the visitor’s guide to the florida capitol

The VisitFloridaCapitol.com

Visitor’s Guide to the Florida

Capitol

The VisitFloridaCapitol.com Visitor’s Guide to the Florida Capitol presented by VISIT

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Contents Welcome .................................................................................................................................................................. 4

Capitol Information .................................................................................................................................................. 5

Times of Operation............................................................................................................................................... 5

State Holidays Closed .......................................................................................................................................... 5

Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................................................. 6

Capitol Grounds Map ........................................................................................................................................... 9

Artwork in the Capitol ........................................................................................................................................ 10

Your Event at the Capitol ................................................................................................................................... 10

Security .............................................................................................................................................................. 11

Condition of Entry .......................................................................................................................................... 11

Viewing the Legislative Session ......................................................................................................................... 12

Security Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................ 12

Driving Directions .............................................................................................................................................. 13

Parking ............................................................................................................................................................... 14

Bus Parking ........................................................................................................................................................ 15

Downtown Map .................................................................................................................................................. 16

Accessibility ....................................................................................................................................................... 17

Welcome Center ................................................................................................................................................. 18

Capitol Giftshop ................................................................................................................................................. 19

Cafeteria & Snack Bar ........................................................................................................................................ 19

Other Activities .................................................................................................................................................. 20

Downtown Area ............................................................................................................................................. 20

Tallahassee Area ............................................................................................................................................ 20

History of the Capitol ............................................................................................................................................. 21

Meet the Architect: Edward Durrell Stone ......................................................................................................... 22

Touring the Capitol ................................................................................................................................................ 23

Guided Tours ...................................................................................................................................................... 23

Schedule Your Tour ....................................................................................................................................... 23

Tour Requirements ......................................................................................................................................... 24

PRESENTED BY


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Delays and Cancellations ............................................................................................................................... 24

Where to Meet ................................................................................................................................................ 24

Entrance and Exit Procedures ............................................................................................................................. 25

Decorum ............................................................................................................................................................. 26

Visiting the Legislature ...................................................................................................................................... 27

Meet Your Legislator ......................................................................................................................................... 27

Touring Tips ....................................................................................................................................................... 28

Advice for Chaperones ................................................................................................................................... 29

Self-Guided Tours .............................................................................................................................................. 29

Self-Guide Tour Sheet ........................................................................................................................................ 30

The Capitol Grounds ...................................................................................................................................... 30

The Plaza Level .............................................................................................................................................. 31

The Florida House of Representatives ............................................................................................................ 35

The Florida Senate.......................................................................................................................................... 37

The Observation Deck .................................................................................................................................... 39

The Cabinet Meeting Room ........................................................................................................................... 40

Learn about Florida ................................................................................................................................................ 41

State Facts .......................................................................................................................................................... 41

Geographical Facts ......................................................................................................................................... 41

Population Facts ............................................................................................................................................. 42

Government Facts .......................................................................................................................................... 42

History ............................................................................................................................................................ 43

State Symbols ..................................................................................................................................................... 45

Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................................................. 45

Geology .......................................................................................................................................................... 45

Flora ............................................................................................................................................................... 45

Fauna .............................................................................................................................................................. 46

Food & Beverages .......................................................................................................................................... 46

Events ............................................................................................................................................................. 46

Culture ............................................................................................................................................................ 47

Capitol Facts ...................................................................................................................................................... 48

Capitol Quiz ........................................................................................................................................................... 50

State Quiz ............................................................................................................................................................... 52

Government Quiz ................................................................................................................................................... 54


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Capitol Quiz Answers ............................................................................................................................................ 56

State Quiz Answers ................................................................................................................................................ 57

Government Quiz Answers .................................................................................................................................... 58


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Welcome Dear Visitor:

On behalf the people of the great state of Florida,

we welcome to the Florida Capitol.

We invite you to explore and learn about our

Capitol, home to Florida's Executive and

Legislative branches.

If you haven’t already, we hope this guide will

inspire you to come and visit the Capitol in person.

Sincerely,

The VisitFloridaCapitol.com Staff


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Capitol Information

Times of Operation The Capitol is open weekdays Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. It is closed

on weekends and State Holidays. By extension, these times of operation also apply to the Knott

Building and the House and Senate Office Buildings.

All hours are subject to change without prior notice.

State Holidays Closed The Capitol is closed for the following state holidays:

New Year's Day

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Friday after Thanksgiving

Christmas Day

If any of these holidays fall on Saturday, the preceding Friday is observed as a holiday. When a holiday

falls on Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a holiday.

Occasionally, the Capitol may also be closed due to Executive, Legislation, and/or Security action.


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Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the function of the Capitol?

2. Who designed the Capitol?

3. When did the Legislature first meet in the New Capitol?

4. When was the New Capitol dedicated?

5. How long did take to build the New Capitol?

6. How much did it cost to build the Capitol?

7. Is there any symbolic significance to the grillwork on the outside of the Capitol?

8. Is anyone buried in the Capitol?

9. How can I obtain a flag that has flown at the Capitol?

10. How many floors are in the Capitol?

11. What can be found on each of the floors?

12. How high up is the observation deck on the 22nd floor?

13. What materials are the public areas made of?

14. What is the estimated working life of the New Capitol?

15. How many people are in the Capitol on an average workday?

16. How long does a Legislative session last?

17. What is the total square footage?

18. How much and what kind of materials were used in the building the Capitol?

19. How many bathrooms, doors, and elevators?

20. How do I arrange a mock session?

21. What is the function of the Capitol?

1. What is the function of the Capitol?

The Capitol houses the meeting chambers of the Florida Legislature, the House of

Representatives in the north wing and the Senate in the south wing. Together with the two

Legislative Office Buildings, it includes the offices for the Legislature. The Capitol also holds

the offices of the Governor, Lt. Governor and the Cabinet.

2. Who designed the Capitol?

The Capitol was designed by a joint venture of Edward Durell Stone of New York and Reynolds,

Smith and Hills of Jacksonville.

3. When did the Legislature first meet in the New Capitol?

The first legislative session in the New Capitol was in 1978. Opening day of session was April 4,

1978.


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4. When was the New Capitol dedicated?

March 31, 1978.

5. How long did take to build the New Capitol?

Construction on the Capitol began November 8, 1973. The Capitol was declared completed on

August 19, 1977. This works out to1,016 days. Over 3,200,000 man-hours of labor were

required.

6. How much did it cost to build the Capitol?

The total construction amount was $45,028,079. The building itself cost $43,070,741 with an

additional $1,957,338 committed to landscaping Waller Park.

7. Is there any symbolic significance to the grillwork on the outside of the Capitol?

No. The grillwork was Edward Durell Stone's signature late in his architectural career.

8. Is anyone buried in the Capitol?

No. Some government officials have lain in state at the Old Capitol such as Gov. Lawton Chiles,

Sen. Pat Thomas, and Gov. Daniel McCarthy.

9. How can I obtain a flag that has flown at the Capitol?

A flag can be obtained by contacting Department of State at (850) 245-6500.

10. How many floors are in the Capitol?

Despite being referred to as a 22-story building. There are three floors below ground and twenty-

two above.

11. What can be found on each of the floors?

The first five stories of the Capitol contain the offices of the Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

members, Legislative officers, and committee rooms. The west side of the Plaza Level contains

the Capitol Welcome Center, the Heritage Chapel, and the Rosenquist murals. The east side of

the Plaza Level or rotunda has the Great Seal of the State of Florida, three " Florida Halls of

Fame ", and a memorial to Florida's Medal of Honor recipients. The remaining floors, with the

exception of the enclosed observation deck on the 22nd floor and the snack bar on the 10thfloor,

are state government offices. Two of three underground floors are parking levels. The other floor

is the Lower Level. The Lower Level houses the Cabinet Meeting Room, government offices and

the Cafeteria.

12. How high up is the observation deck on the 22nd floor?

The observation deck rises 307 feet from the entrance on the Plaza Level. The 22nd floor is also

512 feet above sea level.

13. What materials are the public areas made of?

The walls of the public areas are covered with travertine marble imported from Italy. The floors

in these areas are terrazzo.


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14. What is the estimated working life of the New Capitol?

The working life is estimated at 100 years.

15. How many people are in the Capitol on an average workday?

The number of people in the Capitol during a normal workday is 1,500. During the Legislative

session, this number increases to over 5,000.

16. How long does legislative session last?

The regular Legislative session runs for 60 consecutive days. Regular session begins on the first

Tuesday after the first Monday in March in odd numbered years. In even numbered years,

regular session can begin earlier at the request of the Legislature. The Legislature will start

session early when re-apportionment is needed. Special sessions, which can last up to a

maximum of 20 days, occur at the order of the Governor or joint proclamation by the Speaker of

the House and Senate President.

