Tallahassee - The capital in the Big Bend

Most visitors to the Sunshine States often know only the south with its lively beach life and the center of the peninsula with its entertainment parks of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios film. But there is also another Florida in the north with his Southern charm.

When the visitor drives on his way from the south of the peninsula to the north and passes Orlando then the landscape gradually begins to change. The palm trees were replaced by oaks. These are often associated with the southern states in the ubiquitous Spanish moss and these trees produce such a disguised, dreamy feeling of the environment. The level of the peninsula rises into rolling hills and Tallahassee is located in the middle of these hills.

The inhabitants of the capital compare their city with Rome which also lies on 7 hills but the air in Tallahassee much less charged than in Rome. The areas surrounding the city reminded a little bit of a low mountain landscape like the Harz in Germany although the architecture is completely different.

Although Tallahassee belongs to the subtropics climate in the city a bit more moderate than in the south of the Sunshine States and there are 4 different seasons around the year. The weather here is influenced by the Gulf and the continental weather of the United Stated. The gulf which is located approximately 25 miles to the south of the city brings hurricane threat in the summer and the land mass of the North American continent brings cold in the winter from the far north. Incoming cold fronts from the north may even lead to short-term snow and freezing conditions lead.

The distance from Miami to Tallahassee is greater than the distance from Tallahassee to Atlanta. The Gulf of Mexico is about 10 miles farer away from Tallahassee than the border to the state of Georgia in the north of Florida.

The founding of Tallahassee the modern capital of Florida is very interesting. In 1821 the State of Florida joined the United States and in 1823 the citizens decided to find a location for their new government city. They sent 2 explorers on their way, one from east of St. Augustine and one in the west of Pensacola and the meeting point of these two travelers should be the new place for the capital of the state.

They met at the today old town of Tallahassee. This place was already known as a city by the natives of this area. Therefore the citizens of Florida chose as the name for this new fortified settlement a variation on the  word "talwa" and "ahassee" which means "old city".
This new settlement was about 1 mile in the square. On this spot there were settled the government building, a church and shops and established the foundation for today's seat of the government.

In the old town are united the old and the new Capitol. The Old Capitol was built in 1845 and has been restored in its design of 1902. The most recognizable mark of this building is the red and white striped awnings at the windows. They form a nice contrast to the neo-modern high-rise building of the new Capitol.

The building of the new Capitol is open to the public and can be visited in the entrance area where there state seal is surrounded by flags. During the sessions in the spring the visitor may attend the parliamentary sessions on grandstands.

The best view of the state seal is from the hall on the 2nd Floor. At the 22nd Floor is an observation level from which the visitor has a wonderful view into the surrounding areas of Tallahassee. If the weather is good the view can reach the Gulf of Mexico in the south and in the north the border of the State of Georgia. This view also demonstrates that despite of its important function as a modern and busy capital city Tallahassee is still a green city with lots of forest and park areas inside the town.

Besides the old town with its historic buildings the visitor has the opportunity to go to the Tallahassee Automobile Museum and look at interesting cars or to drive to the Wakulla Spring State Park and enjoy the nature. This park is home to one of the deepest freshwater springs in the world and is well known for its diverse wildlife.

Glass bottom boats in the parks invite to take a trip through the jungle of the other Florida. The Park has already made history as the movie jungle in which Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan were filmed for the movie ‘Tarzan’.

For the lovers of the Southern romance the Goodwood Plantation with its ancient oaks and with Spanish moss curtain near downtown Tallahassee is very popular destination to visit.

These excursions are only a brief look at the sights and attractions in Tallahassee which can be explored on foot or with driving tours.

 

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