Storied Paths

05/26/2026

Today marks the 70th Anniversary of the brave actions of Carrie Patterson and Wilhelmina Jakes, two FAMU students who stood up to the segregated bus practices in Tallahassee. Their arrest served as a catalyst for the 1956 Tallahassee Bus Boycott organized by a group of Tallahassee leaders in the Black community, including C.K. Steele. There are many resources available online if you would like to learn more. Florida Memory is always a good place to start. https://www.floridamemory.com/learn/classroom/learning-units/civil-rights/tallahasseebusboycott/

05/25/2026

Honoring those who fought and died for our freedom. Tallahassee/Leon County have beautiful memorials. We visited them today on a bike ride around downtown.

Happy Memorial Day! 🇺🇸

05/23/2026

Y’all…what a night! Started out leading a ghost tour and ended at the Filibuster on an impromtu date with my husband. It doesnt get much better than this.

Plus, I’m so excited to add the Filibuster to the Downtown Foodies Walking Tour this week! Such a great vibe…cool and cozy. If you’ve never been, you need to check it out.

Come try it out this Thursday - just a few spots left
https://storied-paths.com/?page_id=2446

05/20/2026

It was such an honor to participate in Tallahassee’s Emancipation celebrations today as a docent at Goodwood for the Invisible Lives Tours.

There are many more upcoming opportunities to learn about the history of Emancipation and to continue the tradition of its celebration, now through Juneteenth. See a listing of other events at Visit Tallahassee

https://visittallahassee.com/events/20th-of-may-2026-emancipation-juneteenth-events-leon-county/

05/19/2026

Such a fun and meaningful project…be a part of it and share your special Tallahassee places with Taltrust!

04/26/2026

04-26 Today in Florida History from the Florida Historical Society!

1865 – The state of Florida officially surrendered to the Union, making the end of the Civil War in the state. Earlier that month, on April 4th, Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, thus determining the Union’s victory. Despite this, fighting continued in several places as some troops had not realized the war was over. The news of Lee’s defeat reached Tallahassee in late April, leaving acting governor Abraham K. Allison with no other choice but to surrender on April 26th. On May 10th, Union Brig. Gen. Edward McCook was able to capture the state’s capital city and enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing around 60,000 slaves. Florida was readmitted into the Union three years later on June 25th.

04/11/2026

Come see me and other great exhibitors today!

02/25/2026

Today in Tallahassee History:

On February 25, 1972 James R. Ford (1925-2017) became the first black mayor of Tallahassee, but also the first black mayor of a capital city in the United States. Just a year prior in February of 1971, he was elected to a seat on the city commission, the first black man to be elected to local office in Tallahassee since the end of Reconstruction. A Tallahassee native, Ford attended FAMC (now FAMU) earning a BA and MEd. He served in both the US Army and the US Navy. Ford established a career in the Leon County school system as an educator and administrator prior to entering politics. He spent his life serving the Tallahassee community in a variety of ways, and sat on the boards of several local charitable and civic entities.


Photo Source: https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/154951

02/25/2026

Congratulations to Mission San Luis for being recognized for their hard work and dedication as an open air museum! This space is truly a Tallahassee gem!

Mission San Luis has exciting news!

The votes are in, and USA TODAY 10BEST is pleased to report that
Mission San Luis is a winner in USA Today's 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Open-Air Museum!

The top 10 winners for Best Open-Air Museum are ranked as follows:
1. Plimoth Patuxet Museums
2. Historic Richmond Town
3. Old Sturbridge Village
4. Oconaluftee Indian Village
5. Bodie State Historic Park
6. National Museum of Transportation
7. Mission San Luis
8. Pioneer Museum
9. Hagley Museum and Library
10. Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford

Thank you, everyone! Together we did it!

02/23/2026

Happy Birthday to our downtown LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library! You are such a vital part of the Tallahassee community, and we are grateful for everyone involved! 🎉🎉🎉

02/17/2026

Today in Tallahassee history:
Charles Kenzie Steele was born on this day, February 17, 1914 in West Virginia. After graduating from Morehouse in 1938 he began a career in ministry, and found his way to Tallahassee in 1952 to serve at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. A prominent figure in the Civil Rights movement in Tallahassee, Steele organized the Tallahassee Bus Boycott in 1956 and formed the Inter-Civic Council. He was a founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and served as its first Vice President under Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Steele also served with the NAACP at the local and state levels. Steele passed away in 1980, but his legacy and impact in Tallahassee continues to this day. In 1983, Tallahassee's new downtown bus terminal was dedicated and named after him, and a statue of him was erected there. That statue recently received an upgraded placement and informational plaque. In 2012, Rev. Steele was inducted as a member of the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame.


Image Credits
C. K. Steele in front of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church - Florida Memory https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/34871
C.K. Steele statue at the Tallahassee City Bus Terminal - COCA https://tallahasseearts.org/public-art/c-k-steele-statue/