17. What is the total square footage?

718,000 total square footage. This is equal to approximately 400 homes.

18. How much and what kind of materials were used in the building the Capitol?

3,700 tons of Structural Steel. 2,800 tons of Reinforcing Steel. 25,000 cubic yards of concrete.

This is equal to 16 football fields, 1 foot think OR a 5-foot wide, 4-inch thick sidewalk, 77miles

long. 12,000 square feet of Walnut Paneling. 12,000 gallons of paint. 62,000 square feet or 1.5

acres of marble. 60,000square yards of carpet. 92,000 square feet of terrazzo. 30 miles of

telephone cable. 250 miles of electrical wire.

19. How many bathrooms, doors, and elevators?

11 private bathrooms with showers and 66 public restrooms. Over 2,000 doors. 14 elevators.

Two special elevators run between the Lower Level and the 4th floor. The remaining 12

elevators are known as the Elevator Bank. The Elevator Bank is located on the Plaza Level

between the Florida Welcome Center and the Rotunda. The Front Four elevators, located

adjacent to the Rotunda, run from Parking to the 5th floor. Six of the remaining eight elevators

are linked together. Four of these six travel between the Lower Level and 19th Floor. The fifth

elevator runs from the Lower Level to the 22nd Floor. The sixth elevator, the freight elevator,

goes between Parking and 21st Floor. One of the two remaining elevators runs from the Lower

Level to the 3rd floor and 16th floor to the 22nd floor. The other elevator goes between the

Lower Level to the 3rd floor and 16th floor to the 21stfloor.

20. How do I arrange a mock session?

In order to use the Chamber, you must contact your Legislator. The Legislator's Office will make

the appropriate arraignments. Please note no mock sessions will be scheduled during the last two

weeks.


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Capitol Grounds Map


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Artwork in the Capitol The Capitol has both permanent and temporary art displays. On the

lower floors of the Capitol and Legislative Office Buildings are

photographs from Florida's history. These images from Florida's

Photographic Archives are on permanent display. They were chosen

and placed by Florida Legislative Research Center.

The rotating display areas within the Capitol Grounds include the 22nd

Floor Capitol Gallery, Cabinet Meeting Room, and Gallery at the

Historic Capitol. The Capitol Gallery and Cabinet Meeting Room are

managed by the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs which is part of

the Florida Department of State. Cultural Affairs maintains an

exhibition calendar (http://www.florida-arts.org/calendar/exhibitions)

on their website. The Historic Capitol Gallery is operated by the

Florida Legislative Research Center. Information on the current

display (http://www.flrcm.gov/gallery.cfm) is available at the FLRC's

website.

Your Event at the Capitol In order to reserve space for your event at the Capitol, please contact the Department of Management

Services at (850) 488-5332. Events forms and guidelines are available on online at the Capitol Complex

Events page

(http://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/real_estate_development_management/facilities_

management/capitol_complex_events). Areas available for reservation are the Front Steps of the

Historic Capitol, Capitol Courtyard, Plaza Level Rotunda, Waller Park, and the west wing of the 22nd

Floor.

The Capitol Gallery is handled by Florida Division of

Cultural Affairs. Information is available on their site

(http://www.florida-arts.org/programs/cce).

In addition, the Legislative Porticos and Rotunda areas

(the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors) are available. Contact

Nikki Scott ([email protected]) for the

House side and Laura Van Blaricum

([email protected]) for the Senate.

The Historic Capitol Museum interior is available.

Please call the Museum at (850) 487-1902.


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Security Visitor access is either from the West (near the Florida Heritage

Fountain) or the East (across from the Old Capitol). Visitors in

wheelchairs may use the East Entrance via the Courtyard to enter

the Capitol. The Old Capitol can be entered using the handicap

entrance located on the north side of the West Portico of the Old

Capitol. When the Legislature is in session, the Legislative office

buildings are accessible from the Courtyard. The House Office

Building's entrance is on the south side of the building facing the

Courtyard. The Senate Office Building entrance is on the north side

towards the Courtyard.

Always allow time for possible delays for security processing when

visiting the Capitol.

Condition of Entry For security reasons, access to the Capitol (and by extension the House and Senate Office Buildings and

the Knott Building) is conditional upon consent to search.

All persons must go through the detection aisle and must present purses, packages, and other objects for

separate inspection. Laptops, tablets, and related items must be removed from their cases and presented

for inspection. Further search may be required.

No weapons or other hazards allowed.

No sealed envelopes or packages allowed.

Items may not be delivered or left behind.

Once visitors have exited the Capitol, re-entry will require reprocessing.

You do have right to refuse any or all of these security screening procedures. However, entry to the

building will be denied.

Security is handled by Capitol Police. For additional information, please visit the Capitol Police section

(http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/Capitol-Police/Capitol-Police-Home.aspx) of the FDLE website

(http://www.fdle.state.fl.us).


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Viewing the Legislative Session The Florida Legislature normally convenes its annual

regular session on the first Monday after the first Tuesday

in March. In even numbered years, the Legislature can

move this date forward. This is usually done when the

Legislature has to deal with reapportionment. Regular

session lasts for 60 consecutive days. Special Sessions can

last up to 20 days. They are convened at request of the

Governor or Joint Proclamation by the Speaker of the

House and Senate President.

If you or group wishes to observe the Legislature after the completion of the tour, please refer to the

following guidelines:

Gallery seating is limited and availability is dependent upon the length of the daily session and the

number of visitors seeking admittance.

Teachers who wish to visit the viewing gallery of the House or Senate chambers should inform the staff

outside the galleries and notify them of the number of students in their group. It may be necessary to

wait before entering.

Once inside, most groups allow 15 minutes to observe the lawmakers in action.

Students should be reminded that important state business is being conducted in each chamber.

All visitors to the galleries must remain seated and quiet and may not applaud.

All phones, pagers, and other electronic devices must be turned off before entering gallery.

No one is allowed to lean over the gallery railing from the first row.

Flash photography is not allowed in the gallery.

Meeting Schedules

The schedule of legislative meetings for the Senate and House of Representatives is continuously

updated during session.

Security Guidelines Individuals visiting the Capitol or viewing galleries will be asked to pass through metal detectors and all

personal belongings will be searched. Due to these security measures currently in place, it is strongly

suggested that all non-essential personal items be left in your vehicle.


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Driving Directions For GPS devices, the Capitol Grounds’ physical address is 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee,

Florida 32399 and the map coordinates are Latitude:30.439291° and

Longitude:-84.280904°.The following are basic directions from select

entry points to Tallahassee to the Capitol.

FROM THE AIRPORT: Upon exiting the airport turn RIGHT on

Capitol Circle and continue EAST to Crawfordville Road. Turn LEFT

onto Crawfordville Road and continue NORTH, it becomes Monroe

Street. Stay on Monroe Street. The Capitol Grounds will be on the left.

FROM I-10 (EXIT 199): Use Exit 199 SOUTHBOUND (Monroe Street) to leave I-10. Stay on Monroe

Street. The Capitol Grounds will be on the right.

FROM US 90: Continue WEST on US 90 (Mahan Drive/Tennessee Street) to Monroe Street. Turn

LEFT onto Monroe Street and continue SOUTH. The Capitol Grounds will be on the right.

FROM I-10 (EXIT

209A): Use Exit

209A

WESTBOUND (US

90) to leave I-10.

Stay on US 90

(Mahan

Drive/Tennessee

Street) to Monroe

Street. Turn LEFT

onto Monroe Street

and continue

SOUTH. The

Capitol Grounds

will be on the right.

FROM US 27

SOUTH: Continue

WEST on US 27

(Apalachee

Parkway) to Monroe

Street. The Capitol

Grounds will be

straight ahead.


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Parking When coming to visit the Capitol grounds, there are a

number of factors that may affect parking. Time of day is

important. Besides regular session, the Legislature holds

committee meetings and Special Sessions throughout the

year. There will also be times when special events will take

place downtown cutting off access to some parking areas

and streets. Before visiting the Capitol check the Legislative

Calendars at the Florida House of Representatives

(http://www.myfloridahouse.gov) and Florida Senate

(http://www.flsenate.gov) and the Calendar of Events at the Tallahassee Area Convention & Visitors

Bureau's website (http://www.visittallahassee.com) to get an idea of what is happening at Capitol and

downtown Tallahassee.

