More than 100 people were on hand for the October 4 ribbon cutting for the replica of the 1824 First Florida Capitol at the west end of Tallahassee's Cascades Park.
Among the speakers at the ceremony was Leon County Commission Chair Carolyn Cummings.
"This replica is a strong reminder of how far we have come, and an even stronger reminder of the symbol of the foundation of our city, the foundation of our county and the foundation of the state of Florida."
Although the structure appears almost identical to what historians believe the 1824 log cabin Capitol looked like, the modern iteration reflects modern building codes. It was constructed almost entirely with volunteer labor and the lumber was donated by Levy County tree farmer Mark Carpenter, a descendent of one of the original Capitol's builders. During the ceremony, Mayor John Dailey acknowledged those living at the time of the original building who often escaped notice.
"The indigenous people who have lived in the Red Hills of North Florida for tens of thousands of years. (And) as we have come together as free people in the 21st Century to build a replica of the first Florida Capitol, let us not forget and let us honor and uphold and remember the enslaved people that played a significant role in the construction of the 1st Florida Capitol 200 years ago as well."
The replica Capitol will soon be open to the public on weekends, and it will also play a pivotal role in Leon County's Bicentennial celebration, which will take place the weekend of November 9.
