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Media Kit: Trivia

High-Stepping, High-Flying and Highbrow

The first Christmas mass celebrated in the United States was held in Tallahassee. Artifacts recently discovered in an excavation of the Hernando de Soto encampment (1539-1540) are the only archaeological evidence of de Soto's expedition in North America.

You can drive to Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina or South Carolina from Tallahassee in less time it takes to drive from Tallahassee to Key West.

Johnny Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan filmed many of the underwater scenes from the "Tarzan" movies in Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee. Tarzan was probably shaking in his loin cloth since the springs maintain a year-round temperature of 69-71 degrees. Hollywood also chose the crystal clear springs, which puts out 600,000 gallons of water per minute, for scenes in "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "Airport '77."

America's largest concentration of original plantations -- 300,000 acres, 71 plantations -- exists between Tallahassee and Thomasville, Georgia just 28 miles away.

From pow-wows to power-play politics, for more than eight centuries Tallahassee has been recognized as a capital center; first as a ceremonial center of the South for the Mississippian Indians at the Lake Jackson Indian Mounds, later for the Apalachee Indians at San Luis Mission, and then as its better-known position as capital of the Sunshine State, Louisiana's bayous and Great Smoky Mountains are closer to Tallahassee than Miami.

Many Tallahasseeans claim that the city's name means "beautiful land" or "natural beauty," but the truth is a little less glamorous. The name Tallahasse comes from the Apalachee Indian trine meaning "land of the old fields," "abandoned villages" or "old town."

Frenchman Prince Achille Murat, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, married George Washington's great grandniece, Catherine Daingerfield Willis Gray, in the international social event of the 1826 season -- right in Tallahassee. Prince Murat, smitten by Kate's beauty, had wooed her by drinking from her dainty slipper.

CBS's "60 Minutes" and ABC's "20/20" call them "the nation's best" and devote features to them; Life magazine applauds them; The Miami Herald claims them "the most imitated;" they were the only American group invited to perform in France's Bicentennial Bastille celebration; even Coca-Cola and Welch's Grape Juice flaunted their talent on national television spots. Who are they? The incredible Marching 100 Band, the high-stepping innovators of spirited band showmanship from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU).

One of America's most popular Operas -- "Susannah" -- was composed in Tallahassee by Carole Floyd. It premiered in Tallahassee (February 1955) prior to "hitting the big time" at the New York City Opera (September 1957).

The "Greatest College Show on Earth" -- the Flying High Circus -- is the first and most prestigious big top student circus in the United States, part of Florida State University (FSU) since the institution turned co-ed in 1947.

The most recent bones found in Wakulla Springs can be seen in the form of Herman, a 12,000 to 18,000 year old mastodon, that keeps watch over the exhibits in the Museum of Florida History. In his prime, Herman weighed more than 5 tons.

Tallahassee lists 122 properties on the National Register of Historic Places.

Year 2008
For More Media Information
Alice Bonn / Britt Bowles
The Zimmerman Agency
(850) 668-2222
tallahasseepr@zimmerman.com


Media Kit General Overview Meetings Activities Sightseeing Nearby Attractions Dining Just a Glimpse Recreation History Trivia Resources Image Library Archives Search Contact News @lerts Consumer Website	Media Kit: Trivia High-Stepping, High-Flying and Highbrow The first Christmas mass celebrated in the United States was held in Tallahassee. Artifacts recently discovered in an excavation of the Hernando de Soto encampment (1539-1540) are the only archaeological evidence of de Soto's expedition in North America. You can drive to Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina or South Carolina from Tallahassee in less time it takes to drive from Tallahassee to Key West. Johnny Weismuller and Maureen O'Sullivan filmed many of the underwater scenes from the "Tarzan" movies in Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee. Tarzan was probably shaking in his loin cloth since the springs maintain a year-round temperature of 69-71 degrees. Hollywood also chose the crystal clear springs, which puts out 600,000 gallons of water per minute, for scenes in "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "Airport '77." America's largest concentration of original plantations -- 300,000 acres, 71 plantations -- exists between Tallahassee and Thomasville, Georgia just 28 miles away. From pow-wows to power-play politics, for more than eight centuries Tallahassee has been recognized as a capital center; first as a ceremonial center of the South for the Mississippian Indians at the Lake Jackson Indian Mounds, later for the Apalachee Indians at San Luis Mission, and then as its better-known position as capital of the Sunshine State, Louisiana's bayous and Great Smoky Mountains are closer to Tallahassee than Miami. Many Tallahasseeans claim that the city's name means "beautiful land" or "natural beauty," but the truth is a little less glamorous. The name Tallahasse comes from the Apalachee Indian trine meaning "land of the old fields," "abandoned villages" or "old town." Frenchman Prince Achille Murat, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, married George Washington's great grandniece, Catherine Daingerfield Willis Gray, in the international social event of the 1826 season -- right in Tallahassee. Prince Murat, smitten by Kate's beauty, had wooed her by drinking from her dainty slipper. CBS's "60 Minutes" and ABC's "20/20" call them "the nation's best" and devote features to them; Life magazine applauds them; The Miami Herald claims them "the most imitated;" they were the only American group invited to perform in France's Bicentennial Bastille celebration; even Coca-Cola and Welch's Grape Juice flaunted their talent on national television spots. Who are they? The incredible Marching 100 Band, the high-stepping innovators of spirited band showmanship from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). One of America's most popular Operas -- "Susannah" -- was composed in Tallahassee by Carole Floyd. It premiered in Tallahassee (February 1955) prior to "hitting the big time" at the New York City Opera (September 1957). The "Greatest College Show on Earth" -- the Flying High Circus -- is the first and most prestigious big top student circus in the United States, part of Florida State University (FSU) since the institution turned co-ed in 1947. The most recent bones found in Wakulla Springs can be seen in the form of Herman, a 12,000 to 18,000 year old mastodon, that keeps watch over the exhibits in the Museum of Florida History. In his prime, Herman weighed more than 5 tons. Tallahassee lists 122 properties on the National Register of Historic Places.
	Year 2008 For More Media Information Alice Bonn / Britt Bowles The Zimmerman Agency (850) 668-2222 tallahasseepr@zimmerman.com