Visitor parking in the Capitol area is limited to either metered street spaces or designated lots. The City

of Tallahassee manages two parking garages (Kleman Plaza and Eastside Parking Garage) and one

surface lot (near Duval and Gaines). The Department of Management Services handles two lots (Lot E

and Lot 4). Spaces for visitors with disabilities are located on west side of the House Office Building in

the north side loading zone. There are more spaces located in the parking lot south of the Knott

Building. If parking outside these lots in a non-metered spot, please insure the spot is marked for visitor

parking. Cars parked in employee spaces will be towed.

Kleman Plaza is an underground garage located northwest of the Capitol. Entrances are located on

Duval Street and Borough Street. The Eastside Parking Garage is located on Calhoun Street. The

entrance is on Calhoun Street. Cost information for the city-owned parking facilities can found on the

City of Tallahassee's website (https://www.talgov.com/pm/pm-parkingfacilities.aspx).

Lot E is located off Borough Street adjacent to the Museum of Florida History. Lot 4 is located behind

the Vietnam Vetrens Memorial off Calhoun Street. Information on lot charges and the locations of other

lots near additional state government buildings is located on the DMS website

(http://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/real_estate_development_and_management/faciliti

es_management/parking_services/capitol_center_parking).


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Bus Parking The Bus Loading Zone is located on the right curb of Duval

Street in front of the Capitol. The Loading Zone is for loading

and unloading only and available on a first-come, first-serve

basis. Double parking is prohibited. Buses should never be left

unattended. An unmanned bus will be ticketed and/or towed.


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Downtown Map


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Accessibility All restrooms and water fountains are wheelchair accessible.

The Legislature provides wheelchair spaces are in the viewing

galleries for the House and Senate and all legislative committee

rooms. The paths leading to the points of interest on the Capitol

grounds are paved.

Visitor access is either from the West (near the Florida Heritage

Fountain) or the East (across from the Old Capitol). Visitors in

wheelchairs may use the East Entrance via the Courtyard to

enter the Capitol. The Old Capitol can be entered using the

handicap entrance located on the north side of the West Portico

of the Old Capitol.

There are three bridges for travel between the Capitol, House Office Building, Senate Office Building,

and the Knott Building. When the Legislature is in session, the Legislative office buildings are

accessible from the Courtyard. The House Office Building's entrance is on the south side of the building

facing the Courtyard. The Senate Office Building entrance is on the north side towards the Courtyard.


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Welcome Center The Capitol Welcome Center is open Monday through

Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For holiday hours and tours,

please inquire at (850) 488-6167. Information about

Florida and the Capitol is available from the Welcome

Center. Weekday guided tours are available for large

groups by contacting the Welcome Center for

availability. Self-guided tours are also available.

Bookings for guided tours during the months of March,

April and May should be made several months in

advance.

The Capitol Welcome Center was opened in 1972 in the Old Capitol building and moved to the New

Capitol building in 1977. It is located on the West Plaza Level in the Capitol. The Capitol Welcome

Center is one of five Official Florida Welcome Centers. The others are I-10 (Pensacola), U.S. 231

(Campbellton), I-75 (Jennings) and I-95 (Yulee).

Official Florida Welcome Centers have a long history,

extending back to the opening in 1949 of the U.S.

Highway 17 Yulee Welcome Center. Florida was one

of the first states to establish highway Welcome

Centers. The Official Florida Welcome Centers are

operated by VISIT FLORIDA. The Official Florida

Welcome Centers are designed to provide visitors with

a vast assortment of information incorporating general

and specific material on travel, highways, sports,

climate, resort areas, cities, outdoor recreation and attractions. Since opening, the Florida Welcome

Centers have distributed more than 200 million maps and brochures to the more than 90 million visitors

who stopped at the centers upon arriving in the state of Florida. Tourism is big business in Florida. In

fact, it's the biggest business, with a larger economic impact than any other single private sector

industry. And it's not just those directly involved in the tourism business that benefit from a healthy,

growing tourism industry. Visitors to Florida generate tax revenues that help pay for things that benefit

all Floridians, such as schools, law enforcement, road improvements and many other public needs. The

presence of visitors is helping make the quality of life better for everyone who calls Florida home.

VISIT FLORIDA is the official tourism marketing organization of Florida and the service company for

the Florida Commission on Tourism, a private/public partnership established by the Florida Legislature

to promote the state as the world's premier visitor destination.


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Capitol Giftshop The Florida's History Shop is located on the West Plaza Level and open Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 4

p.m.

Florida's History Shop provides visitors with a variety of

Capitol and Florida related items. An outstanding

selection of books, postcards, apparel, including Florida

ties and jewelry, toys and games, Seminole crafts,

artwork by Florida artisans, and other souvenirs are

available in a wide range of prices. The shop is located

on the west side of the Plaza Level of the Capitol with

additional stores at the Historic Capitol and Museum of

Florida History. For more information, or to shop online,

visit the Florida's History Shop website

(www.floridashistoryshop.com).

Cafeteria & Snack Bar Sharkey's Cafe at the Capitol is located on the north side of the Lower Level. They offer a variety of

food choices. It is available to the general public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Until 4

p.m. during legislative session days as requested. Box lunches are available for groups. Please call (850)

224-3353 for more information.

Sharkey's also operates a snack bar on the tenth floor. The

hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3

p.m. (until 4 p.m. during legislative session). These hours

may be subject to change during the various holiday seasons.

There are vending machines strategically situated throughout

the Capitol. In addition, there are many restaurants

conveniently located in the downtown area. Information on

these options can be obtained either from the Capitol

Welcome Center on the day of your visit.


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Other Activities While visiting the Capitol, be sure to check out other local attractions. For convenience, some links are

provided below.

Downtown Area Historic Capitol

Museum of Florida History

Florida Supreme Court

Challenger Learning Center/IMAX

Florida's Vietnam War Memorial

Florida's World War II Memorial

Tallahassee Area Florida's Korean War Memorial

Governor's Mansion

Tallahassee Museum

Mission San Luis

Goodwood Museum & Gardens

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park

Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park

Edwall Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

Additional information on local attractions can found by the Tallahassee Area Visitor Bureau by visiting

www.VisitTallahassee.com.


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History of the Capitol The New Capitol is the fourth building to serve as Florida's

capitol building. The first Capitol was a log cabin built in

1824with the establishment of Tallahassee as territorial capital.

In1826, a two-story frame structure replaced the first Capitol. The

third Capitol was begun in 1839 and completed by 1845. This

Capitol was expanded four times. Twice there has been debate to

relocate the Capitol. In 1900, relocation was actually placed on

the ballot, but it was voted down.

In 1969, the Governor and the Cabinet approved the plans for a

New Capitol when it was determined the Old Capitol could no

longer accommodate the state government and the legislators.

Debate on relocation resurfaced in the early 1970's. Relocation

never made it to the ballot, but it was a passionate debate

nonetheless. A plaque affixed to the north wall facing the main

elevators symbolizes the struggle for the New Capitol. The plaque

reads: "This plaque is dedicated to Senator Lee Weissenborn

whose valiant effort to move the Capitol to Orlando was the prime

motivation for the construction of this building." The architects

and engineers for this project were Edward Durell Stone of New York and the firm of Reynolds, Smith

and Hills of Jacksonville. Instead of the traditional brick and column, a design reflective of modern

Florida was chosen. The Capitol complex is done in "New Classicism" style.

The complex consists of three structures - a 22-storyhigh-rise

tower with two Legislative office buildings. These buildings, the

House Office Building on the north side and the Senate Office

Building on the south, are connected by skywalks to New

Capitol. A third skywalk connects the Capitol to the Knott

Building. The tower design of the New Capitol is not unique.

Three other state Capitols use the tower design (Louisiana,

Nebraska, and North Dakota). Construction of the New Capitol

began on November 8, 1973 and was declared finished on

August 19, 1977. To insure that there would no "mortgage" on

this new building, the$43,070,741 price tag was paid before the first cornerstone was laid. An additional

$1,957,338 was committed to landscaping the west front area. This area is known as Waller Park. It was

named after Judge Curtis L. Walter of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals. Upon the New

Capitol's completion, restoration on the "Old" Capitol was begun. The "Old" or "Historic" Capitol was

refurbished to the way it looked in 1902. Herschel Shepard, a restoration architect, was quoted as saying

"the Old Capitol will be like a jewel worn by the New." The Old Capitol now serves as a museum called

"the Florida Center for Political History and Governance".


