CAPITOL DOWNTOWN CULTURAL DISTRICT
Within the pages of a brochure prepared by our Florida Department of State, in partnership with Leon County and the City of Tallahassee are listed all the gems that make our capitol city unique. The guide includes a map, making all this quite walkable, although some might like to incorporate the places into a few days walking.
The Capitol Downtown Cultural District involves ten blocks of culture and heritage. It includes museums, art, history, science, public sculptures, memorials and much, much more. It includes some interesting tidbits, such as Waller park. We all know and love the dolphin sculture outside the new state capitol building. We have probably forgotten that one of our very own local artist's, Hugh Nicholson, created Stromsong. And, most of us didn't know that the area Stromsong is set in, which includes viewing areas, benches, landscaping, is called Waller Park.
Right across from City Hall, which features changing exhibitions within it's second floor gallery, and has a marvelous wind sculpture by Michio Ihara, is the Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau where you can pick up a copy of this brochure. While you're there stock up on some of the other interesting parts of our area that are featured. They'll also provide you with a schedule of "what's going on" for the month.
Kleman Plaza is a great place to take a breather while walking to all the various "must see's". It has lots of greenery, benches, fountains, and is surrounded by a city at work. It offers a peaceful setting to just watch the world go by. The U.S. Courthouse on Adams St., has Lincoln Perry's murals that depict historical American events. While the historic U.S. Courthouse also on Adams St. has eight historic murals in the lobby painted during the WPA effort for artists.
Union bank on Apalachee Pkwy was built in 1841, and today houses the Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center. There exhibits are an extensive collection of rare artifacts and documents re African-American contributions.
Other places noted within the fold-out brochure are the Gray Building, the Museum of Florida History, the Civic Center, Supreme Court, new State Capitol, the Old Capitol, Leon County Courthouse, Gallie Alley, Brogan Museum, Challenger Learning Center, Old City Cemetery, Leon County Public Library, the Columns, the Governor's Mansion, Park Avenue Historic district, Marketplace, COCA, Knott House, LeMoyne, the Riley House, Vietnam veterans Memorial, Florida Korean Memorial at Cascades Park, World War II Memorial, and also visit Adams Street Commons.
For more information on what to see and do in Tallahassee, contact the Council on Culture and Arts at 850-224-2500, or the Tallahassee Area and Convention Visitors Bureau at 850-606-2305.
