Tallahassee Sun

Tallahassee turns 200 years old on Monday, March 4, and the City of Tallahassee proudly invites the community to celebrate at a Bicentennial birthday party in front of City Hall, 300 S. Adams Street. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"This is an exciting year of celebration for our city," Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said. "As we look back at where we've been, celebrate where we are today and plan for the next 100 years, I encourage everyone to get engaged – attend the special bicentennial events and programs, learn about the history of our beautiful city and think about how you, too, can make Tallahassee even better for future generations."

The event will feature remarks from Mayor Dailey, live music from the Raa Middle School Steel Band and FAMU Jazz Studies Quartet, a brief overview of Tallahassee's history by two local historians and, of course, celebratory refreshments. The event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, the event will move indoors to the City Commission Chambers, located on the second floor of City Hall.

"Ambitious from the Beginning" is the theme for the year-long Bicentennial observance. The collaborative effort has enlisted the input of local government agencies, educational institutions, businesses, community groups and individuals.

Tallahassee became the capital of the territory of Florida on March 4, 1824. It was chosen for its beauty and because it was the midway point between St. Augustine and Pensacola, the principal cities where legislators were conducting government business at the time. The city got its name from a Muskogean Indian word meaning "old fields."

Here are a few other ways to learn about local history:

• To commemorate Tallahassee's Bicentennial, the City is producing a video series, "Tallahassee—200 Years in the Making." Episode 1: 1824-1835 is available on demand now at YouTube.com/CityofTLH. 

• The City's John G. Riley Center/Museum for African American History & Culture currently has a major exhibition that runs through October: "African Americans in Tallahassee: The Antebellum Period." It offers a comprehensive narrative of resistance, resilience and success against all odds. It's the first of a four-part, four-year series that chronicles the history of Blacks in the Capital City from the Antebellum Period to the Civil Rights Era. Learn more at RileyMuseum.org . 

• See the City's heritage webpage for a variety of stories and videos about people, places and things unique to Tallahassee at Talgov.com/Neighborhoods. 

Learn more about Tallahassee's diverse history and keep up with bicentennial events taking place in 2024 by visiting tallahasseeleoncounty200.com 

Original source can be found here.