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Meet the Architect: Edward Durrell Stone Edward Durrell Stone was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas on March

9, 1902. He attended the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville from

1920 to 1923 before moving to Boston, Massachusetts. While in

Boston, he studied at the Boston Architectural Club, Harvard

University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1927,

he won the prestigious Rotch Travelling Fellowship (now called the

Rotch Travelling Scholarship), which afforded him the opportunity to

travel throughout Europe and North Africa for two years.

Upon his return, he moved to New York City. He designed the main

lobby and grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, assisted on

the Rockefeller Center project, and was the principal designer on

Radio City Music Hall. In 1933, he received his first independent

commission from Richard Mandel. This led to him to be selected as the design architect, in association

with Philip Goodwin, for the Museum of Modern Art. During World War II, he was the Chief of the

Planning and Design Section for the U.S. Army Air Forces.

After the war, he reopened his firm. He also served as the Chief Design Critic and Associate Professor

of Architecture at the Yale University. In 1955, the New York Chapter of the American Institute of

Architects awarded Stone the Medal of Honor. Some of the buildings Stone would design in the next

two decades include the Stanford University Medical Center (Palo Alto), the Gallery of Modern Art

(New York City), the National Geographic Society headquarters (Washington DC), the John F. Kennedy

Center for the Performing Arts (Washington DC), the Standard Oil building (Chicago), the Pakistan

Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (Islamabad), and the Florida State Capitol (Tallahassee).

He died in New York City on August 6, 1978.


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Touring the Capitol

Guided Tours

Schedule Your Tour Weekday guided tours are available for large groups by contacting the Welcome Center. Bookings for

guided tours during the months of March, April, and May should be made several months in advance.

Tours are scheduled on a first come, first serve

basis. Scheduling of tour does not guarantee a

guide will be available. When the tour guide is

unavailable because of extenuating

circumstances, the Welcome Center assumes no

liability. Groups do not need to schedule a tour to

visit the Capitol. However, it is strongly

recommended that they inform the Welcome

Center of their intention to visit. This assures the

visiting group will aware of all security concerns.

Tour reservations for next year's legislative session are not taken until after August 1st of that year (i.e.

reservations for the 2011 regular session are taken beginning August 1, 2010). Otherwise, tours are not

scheduled any more than six months in advance. A tour cannot be schedule without at least seven days’

notice.

The best time for school groups (especially 4th thru 7th grades) to visit the Capitol is when the

Legislature is not in session. It is easier to visit the Capitol. There is less chaos to interfere with the

group and the tour guide.

The Welcome Center is responsible for tours of the Capitol only. They can be reached by calling (850)

488-6167. The phone is staffed from Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., excluding state

holidays. After hours, please leave a voice mail message with your contact information.


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Tour Requirements Each tour must have at least 15 people. No group can be larger than 50 people, including the

chaperones.

School groups must contain one chaperone for every ten kids. When the group becomes larger than 50,

the excess will be assigned to a self-guided tour.

Guided tours are provided where the entire group is Fourth Grade and above.

The following times are available Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and

2:00 p.m.

You cannot schedule a tour on Saturdays, Sundays, or State Holidays.

You must inform the Welcome Center whenever any changes are made to your group.

Group Information to Provide

Name of Group or School

Their age and/or grade level

Size of the Group (15 min - 50 max [includes chaperones])

Contact Person(s) with contact number(s) and email address (if available)

Date and Time would like to schedule. Alternate dates or times should be kept in mind if primary date or

time is already booked.

Any special needs the group has.

Delays and Cancellations In cases of cancellation, please contact the Welcome Center at (850) 488-6167 as soon as possible.

Groups that fail to show up on time will lose that much time from their tour or cancelled. Always allow

enough time to go through the security check-in. If you are going to be more than ten minutes late,

please call 850 488-6167 to notify the Welcome Center. During the peak period of March, April, and

May; if groups arrive more than 15 minutes past your scheduled tour time without contacting the

Welcome Center, the tour time may be forfeited.

Where to Meet The tour begins at the Florida Welcome Center. The Welcome Center is located on the west side of the

Plaza Level.


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Entrance and Exit Procedures Due to new security procedures, groups visiting the Old Capitol are encouraged to travel around the

New Capitol to avoid unnecessary delays.

Before entering the Capitol, the group coordinator

must check in with the staff at the Florida Welcome

Center. While the coordinator is talking with

Welcome Staff, the group should remain outside the

Capitol until directed to enter. On occasion, a group

may be delayed in entering the Capitol if the

capacity of entry area is exceeded.

During the time the group is waiting outside the

Capitol, no one is to climb on monuments or trees.

They should also remain off the grass and

flowerbeds. No one should climb in or on the fountain in Waller Park. All trash must be thrown in the

proper receptacle, not on the ground or in the fountain. The traffic barricades are not to be walked on or

touched by visitors.

Upon entering the Capitol, visitors must enter through a metal detector. All backpacks, purses, and

packages are to be scanned by an x-ray machine. Persons with sealed envelopes or wrapped packages

will be prevented from entering. Capitol Police are required to examine any electronic device brought

into the Capitol. Sticks, knives or any other items that can be considered as weapons are not allowed in

the Capitol. Students are not to bring backpacks, purses, cell phones, handheld games, beepers, pagers,

radios, headphones, pocketknives or any other similar items or hazards into the Capitol. School groups

should take these procedures into account and adjust their arrival time accordingly.

Restroom facilities, on the first floor of the New Capitol, are available to the group at this time.

However, a large group may be directed to facilities on another floor.

Upon completion of the tour, the group will be directed to the appropriate exit.


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Decorum Please remember that the New Capitol is a working

building. To insure a pleasant and safe New Capitol

experience, please advise your group of the


Respect should be shown to the Welcome Center

staff and visitors.

Visitors should be respectful of the Capitol &

Welcome Center property by not touching

furnishings, paintings or statues.

Take a restroom break before your scheduled tour time begins. Restrooms located on every floor of

the Capitol.

Teachers and adult supervisors are responsible for the discipline and safety of their students throughout

the tour.

When the group is moving around the New Capitol it is important to do so in a quiet and orderly

fashion. Students should not run in the New Capitol public areas, hallways or stairwells. They should

not lean over any balcony railing. In order to minimize hallway and stairwell congestion, the group

should stay to the right and in single file. Students will be invited by the tour guide to touch those items

in the New Capitol that are touchable.

Noise must be kept to a minimum. All conversation should be kept at whisper level. Excess noise and

rowdiness could result in termination of the tour and a request for the group to leave the New Capitol.

Food, gum, beverages, and the use of electronic devices such as earphones or cellular telephones are not

permitted while on tour.

No storage is available for groups to leave belongings, lunches, ice chests, etc. Plans should be made for

the retrieval of these items from the bus or other vehicles.

Cameras are allowed in the Capitol tour area. While in a chamber viewing gallery area, visitors are not

allowed to use flash attachments to photograph the legislature. Flash photography of the Legislature is

prohibited. However, students who have cameras that will function with available light may photograph

the House and Senate chambers.

Due to nature of the New Capitol, there will times when certain areas will have their access limited.

Also, security procedures may be modified from time to time. Group members should do their best not

to violate the new procedures and create an unpleasant situation.


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Visiting the Legislature The Florida Legislature normally convenes its

annual regular session on the first Monday after the

first Tuesday in March. In even numbered years,

the Legislature can move this date forward. This is

usually done when the Legislature has to deal with

reapportionment. Regular session lasts for 60

consecutive days.

If you or group wishes to observe the Legislature

after the completion of the tour, please refer to the


Gallery seating is limited and availability is dependent upon the length of the daily session and the

number of visitors seeking admittance.

Teachers who wish to visit the viewing gallery of the House or Senate chambers should inform the staff

outside the galleries and notify them of the number of students in their group. It may be necessary to

wait before entering.

Once inside, most groups allow 15 minutes to observe the lawmakers in action.

Students should be reminded that important state business is being conducted in each chamber.

All visitors to the galleries must remain seated and quiet and may not applaud.

All phones, pagers, and other electronic devices must be turned off before entering gallery.

No one is allowed to lean over the gallery railing from the first row.

Flash photography is not allowed in the gallery.

Meet Your Legislator School staff are encouraged to set up a time and place to meet their

legislators before or after the scheduled tour time. Any time spent

waiting will be subtracted from the allocated tour time. Find the

contact information for the members of the Florida Legislature at the

links below:

The Florida Senate: http://www.flsenate.gov

The Florida House of Representatives: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov


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Touring Tips Schedule early. Scheduling tours for the next year

begins the first weekday in August. By December,

most of the prime times for the Spring/Legislative

Session are taken. Spring is Field Trip Season.

