Among low, rolling hills, down moss-draped canopy roads, within picturesque historical districts, and across seas of flowering azaleas lies Tallahassee, Florida's capital city. With its intriguing combination of power-play politics and classic character splashed with a twist of Southern beauty and charm, Tallahassee is a side of Florida few expect to find.
With the Gulf of Mexico just 25 miles to the south and the Georgia border only 14 miles to the north, Tallahassee rests between the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and the juncture of Florida's panhandle and peninsula in an area known as "The Big Bend." Nearer in miles to Atlanta than Miami, Tallahassee more closely resembles its Georgia neighbor than Florida in topography, climate, and lifestyle.
Like the city itself, the story of how Tallahassee was chosen as the state capital is rich in history. In 1823, two explorers set out—one on horseback from St. Augustine and the other by boat from Pensacola—to establish a permanent, central location for the seat of government. They met at a beautiful site that the Creek and Seminole Indians called "Tallahassee" —derived from the words "talwa," meaning town, and "ahassee," meaning old. This historic meeting place remains Florida's capital today.
From the Tallahassee Visitor's Guide
Select a link below to learn more about our Tallahassee home: