Tallahassee Historical Society

07/22/2026

Join us on Sunday, July 26th at 2 pm for TGS' July program meeting at the Maguire Center at Westminster Oaks. FSU alumna and author of The Westcott Story Christine Broderick Emmanuel will share her family’s expansive history, including their public service ties to Tallahassee beginning in 1830 and to Florida Supreme Court jurist James Diament Westcott III. The signature “James Diament Westcott” administration building and the Westcott fountain symbolize the Florida State University’s proud heritage and celebratory traditions, but they represent only a small part of the Westcotts’ overarching legacy in America. Both volumes of The Westcott Story are available for purchase at Amazon.com.

07/22/2026

Before there was Governor's Square and the Tallahassee Mall, there was the Northwood Mall...

The Northwood Mall opened as the city's first indoor mall on September 30th, 1969, with nearly 40 stores and Tallahassee's very first Publix. Throughout the 1970s, Northwood Mall grew to include over 60 stores and even office space for the Florida Department of Revenue below some of the stores. Unlike most malls today, Northwood's stores boasted their own individualized storefronts on opening day in 1969 - swipe to see some of the grooviest ones!

Despite early successes, Northwood Mall officially closed in 1986 and served as an office complex for the next 35 years. In 2021, the city of Tallahassee demolished the Northwood plaza to make way for the Tallahassee Police Department's new headquarters. Northwood Boulevard, the small stretch of road between MLK Boulevard and North Monroe Street, is one of the last remnants of Tallahassee's first mall... 🛍🛒

Did you ever visit the Northwood Mall? Share your stories in the comments below!

07/02/2026

The Tallahassee Historical Society is pleased to invite the public to the unveiling of an historical marker to the frontier town of Centerville. Though it had virtually disappeared by the 1930s, the Centerville community once boasted several stores, two churches, banking facilities, telegraph services, and schools for Black and white children. The marker is dedicated to former THS president and board member Dave Lang, who wrote the language and advocated for the marker before his passing in April.

The unveiling will take place on Thursday, July 9 at 5:30 PM at the trailhead of the Centerville Conservation Trail (also known as the Pisgah Church Pedway). To find the marker, drive north on Centerville Road and turn left on Pisgah Church Road - the trailhead can be found on the right side of the road. The Centerville marker is one of several historical markers dedicated as part of the Tallahassee Historical Society’s Tallahassee/Leon County bicentennial efforts.

06/30/2026

Which historically significant Tallahassee building are you? Swipe to find out! 🏦⛪️🏡

From modest vernacular homes to works of collegiate gothic architecture, Tallahassee's historic buildings illustrate the capital city's prestigious, diverse, and often eccentric history. While world-famous architects constructed some of these buildings, enslaved architects whose names remain unknown to history constructed others. Whether built from stone, iron, or the region's distinctive longleaf pine wood, many of these buildings reflect architectural styles unique to North Florida and the Red Hills. Others have stood witness to major historical events in the state and nation's history. For these reasons, the US National Register of Historic Places recognizes dozens of Tallahassee's buildings as significant on local, statewide, and national levels.

Find out which of these significant Tallahassee buildings you should visit next based on your birth month!

06/25/2026

UPDATED TIME ‼️‼️ The Tallahassee Historical Society is pleased to invite the public to the unveiling of an historical marker to the original Thomasville Road. Dating back to beginning of American settlement of Tallahassee, the original road to Thomasville served as one of the prime lifelines of the early Tallahassee community to the rest of the South and North American continent.

The unveiling will take place on Sunday, June 28 at 12:30 PM at St. Peter's Cathedral, 4784 Thomasville Road. The Road to Thomasville marker is one of several historical markers dedicated as part of the Tallahassee Historical Society’s Tallahassee/Leon County bicentennial efforts.

05/29/2026

We have waited 250 years for a celebration like this. Come out and join us on Friday for the Revolutionary Speaker Series beginning at 9am in the Carriage House at Goodwood.

Speakers will be David Proctor (Dale Cox had to cancel), Andrew Frank, Aubrey Lauersdorf, Jason Daniel and Pulitzer Prize winner Kathleen DuVal. We will kick off 3 days of an incredibly inspiring celebration hosted by Theater With A Mission.

There will be music, dancing, high tea, childrens activities, local vendors, genealogy experts, a birthday party for King George III, and a performance of Time Travel to 1776-A Family Feud for the eras. You won't want to miss this!

05/23/2026

One more week until the Revolutionary Speaker Series at Goodwood Museum & Gardens! Check out our latest podcast as President Bob Holladay is joined by Edward Ornstein, Deputy General Counsel for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, and featured authors/speakers Dr. Andrew Frank from FSU and Pulitzer Prize winner Dr. Kathleen DuVal from UNC.
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-icki9-1ace04b

Don't forget to register for a seat at next Friday's Speaker Series which includes breakfast and lunch: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/time-travel-into-florida-1776-festival-tickets-1979191639472?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/18/2026

Get ready to celebrate America 250! Register today to save your seat for this educational and entertaining event: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../time-travel-into-florida...
While Florida remained loyal to the crown during the Revolutionary War, it was not without discourse. Join us to learn more about the individuals who were here and played an important part in shaping our history.

On Friday, May 29th, the Tallahassee Historical Society will host a Revolutionary Speaker Series featuring beloved local speakers such as Dale Cox, Dr. Anthony Frank, Dr. Aubrey Lauersdorf, Dr. Jason Daniel, and Pulitzer Prize winner Dr. Kathleen DuVal. Seating is limited and lunch will be provided so please register to save your spot. You won't want to miss this! The festival will kick off Friday night with a concert by Tallahassee Back Parley, dancing by Atlanta Historic Dance and a birthday celebration for King George III (don't worry - patriots have infiltrated the event and will be there too!). The evening will culminate with a presentation of Theater with a Mission's Time Travel to Florida 1776 - a lively Family Feud production which will delight both patriots and loyalists.

If you have to miss Friday night, we will continue the festivities on Saturday focusing on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness all day long. There will be crafts for kids of all ages, a petting zoo, dance lessons, the Time Travel to Florida Family Feud production, parades, stories, and so much more. Food trucks and vendors will also be onsite. Sunday will wrap up with one additional viewing of the Time Travel to 1776 Family Feud as well as an official British tea party, petting zoos, crafts, proclamations and so much more. Plus, all of this will be on the grounds of Goodwood Museum & Gardens, a lovely spot that will transport you to a timeless era of discovery!

There is no fee to attend, but we ask that you register so we can plan for you and save your spot at the Friday Speaker Series: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/time-travel-into-florida-1776-festival-tickets-1979191639472?aff=oddtdtcreator

Across three unforgettable days at Goodwood Museum & Gardens, we invite the community to step into Revolutionary Florida as history marches, dances, and speaks at the Time Travel into "Florida 1776" Festival! May 29 - 31. Register today! 🇺🇲 🎭

Register Here - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/time-travel-into-florida-1776-festival-tickets-1979191639472?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/23/2026

The Tallahassee Historical Society mourns the loss of Dave Lang, who passed away on Sunday, April 19th. Dave was a longtime board member, historian, and former president of the historical society.

His funeral will be tomorrow (Friday, April 24th) at 2PM at St. Peter's Anglican Cathedral on Thomasville Road.

04/21/2026

The Tallahassee Historical Society mourns the loss of Dave Lang - our former president, longtime board member, and historian - who passed away on Sunday, April 19.

Former Leon County Clerk of Courts Dave Lang has died after a battle with cancer. See link below ⬇️

📸 Arianna Otero/Tallahassee Democrat