If cancelling tour, please let the Florida Welcome

Center know by calling (850) 488-6167.

There are two public entrances to the capitol. They

are the Eastside entrance which faces the Historic

Capitol (this is the handicapped entrance) and the

Westside entrance which is opposite the Florida Supreme Court and Duval Street.

Be aware of security procedures. Even if you've visited before, it is always best to be aware of the most

recent and up-to-date security information.

Arrive on time. Allow at least 15 minutes to be processed through security. Even if not part of a group, it

is possible to end up behind one entering the building. Items confiscated will NOT be returned.

It's helpful if groups leave all bags and backpacks on the buses. If you don't need it; don't bring it.

Group leaders should check in with the Welcome Center just inside the West Plaza Level.

Incorporate time into the day's activities for restroom breaks. It is important to be on time for the tour,

not only to maintain your schedule for the day, but to avoid delays for other scheduled groups.

For the safety of all and quality tour purposes, group size is limited to 45 (total of students and

chaperones combined) for each tour group scheduled.

For groups of 45 or more consider "flipping" with the Historic Capitol. This entails dividing your group

in half and sending half to the Capitol and half to the Historic Capitol and then switching after each tour.

Tours of the Capitol generally last from 45-60 minutes.

Please have one adult for every 10 students.

The Bus Loading Zone is located on the right curb of Duval Street in front of the Capitol. The Loading

Zone is for loading and unloading only and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Double parking is

prohibited. Buses should never be left unattended. An unmanned bus will be ticket and/or towed.

Visitors in automobiles may park at street meters or Kleman Plaza Parking Garage, which charges a

nominal fee.

Do not leave coolers next to a trash can. They will be discarded.


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Advice for Chaperones Your role is very important and insures that the Capitol visit is an enjoyable and educational experience

for all.

Tour size depends on the size of the class, but you will be responsible for 10 students within the group.

Introduce yourself to your group and ask the group members to remain close to you at all times.

Please advise the school trip coordinator, if you plan to bring younger children.

Lead by example. Your group will take “cues” from you on what is and is not appropriate Capitol

behavior.

Help to make sure that no one lags behind the group, as this slows the tour down and creates problems

for the next group trying to use that area.

Encourage your group to ask questions when the tour guide asks for them.

Enjoy the tour yourself. Your enthusiasm contributes directly to the success of the visit.

Self-Guided Tours Self-guided tours of the Capitol can occur Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

excluding any weekday holidays. A Capitol Brochure is available from the Welcome Center. It is a

4.25" x 11" four-fold brochure that includes the Self-Guided Tour Sheet, a Brief History of the Capitol,

and Welcome Center Information.


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Self-Guide Tour Sheet Welcome. Construction of the Capitol began in 1973 and was completed in 1977. You will begin in the

Courtyard between the Old Capitol and New Capitol.

The Capitol Grounds The Capitol Grounds is home to five buildings. They are the Capitol, the

House and Senate Office Buildings, the Knott Building, and the Old Capitol.

The Capitol has been located in Tallahassee since 1824. The Historic Capitol

was restored to its 1902 version, primarily because that is when the dome was

added to the building. For many Floridians, the dome is a familiar symbol of

state government. The art glass "sub dome" allows light into the rotunda. The

Old Capitol underwent restoration from 1978-1982, when it opened as a museum site of the Museum of

Florida History. Among the restorations was the addition of 21-inch steel sliding doors within the walls.

In case of fire, a heat activated alarm triggers the doors to close off the rotunda.

The new Capitol and the Old Capitol share a

courtyard. The Courtyard is where many events

are held. Two memorials are in the Courtyard.

One is a marker celebrating Rev. Martin Luther

King, Jr. The other is a memorial dedicated to

Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of

duty. In addition, the Courtyard is bookended by

the House and Senate Office Buildings.

The House office

building is four

stories high and

located on the north

end of Courtyard.

The 2nd and 3rd

floors have bridges

that allow people to walk between the Capitol and office buildings. These buildings contain primarily

committee meeting rooms and legislative offices. The northeast corner of the Capitol Grounds

showcases the Florida Sri Chimoy Peace Marker, the Liberty Bell replica, a shade tree dedicated to

Andrew Jackson, and the Old Capitol Historical Marker. The Florida Sri Chimoy Peace State Marker is

one of many throughout the world dedicated to world peace and harmony. The Liberty Bell replica sits

east of the House Office Building. It was placed Waller Park in 1950. The replica was a gift to the

citizens of Florida as symbol of the 1950 United States Savings Bonds Independence Drive. It was

moved to its current location in 1970.


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The Senate office building is four stories high

and located on southern end of Capitol

Complex. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors have

bridges that allow people to walk between the

Capitol and office buildings. These buildings

contain primarily committee meeting rooms and

legislative offices. Adjacent to the Senate Office Building is a memorial dedicated to Floridians who

have received the Purple Heart.

The Knott Building is named for Comptroller and Treasurer William V.

Knott. It was originally built by the City of Tallahassee in 1940. It was

purchased in 1951 by the State of Florida. In 1999, the newly renovated Knott

Building and the Capitol were attached by a skywalk.

On the west side of the Capitol sits Waller

Park. The Park is named for Judge Curtis L.

Waller of the United States Circuit Court of

Appeals. In 2003, 'Stormsong", the

centerpiece of Waller Park, was added.

'Stormsong" is a sculpture of a pod of playful

dolphins within the Florida Heritage Fountain.

The Plaza Level The Great Seal is located on the east side of the Plaza Level. This area

is known as the rotunda. This is not the current seal, but the seal that

was in use when the building was dedicated. We have made some

modifications to this seal. For example the clothing that the Native

American woman is wearing belongs more on the Great Plains, she

now wears a traditional Seminole dress. The cocoa palm tree was

changed to sabal palm, which is our state tree. Now what she is doing

is dropping orange blossoms and this is done as gesture of welcome.

The five smaller seals around the Great Seal represent the five flags that have flown over the state of

Florida thorough its history. Clockwise from the top, they are the United States, France, Spain, Great

Britain, and the Confederate States of America. We also fly these flags out the west entrance alongside

the state flag. The diameter of the entire display is eighteen feet, with the state seal being eight feet

across and each small seal three feet across.


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Surrounding the Rotunda are various halls of fame

and walls of honor. Starting clockwise from the

northwest corner of the Rotunda are the Florida

Women's Hall of Fame, Fallen Firefighters Wall

of Honor, Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame, Florida

Civil Rights Hall of Fame, Florida's Medal of

Honor recipients, and the Florida Artists Hall of

Fame. The Florida Women's Hall of Fame was

created in 1982 by the Governor's Commission of

the Status of Women. In 1994, the permanent

display in the northwest corner of the Rotunda

was unveiled. Each person inducted has a plaque

with her picture and biography. The Fallen

Firefighters Wall of Honor lists the firefighters

killed in the line of duty. The Florida Veterans'

Hall of Fame recognizes military veterans that

have made a significant contribution to the state

of Florida during or after their military service.

The Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame is dedicated to those who

contributed to struggle for equality and justice for all. In the southeast corner of the Rotunda is Florida's

memorial to its Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Each plaque displays a biography of the

recipient. The Florida Artist Hall of Fame displays plaques with an image of the inductee and their

biography.

The Executive Office of the Governor is located on

the Plaza Level, south of the Great Seal. The

corridor leading to the office is lined with portraits

of former Florida Governors. The Governor's

reception area is open to the public. Beyond the

reception area, behind secured doors, is the Governor's personal office. The Lieutenant Governor also

has an office here. This is also where the Governor's meeting room is located. The Governor is elected to

a four-year term. The maximum number of terms a Governor can serve is two. To be elected governor, a

person has to be at least 30 years old and been living in Florida for the at least the last seven years.

These requirements apply to Lieutenant Governor and Cabinet members (the Attorney General must

also have been a member of the Florida Bar for the last five years). In the hallway before the entrance to

Governor's reception area hang portraits of some of

the former Governors of Florida. The Cabinet is also

located on the Plaza Level. The Attorney General's

office sits in the south wing with the Governor's office.

The north wing houses offices of the Commissioner of

Agriculture and Chief Financial Officer.


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The Heritage Chapel Florida is only one of a few statehouses that have a chapel. Initially this

was going to be part of the Sectary of State's office. Instead, a special

commission was setup to convert this area into the chapel, by way of

special donations. Upon

completion in 1980, the

chapel was officially

dedicated as a mediation

room. Unlike the rest of the building, which uses the

Italian marble in the public areas, the materials in here are

from the state of Florida. The walls are made of coquina

cast from the beaches between Jacksonville and St.

