Most riders came to downtown Tallahassee by late morning, by cab or in the van. The main attraction is the Museum of Florida History, a state museum that's well worth a stop. Everyone who went liked the museum. Current exhibits include:
- artifacts from Spanish shipwrecks along the Florida coast, with a section on how Spanish silver coins were minted in various South American countries
- Florida's involvement in the Civil War (there were Union soldiers from here; the North soon controlled the coastline while inland farms provided meat, salt and hides for the South)
- "naval stores" (resin and turpentine) collecting and distilling from the gum of longleaf and slash pine trees (see photo of cuts on tree stump)
- a friendship quilt made in 1938 by a citrus house packing crew (see photos)
- colorful citrus packing house labels used on crates (see photo), and machinery to sort fruit by size for more efficient packing
- "tin can tourism" (1920's car tourists whose food was in tin cans), including a 1923 Ford Model T truck chassis with an early RV top. In front of the Model T are (left to right) Andre, Carol, Bob Pedersen, Bruce, Bob G, Terry and Linda. (Others were elsewhere in the museum.)
- World War II's impact on the state and the post-war population growth from returning servicemen and women
- 1800's paintings of Florida. These were well-executed and most interesting, as they showed the state in an earlier time. I liked a small Currier and Ives-like painting done by an Army lieutenant in 1864, showing locals outside a fort where Pensacola Naval Air Base is today.
Afterward, Linda, Carol and I walked to the nearby All Saints coffee shop. When we saw the bikes outside, the vibe was good (see photo). The coffee shop was filled with Florida State University students finishing papers and studying for finals. For a study break they could play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the game brought back memories!)
Downtown Tallahassee's high-tech talking pedestrian signs ("Wait ... Wait") can be confusing when on the phone by them. Earlier Linda had called Carol, and thought Carol was saying "Wait ... Wait".
The photo of the Green Bay Packers license plate holder is for Wisconsin riders Bob Plant and Ken. No Jacksonville Jaguars holders sighted yet!
Linda, Bob Pedersen and Bob Plant also visited the Historic State Capitol building. It has been restored to its 1902 state, and describes the state's political history, which is complex. There also is an exhibit on the 2000 presidential election.
The contemporary state government office buildings remind me of Albany, NY: high edifices and yards of vertical and horizontal concrete (see photo of current Capitol). Bob Plant went up to the 22nd floor for a good look around town.
Jerry and Julianne just rolled in. They biked to town and rode through the FSU campus.
We had our map meeting at 5 pm, and will dine locally.
Bruce
