000 in fact, but I didn't know that 2,000 fought for the Union as well. This is an actual carpetbag used by entrepreneurs seeking to make their fortune in the south after the Civil War.
The one character I will remember longest is a young lady named Donna who was caught wielding her authority over the Senate Chamber!
Of course, who could forget the "characters" involved in the 2000 presidential election?
Passion ran high on both sides of the political fence, giving us some humorous memories.
Just across Apalachee Street from the Capitol Complex, the Florida Viet Nam Memorial stands in memory of that conflict and the Floridians who lost their lives in it.
Down the road a mile or so, on Macomb St, we ate lunch at Nefetari. This is an unusually decorated restaurant that carries the African/Egyptian theme to it's logical conclusion. Overwhelming! Done in purple, gold, and black, the entry slaps the senses. A lion named Maliki is permanently posted as a guard/greeter!
The centerpiece of the dining room is a huge table set for a Pharaoh!
After a delicious lunch that featured an unusual combination of Creole, Jamaican, and African flavors, we jumped across town, past the Florida State University campus (yes, and football stadium), to visit Mission San Luis. This is Florida's Apalachee-Spanish Living History Museum, run by the state park system to showcase the relationship between the Apalachee Indians and the Spanish settlers. Archaeological evidence places inhabitants in this area some 3,500 years ago, but life changed dramatically in 1540 when the Spanish arrived. The grounds of the Museum show how the two cultures lived together. This is a recreation of a Council House used by the Apalachee. It is huge!
Donna is standing in the full-size door way. That gives you some idea of the size!
The interior is constructed of large timbers buried in the ground, and is ringed with "cubicles" for resting and storage. The Council House was used for dances, tribal meetings, and protection from the elements.
A recreation of the small house the Franciscan Friars shows the minimal luxuries they had.
The Mission Chapel has been created as closely as possible to the original, using accounts written by friars that were there.
We've enjoyed our short visit to Tallahassee. The city has been a surprise to us, because we expected the area to be flat. The city is built on many hills, and as you drive, you seem to be constantly rising, falling, turning or twisting. It reminds me of a miniature San Francisco with large and stately trees! Very, very beautiful! We talked a bit with a gentleman at the Old Capitol information desk about how pretty the city is and how we would consider living here. His response was "come back in July and August". Temps in the nineties with high humidity coupled with a lack of breeze is not our cup of tea!
In fact, as we walked the grounds of the Mission San Luis, we noticed signs pointing to "cooling stations" scattered about. Hmmm.
Nanetheless, the tree lined streets are cool and inviting this time of year!
What an interesting day!
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