Augustine. The ceiling and entryway walls are made of

tidewater cypress. The wood used had been submerged in

the Apalachicola River for over fifty years before reclamation. Both the font and the table are made of

keystone from a quarry down in Florida City. The painting on the back wall is called "Creation" and was

done by Florida artist Jean Welsh. The painting symbolizes "the mystery of ordering ourselves, through

God, out of the chaos of a natural world." The painting was set up to be viewed in conjunction with the

door. The balls embedded in the door are made up of glass that has washed onto Florida's shores over

the years. In addition, the plaques that align the walls trace Florida's religious heritage from the

prehistoric Indians to the present day. The Chapel is available for weddings and baptisms. If a valuable

item comes in to be displayed, it can be locked behind the interior brass gates and left for the general

public to view.

A Curious Plaque From Senate Bill 678 (passed May 29, 1978) - Section 5. A plaque shall

be placed in the lobby of the new capitol and shall be inscribed as follows:

"This plaque is dedicated to Senator Lee Weissenborn whose valiant effort

to move the Capitol to Orlando was the prime motivation for the

construction of this building." This curious plaque is the result of the

conflicts over the Old Capitol restoration. Senator Jack Gordon of Miami

Beach added the above section to the bill. The House members supporting

the restoration did not eliminate this section. They did not want to send back to the Senate and have it

die; so the bill passed. Former Senator Kenneth Plante at the request of Senator Gordon provided the

plaque. The plaque was affixed to the north center wall of the Plaza Level in 1982.


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"Images of the Sunshine State" murals Artist James Rosenquist created the two

"Images of the Sunshine State" murals in

1978. The murals represent the various

recreation and industries in Florida. The

left mural uses the cosmic background to

symbolize space travel and the Kennedy

Space Center. The scuba diver and woman

in the pool represent Florida's "aquatic fun in the sun" activities. The pine tree above the Great Seal

represents north Florida's lumber, pulp and paper industries. In the lower right corner is the palmetto

scrub, a ubiquitous Florida bush.

Florida Welcome Center The official Florida Welcome Centers are designed to provide

visitors with a vast assortment of information incorporating

general and specific material on travel, highways, sports,

climate, resort areas, cities, outdoor recreation, attractions and

other data. To help accomplish this, brochure space has been

provided at each center for chamber of commerce, resort areas,

attractions, festivals, and other tourism entities to publicize and

promote their respective areas. More than 200 million maps and

brochures have been distributed at Florida's official Welcome Centers since 1949. The official Florida

Welcome Centers have had a long history, extending back to the opening in 1949 of the U.S. Highway

17 Yulee Welcome Center. Florida was one of the first states to establish highway welcome centers. The

Welcome Center at the Capitol was opened in 1972 in the Old Capitol and moved to the New Capitol in

1976. It is located on the west side of the Plaza Level of the Capitol. Since 1949, the official Welcome

Centers have welcomed more 80 million visitors to the state of Florida. The Capitol Welcome Center is

open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For hours and tour schedule on weekend and holidays,

please inquire at (850) 488-6167. Please note that on weekends and state holidays that the New Capitol

is closed; it is the Welcome Center that is open. Visitors are required to remain in the Welcome Center

unless being escorted by Welcome Center personnel. Weekday (non-state holidays) guided tours are

available for large groups; please contact the Welcome Center for availability. Self-guided tours are

available. Bookings for guided tours during the months of March, April, and May, should be made

several months in advance.


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Cason Memorial Stairwell Owen "Casey" Cason served as a law enforcement officer for the State of

Florida for 52 years. He regularly jogged Stairwell no. 9 for exercise. After his

death in 1992, Gov. Chiles and the Cabinet declared Stairwell no. 9 would be

henceforth known as Captain Owen "Casey" Cason Memorial Stairwell.

The Florida House of

Representatives The Florida House of Representatives has 120 members. The

Speaker decides the seating arrangement in this Chamber.

The House Chamber underwent a major renovation in 1999.

The House Chamber changed the style of decor from modern

to Victorian. During the renovation, the bulletproof glass

separating the Chamber floor from the viewing galleries was

removed. Metal detectors and guard stations are used for

screening. A first come; first serve seating arrangement is

used for the galleries, though occasionally the House may

reserve a section. A faux-alabaster-and-glass chandelier

hangs over the Chamber. The dark colored wood used throughout the Chamber is mahogany.

Surrounding the Chamber floor are portraits of former Speakers of the House. By the end of 2001, the

walls of the Chamber will have murals showing Florida's diverse history. At the head of the center

walkway is a color rendition of the seal of the House of Representatives. The filming of the floor debate

is done with help of eight robotic cameras. The Florida Channel operates these cameras. A stadium-style

TV screen is located on the back wall above the Speaker's level.

The screen can be used to show the text of any bill or

amendment, video presentations, or live transmission of the

floor debate. On either side of the screen are voting boards.

When a vote is cast, each Representative's vote is displayed on

the boards. Each desk has three buttons located under the

nameplate on the desk. The number on the nameplate indicates

that Representative's district number. The red and green buttons

are for voting. When a Representative needs an errand

performed, the yellow button is pressed to summon a House

page or messenger. There are a series of lights that can only be seen when seated at the Representative's

desk. One light goes on when that Representative's microphone is live. Another light indicates that the

Speaker would like to see that Representative up front. The next two lights deal with the desk phone.

Each Representative has a phone attached to the underside of the desk. This phone links directly with the

Representative's office. The first of the two phone lights glows when a phone call comes in from that

Representative's office. The other lights up when the phone is in use. The Representatives also carry

laptops that can be plugged in their desks. The laptops allow access to copies of bills and other useful


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information. These laptops can also be carried to committee rooms. These committee rooms contain the

same kind of access ports that are embedded in the desks. The press is seated in glassed-in room above

the House entrance.


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The Florida Senate The Florida Senate has 40 members. The even numbered districts

sit on one side of the Chamber floor and the odd number districts

sit on the other. The viewing galleries of Senate are open areas.

Visitors must pass through metal detectors and a guard station to

enter the galleries. The galleries operate on first come; first serve

basis, though occasionally a Senator may reserve a section. In

addition, the ceiling is designed quite differently. This ceiling is

designed to reflect sound to the center of the Chamber. This

enables Senators to be heard throughout the Chamber in a normal

tone of voice. However, the Senators still use their microphones so that people out in the hallways can

hear them and recording purposes. Instead of having a pile of bills on their desk each morning, each

Senator brings a laptop that they plug directly into the desk. Now whenever a bill comes up for

discussion, a copy that bill is sent to each Senator's desk ensuring that they are looking at the same

version of that bill. There are four buttons on each desk. The

red and green buttons are used for voting. Under each

viewing gallery is a voting board. Whenever a vote is held,

each Senator's vote is registered and tallied on those boards.

The yellow button is used to call a Senate page or messenger

to perform an errand for that Senator. The white button is

used to tell the Senator that there is a phone call from their

office. Each desk comes with a telephone that is direct line to

that Senator's office. The paintings that surround the Senate

Chamber are portraits of former presidents of the Senate and

it goes back for about a hundred years. The glassed in area above the Senate entrance is for the press.

The areas in the balconies with the black metal posts are where the television cameras go. The Florida

Channel films the Senate whenever they are in chambers. The screen above the Senate seal can be used

for video presentations, displaying the text of a bill, or as a welcome screen. The areas on each side of

the screen are for support personnel.


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Five Flags Mural Outside of the Senate viewing gallery is the Five Flags Mural. The name

of the mural refers to the five flags that have flown over Florida. The

mural depicts people who have had an impact on the history of Florida.

Across the bottom of the mural are scenes of Florida's native flora and

fauna. Renee Faure painted the mural. Starting from the left, the figure in

the cameo is Rene de Laudonniere. He built Fort Caroline near

Jacksonville. The Spanish gentleman is Pedro Menedes de Avilles. He

founded St. Augustine. The British soldier represents the 20-year period of British rule (1763-1783).

The Seminole warrior represents the Seminole Wars of the 1350's. At the top of the mural are Andrew

Jackson and his wife Rachel. Andrew Jackson accepted Florida from Spain on behalf of the United

States. The lady in white is Princess Catherine Murat, great grandniece of George Washington and

young wife of Prince Achille Murat nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. Her plantation home is on display

at the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science. The man in the Confederate Army uniform

is General Joseph Finnegan. He was the commander of the Confederate forces at the Battle of Olustee.

