The history of Tallahassee dates to the 16th century. The first Europeans to step foot in the area were the Spanish. In 1528, Pánfilo de Narváez along with his 400 men took refuge in an area that is just around today’s Tallahassee.
Tallahassee is known for its trails and its historic district. Boasting more than 700 miles of trails, it is the perfect place for a hike or bike ride. Some of the recommended trails include Lafayette Heritage, Miccosukee Greenway, St. Marks Historic, and Cascades Park.
Lafayette Heritage Trail is suitable for hikers of all experience levels. It is also a mountain bike-friendly destination. The trail’s paths take you around Piney Z Lake, where you may spot alligators, turtles, and birds that are only found in the immediate area.
Anyone who enjoys a challenge will likely want to try the Miccosukee Greenway Trail. At eight miles long, it the terrain varies along the way from flat to hilly. The trail is suitable for cycling, walking, and running.
The St. Marks Historic Trail lets you see the oldest railroad route anywhere in the state. At 20 miles long, the trail is ideal for activities like skating, hiking, running, and biking.
Cascades Park Trail is in Downtown Tallahassee and stretches for 24 acres. Its three main trails include the Smokey Hollow Pond, the whole park, and the Bocha Chuba Pond loops. The total distance the three trails stretch is 2.3 miles. With paved pathways, the trails are suitable for biking, walking, and jogging.
The historic district of Tallahassee stretches 10 blocks. It features bars, inns, and restaurants that attract locals of all ages. Older homes can also be found in the district. In addition to these attractions, the city also has art galleries, museums, parks, and even a zoo where animals live in their natural habitats.
The city also happens to be home to Florida State University and Florida A&M University.
Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) is one of the largest and oldest institutions in the State University System of Florida. Its history dates to the 19th century to the West Florida Seminary which was established in 1851 by the Florida Legislature.
The West Florida Seminary opened for classes in 1857 in Tallahassee. It also absorbed the Florida Institute which was known as an inducement for the state to place the city’s seminary. Later in 1858, the Tallahassee Female Academy became a part of the seminary and it then became coeducational in 1843.
During the Civil War in 1863, the Confederate government of Florida decided to add a military school to the educational institute. Its name got changed as well. It was then called the Florida Military and Collegiate Institute. In 1883, the institution became part of the Florida University, the first university established in Florida that had full state support.
The Buckman Act in 1905 restructured Florida’s higher education as a whole. This led to the school being restructured as a college for white women. Its new name became the Florida State College for Women. Coeducation was obviously removed. However, after WWII, the college was once again made coeducational to help accommodate the influx of students taking admissions under the G.I. bill. This time, the institution was renamed Florida State University.
Through the 20th and 21st centuries, this massive educational institution has grown in both academic prominence and physical size. It has especially seen growth in doctoral and graduate research.
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is a historically black land-grant educational institution in Tallahassee. When it was founded in 1887, it was called the State Normal College of Colored Students. The original institution was in a single building situated on Copeland Street and there were three main areas it provided instruction in. The institution was designed as the land-grant educational institution of Florida for colored students.
In the 1890s, the institute moved to its present-day location and its name was also changed. Now known as the State Normal and Industrial College for Colored Students, its management was transferred to the Board of Control in 1905 and with this change, the institute was given the designation of a higher learning institution. In 1909, its name was once again changed. This time it was called the FAMC (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes).
In 1910, the popularity of the institution had grown. In that year, it was awarded its first degree. That same year, a fire destroyed its library and certain other offices. The new library was built with the help of a grant from Andrew Carnegie. The newly built library had the distinction of being the only Carnegie Library situated on a black land-grant educational institution.
By the early 1920s, the college was offering Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical arts, agriculture, home economics, science, and education. The student count was steadily growing and it had reached 2,000 by 1949 the college finally transformed into Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1953. Afterward, up until 1968, the schools of nursing, pharmacy, and graduate studies were created and the student body also continued to grow.
Today, the university comprises more than a dozen schools and one institute and offers numerous doctoral programs, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees. For over a hundred years, the university has served the residents of Florida and the nation through its provision of distinguished educational programs, which were the building blocks of its academic excellence legacy.
When you're ready to book a charter bus rental to Tallahassee to see a Florida State Seminoles or Florida A&M Rattlers football game, contact East Coast Limousine. We provide charters and transfers from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
