First Florida's Capitol

The first Capitol was a log cabin built in 1824 with the establishment of Tallahassee as the territorial capital. In the early 1820's, legislators transferred government business from St. Augustine to Pensacola for alternating sessions. Travel was hazardous and took almost 20 days. As a result, Tallahassee was chosen as the capital of American Florida in 1824, primarily because it was the midway point between the two principal cities St. Augustine (i.e. East Florida) and Pensacola (i.e. West Florida).

By William P. Duval Governor of the Territory of Florida

Whereas in Pursuance of an act of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, approved the 24th day of June 1823 Commissioners were appointed, to select the most eligible and convenient situation for the seat of government of the Territory of Florida, and the said Commissioners have reported a seat in the County of Gadsden, situated " about a mile south of the Ochlocknee and Tallahassee Trail at a point where the old Spanish road is intersected by a small trail running southwardly." In the exercise of discretion in me vested by the said act and for the information of the good people of this Territory, I have thought proper to issue this my Proclamation requiring the members of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, to assemble at the site above described, on this day appointed by law for the next session thereof.

Given under the hand and seal of the said Territory at Pensacola, this 4th day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four and of the Independence of the United States of America the forty eight. (Pensacola Gazette Newspaper Article March 13, 1824.)

William P. Duval

The 1829 Searcy map provides a glimpse into historical city planning. This map highlights the expansion of the city limits from the  original plan  of the city which is captured in "Block E" located in the center of this inset map. The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) original survey began in current day Cascades Park which is the southeastern (e.g. bottom right) corner of "Block E".

Rendition of Florida's 1824 Capitol

Constructed by Conrad Brayman, Museum Artisan, Museum of Florida History

In April 1824, a group of eights people led by John McIver became the first American settlers to arrive in the area near modern-day downtown Tallahassee. A few days later Sherrod McCall and Judge Jonathan Robinson arrived at the location previously selected for Florida's new territorial capital. Enslaved laborers and craftsmen cleared the land and constructed a building where the thirteen members of the legislative council could meet. This structure served as the council's first permanent meeting place; the two previous sessions had met in the former Spanish colonial capitals of Pensacola and St. Augustine. Although territorial governor William Pope Duval hoped to convene the Legislative Council in the spring, it was not until November 1824 that the body met in Tallahassee. The log cabin Capitol housed the council until 1826, when a two story structure was built nearby. Due to a lack of known documentation, many details about the cabin remain a mystery, including the building's size and design. Surviving examples of early 1800's cabins helped guide the creation of this model.

This model was built to commemorate the 2024 Tallahassee - Leon County Bicentennial, a community-wide celebration of the past 200 years.

Volunteers provided much needed assistance in constructing the First Capitol Frontier Cabin.

Building the First Florida Capitol replica is not a new concept. Two versions of the log cabin capitol building have been constructed before. The first being in 1924 and the second in 1974. This Bicentennial year celebration has created additional incitement to construct a new version. With the potential continued use of the structure, Local Building Code Compliance was considered during the construction process.

The construction of the capitol was volunteer based and had many participants from various age groups and backgrounds. See some of the behind the scenes photos.

John Lee Williams 1823 Route represented on a current basemap of Florida

Dr William H. Simmons 1823 Route represented on a current basemap of Florida