The man on the horse represents the Roughriders. Tampa was a major staging area for the Spanish-

American War. The man in the cameo portrait is James Weldon Johnson. He served as the first secretary

of the NAACP and wrote the anthem "Lift Up Every Voice and Sing". The man in the brown suit is

Henry Flagler, builder of Florida's east coast railway. The woman in green is Harriett Beecher Stowe.

She is the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". She had a home in Florida. She is attributed with ushering in

tourism in Florida. The woman is blue is Zora Neale Hurston. She was a very popular Florida artist. A

festival in her name is held in Eatonville every year.


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The Observation Deck The 22nd floor is an enclosed observation

deck. It is divided into the east side and the

west side. The west side is rented out for

parties, weddings, and other such functions.

The east side is the Capitol Gallery. The

Gallery displays Florida artists. The display

is changed about every three months. Only

Florida residents can be displayed in the gallery. The Division of Cultural Affairs manages the gallery.

Trees cover a lot of Tallahassee giving the illusion that Tallahassee is smaller than it is. Rolling hills

allow Tallahassee to have a different landscape from the rest of Florida. On each side of the deck is a

kiosk indicating viewing points of interest. The Freedom Shrine, a collection of historical document

reproductions, is located on the south wall. These reproductions include such items as the US

Constitution. The reproductions were donated by the Exchange Club.

North View The large, V-shaped area to the far northwest is Lake Jackson. The

immediate center view is the downtown historic district. The broad, brick

paved street is known as Adams Street Commons. The brick building at

the south end of Adams Street is Tallahassee's City Hall. The building

with blue trim, to the west of City Hall, is the Mary Brogan Museum of

Art and Science. Northeast of the Mary Brogan is the Challenger Learning

Center and IMAX. To the northeast is Leon High School, built in 1936.

East of the high school is Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center, one of the city's two major

medical facilities.

West View The center of this view immediately overlooks the R. A. Gray Building

that houses the State Archives and the Museum of Florida History. To

the right of the Gray Building is the Florida First District Court of

Appeals. Beyond the Gray Building is the Leon County Civic Center.

This oval-shaped, red brick building is the Leon County Civic Center.

West and northwest of the Civic Center is Florida State University,

home of the FSU Seminoles. The FSU Law Collage occupies the small

cluster of buildings directly behind the Court of Appeals.


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South View The immediate view is comprised mostly of state office buildings. The tall

triangular-shape building to the far right is the Turlington Building, which

houses the Department of Education. To the far left is the historic

Bloxham Building, with a terra cotta tile roof. Beyond these buildings and

slightly to the right is a large complex of red brick buildings. This is

Florida A&M University, home of the Rattlers football team and the

famous "Marching 100" band. The large treeless area in the southwest

quadrant is the Tallahassee Regional Airport and beyond it is the Apalachicola National Forest.

East View The immediate center view overlooks Apalachee Parkway (US Highway

27) stretching to the east. This is one of Tallahassee's major roadways.

Just to the right and across the street from the Old Capitol are the Florida

Vietnam Memorial and the Union Bank Museum. To the left is the Leon

County Courthouse.

The Cabinet Meeting Room The Cabinet Meeting Room is located on the Lower Level. About twice a

month, a meeting is held between the Governor and the Cabinet. This is a

meeting with a set agenda, just like a city or county council meeting. The

meeting is open to the public. Currently there are three Cabinet posts.

The current posts are Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture,

and Chief Financial Officer. Unlike other state Cabinets where the

Governor chooses the Cabinet members, Florida's Cabinet members are

elected. This can result in the Cabinet being made up members of different parties. Cabinet Officers are

elected to a four-year term. They can only serve two terms.


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Learn about Florida Educate yourself about how Florida government works. As the

center of state government, the Capitol Building is one of the

most important buildings in Florida.

Don't forget to visit the State of Florida website: myflorida.com.

Read about your legislators & bills at the Florida House and

Florida Senate websites, myfloridahouse.gov and flsenate.gov.

State Facts

Geographical Facts

• Total Area: 58,560 square miles

• Total land area: 54,136 square miles

• Total water area: 4,424 square miles

• Rank among states in total area: 22nd

• Length north and south: 447 miles (St. Marys

River to Key West)

• Width east and west: 361 miles (Atlantic Ocean to Perdido River)

• Distance from Pensacola to Key West: 792 miles (by road)

• Highest Natural Point: 345 feet (Britton Hill)

• Geographic Center: 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County

• Coastline: 1,197 statute miles

• Tidal shoreline (general): 2,276 statute miles

• Beaches: 663 miles

• Longest River: St. Johns, 273 miles

• Largest Lake: Lake Okeechobee, 700 square miles

• Largest county: Palm Beach, 2,578 square miles

• Smallest county: Union, 245 square miles

• Number of first-magnitude springs: 33


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Population Facts

• Population 2012 (estimate): 19,317,568

• Population 2000: 15,982,378 (Rank 4th)

• Population 1990: 12,937,926

• Population 1980: 9,739,992

• Most populous metropolitan area 2008 (estimate): South Florida metropolitan area (Miami/Ft.

Lauderdale/West Palm Beach): 5,414,772

• Most populous County 2008 (estimate): Miami-Dade County: 2,398,245

• Most populous City 2008 (estimate): Jacksonville: 807,815

Government Facts

• Capitol: Tallahassee (est. 1823)

• Executive: Governor and cabinet consisting of Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and

Commissioner of Agriculture

• Legislature: 120 House districts, 40 Senate districts

• Judicial: Florida Supreme Court, district courts of appeal, circuit courts, and county courts

• Congressional Districts: 27

• Counties: 67


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Florida Supreme Court

• Chief Justice: Ricky Polston

• Associate Justices: Charles T. Canady, Jorge Labarga, R. Fred Lewis, Barbara J. Pariente,

James E.C. Perry, Peggy A. Quince

Legislative Leaders

• House Speaker: Richard Corcoran

• Senate President: Joe Negron

Executive Branch

• Governor: Rick Scott

• Lt. Governor: Carlos Lopez-Cantera

• Attorney General: Pam Bondi

• Chief Financial Officer: Jeff Atwater

• Commission of Agriculture: Adam Putnum

History

• 1513: Spanish explorer Ponce De Leon and his expedition were the first documented Europeans

to land on the Florida peninsula. He landed on the East Coast, near present-day St. Augustine.

Ponce De Leon named the peninsula "Florida" as the season was "Pascua Florida" (Flowery

Easter).

• 1559: Tristan de Luna y Arellano, with 1500 participants, attempted Florida’s first European

settlement at Pensacola. By 1561, a series of misfortunes resulted in the abandonment of the

settlement. Pensacola would be re-settled in 1667.

• 1564: French settlers establish Fort Caroline.

• 1565: Spain established St. Augustine, the first permanent European settlement in North

America.

• 1738: Free black settlement, Fort Mose, established.


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History (cont.)

• 1763: The end of the French and Indian (Seven Years War) results in the transfer of Florida from

Spain to England. The colony was divided into East and West Florida.

• 1760s: By this time, Native peoples from Georgia and Alabama, most members of the Creek

peoples, were moving into Florida. Eventually called the Seminoles from the Spanish word

cimarron, meaning "outsiders" or "runaways".

• 1783: Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution. The treaty returns Florida to Spain.

• 1816-1817: The First Seminole War. The war starts when Andrew Jackson invades Florida.

• 1821: Florida becomes a US Territory, with Andrew Jackson as its first military governor.

• 1823: Tallahassee established as Florida capital.

• 1835-1842: The Second Seminole War. The war ended by U.S. Government decision, without

treaty or capitulation.

• 1845: The Act establishing statehood for Iowa and Florida was approved on March 3, 1845 by

the second session of the 28th Congress.

• 1855-1858: Third Seminole War.

• 1861: Florida seceded from the United States.

• 1868: Florida readmitted to the Union.

• 1876: Florida's first Presidential election crisis. Florida is one of three states with disputed

elector votes.

• 1905: The Buckman Act creates the State University System. The three colleges are the

University of Florida, the Florida State College for Women, and the Florida Agricultural and

Mechanical College for Negroes.

• 1936: Cypress Gardens opens in Winter Haven.

• 1947: Everglades National Park established.

• 1971: Walt Disney World opens in Orlando; transforms Florida’s economy and surrounding

Central Florida.

• 1972: The 1972 Miami Dolphins play a perfect season, winning every game they played that

year, including the Super Bowl.

• 1981: The first space shuttle launches at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

• 2000: Florida's second Presidential election crisis. Voting ballots are the focus.


