A Rendition of Florida’s 1824 Capitol

Presented by Leon County Public Library at LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library, Tallahassee FL

The LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library is honored to host a traveling exhibit from the Museum of Florida History.

As part of the commemoration of Tallahassee’s Bicentennial, Museum of Florida History artisans constructed a representation of Florida’s first capitol building. A lack of documentation 200 years ago means that many of the details of the original design of the 1824 capitol remain a mystery, including the building’s size and design. Despite this lack of information, “replicas” of this log cabin were constructed for both the Centennial and Sesquicentennial of the capital city.

Continuing this tradition, Museum of Florida History curators, educators, and artisans researched and collaborated to create a model representative of the 1824 setting.  Surviving examples of early 1800s cabins helped guide the creation of this structure. The original building was constructed by enslaved laborers and craftsmen and served as the meeting place for the thirteen members of the Legislative Council until 1826, when a two-story structure was built nearby.

The exhibit will be displayed on the first floor of the Main Library from July 1st through 31st, 2024.