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State Symbols

Miscellaneous Flag: A red saltire (diagonal cross) on a white background, with the seal of Florida superimposed on the

center. [1900/1985]*

Motto: "In God We Trust" [2006]

Nickname: Sunshine State [1970]

Seal: Seal of Florida [1868/1985]**

Song: "Old Folks at Home" [1935]

Anthem: "Florida, Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky"

[2008]

Welcome Song: "Florida" [1985]

State Day: April 2nd [1953]

*The basic design was adopted in 1900. The flag was

updated in 1985, when the state seal was changed. Before 1900, it was a white flag with the state seal in

the center.

**In 1868, the Florida Legislature adopted the Seal of Florida, but over the years, several changes have

been made to the seal. However, the basic design has been maintained. The last revision took place in

1985.

Geology Fossil: Eocene Heart Urchin [2006]

Gem: Moonstone [1970]

Mineral: Calcite [2006]

Rock: Ocala Limestone [2006]

Soil: Myakka fine sand [1989]

Stone: Agatized Coral [1979]

Flora Flower: Orange Blossom [1909]


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Tree: Sabal Palm [1953]

Wildflower: Coreopsis [1991]

Fauna Animal: Florida Panther [1982]

Bird: Northern Mockingbird [1927]

Butterfly: Zebra Longwing [1996]

Fish (fresh water): Florida Largemouth Bass [1975]

Fish (saltwater): Atlantic sailfish [1975]

Heritage Horse: Florida Cracker Horse [2008]

Mammal (marine): Florida Manatee [1975]

Mammal (saltwater): Porpoise (Dolphin) [1975]***

Reptile: American Alligator [1987]

Reptile (Saltwater): Loggerhead turtle [2008]

Shell: Horse Conch [1969]

Tortoise: Gopher tortoise [2008]

***The 1975 Legislative declared the "The porpoise, also commonly known as the dolphin, is hereby

designated as the Florida state saltwater mammal." While the terms are incorrectly considered

interchangeable, they do refer to two distinct animals. The Bottlenose dolphin (tursiops truncates) is

commonly found in Florida's waters. It is believed that was mammal the Legislature was referencing.

Food & Beverages Beverage: Orange juice [1967]

Fruit: Orange [2005]

Honey: Tupelo [2016]

Pie: Key lime pie [2006]

Events Air Fair: The Central Florida Air Fair [1976]


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Festival: "Calle Ocho-Open House 8" [1980]

Fiddle Contest: The fiddle contest held annually by the Florida State Fiddlers' Association in

cooperation with the Department of State at the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center [1989]

Renaissance Festival: The Italian Renaissance Festival at Vizcaya [1994]

Rodeo: Silver Spurs Rodeo [1994]

Culture Art Museum: John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota [1980]

American Folk Dance: Square dance [1986]

Band: The St. Johns River City Band [1990]

Citrus Archive: The Florida Citrus Archives [2001]

Litter Control Symbol: "Glenn Glitter" [1978]

Maritime Museum: The Admiral John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research

Center [2006]

Moving Image Center and Archive: The Louis Wolfson II Media History Center, Inc. [1989]

Opera Program: The Greater Miami Opera Association; the Orlando Opera Company, Incorporated;

and the Florida State University School of Music [1983]

Pageant: "Indian River" [1979]

Play: "Cross and Sword" [1973]

Poetry Day: May 25th [1947]

Railroad Museums: The Orange Blossom Special Railroad Museum in West Palm Beach , the Gold

Coast Railroad Museum in Miami, and the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum in Tampa [1984]

Sports Hall of Fame: The Florida Sports Hall of Fame in Auburndale [1988]

Theaters: the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, the Hippodrome Theatre in Gainesville, and Caldwell Theatre

Company in Boca Raton. [1965/1981/1986]

Transportation Museum: The Florida Museum of Transportation and History in Fernandina Beach

[1985]


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Capitol Facts The Capitol was designed by a joint venture of Edward Durell Stone of New York and Reynolds, Smith

and Hills of Jacksonville.

The first legislative session in the New Capitol was in 1978. Opening day of session was April 4, 1978.

The New Capitol was dedicated on March 31, 1978.

Construction on the Capitol began November 8, 1973 and was declared completed on August 19, 1977.

It took 1,016 days to build the Capitol or over 3,200,000 man-hours of labor.

The cost to build the Capitol was $45,028,079. The building itself cost $43,070,741 with an additional

$1,957,338 committed to landscaping Waller Park.

The grillwork on the outside of the Capitol was Edward Durell Stone's signature late in his architectural

career.

Despite the Capitol being referred to as a 22-story building, there are three underground floors.

The observation deck rises 307 feet from the entrance on the Plaza Level. The 22nd floor is also 512 feet

above sea level.

The working life of the New Capitol is estimated at 100 years.

The number of people in the Capitol during a normal workday is 1,500. During the Legislative session,

this number increases to over 5,000.

The total square footage of the Capitol is 718,000. This is equal to approximately 400 homes.


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The following materials used in the building the Capitol.

• 3,700 tons of Structural Steel.

• 2,800 tons of Reinforcing Steel.

• 25,000 cubic yards of concrete. This is equal to 16

football fields, 1 foot think OR a 5-foot wide, 4-inch

thick sidewalk, 77 miles long.

• 12,000 square feet of Walnut Paneling.

• 12,000 gallons of paint.

• 62,000 square feet or 1.5 acres of marble.

• 60,000 square yards of carpet.

• 92,000 square feet of terrazzo.

• 30 miles of telephone cable.

• 250 miles of electrical wire.


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Capitol Quiz 1. The Capital of Florida is...

1. Tallahassee

2. Jacksonville

3. Pensacola

4. Saint Augustine

2. The First Territorial Governor was...

1. William Dunn Moseley

2. William DuVal

3. Rick Scott

4. William D. Bloxham

3. The Architect for the Capitol was...

1. Edward Durrell Stone

2. Robert Butler

3. Sherod McCall

4. Jonathan Robinson

4. The Governor's Office is on the...

1. Entry Level

2. Lower Level

3. Plaza Level

4. Executive Level

5. The Observation Deck is on the...

1. Twenty-Second Floor

2. Fifth Floor

3. Tenth Floor

4. Twenty-Sixth Floor


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6. The Legislative Chambers are on the...

1. Plaza Level

2. Lower Level

3. Tenth Floor

4. Fourth Floor

7. The 'Images of the Sunshine State' murals are next to the...

1. Senate Chamber

2. Governor's Office

3. Florida Welcome Center

4. Capitol Rotunda

8. The Area between the Old and New Capitols is called...

1. Waller Park

2. Monument Row

3. Capitol Courtyard

4. Canopy Road

9. The Walls of the Heritage Chapel are made of...

1. Oak

2. Bronze

3. Marble

4. Coquina

10. The Dolphin Sculpure in Waller Park is called...

1. Friends of Flipper

2. Stormsong

3. Mjolnir

4. Sunshine Pod


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State Quiz 1. The State Motto is...

1. The Rules Are Different Here

2. Cui Bono

3. In God We Trust

4. Sunshine

2. The State Reptile is...

1. Alligator

2. Snapping Turtle

3. Iguana

4. Python

3. The State Pie is...

1. Coconut Creme Pie

2. Key Lime Pie

3. Sweet Potato Pie

4. Chicken Pot Pie

4. The State Animal is...

1. Dolphin

2. Panther

3. Jaguar

4. Cougar

5. Florida means...

1. Flowery

2. Unique

3. Sandy

4. Sunshine


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6. The State Saltwater Mammal is...

1. Goliath Grouper

2. Lemon Shark

3. Marlin

4. Porpoise

7. The State Day is...

1. June 2

2. April 2

3. March 2

4. May 2

8. Florida became a state on...

1. March 30, 1822

2. March 31, 1978

3. June 25, 1866

4. March 3, 1845

9. The State Bird is...

1. Cardinal

2. Flamingo

3. Mockingbird

4. Scrubjay

10. Florida's Official Nickname is...

1. Peninsula State

2. Orange State

3. Everglade State

4. Sunshine State


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Government Quiz 1. The Governor of Florida is...

1. Rick Scott

2. Marco Rubio

3. Charlie Crist

4. Pam Bondi

2. The number of Florida State Senators is...

1. 120

2. 67

3. 2

4. 40

3. The people who make up the Florida Cabinet are...

1. Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, & Commissioner of Agriculture

2. Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Education, Comptroller,

& Secretary of State

3. Governor, Lieutenant Governor, & Chief of Staff

4. Governor, President of the Senate, & Speaker of the House

4. The Regular Florida Legislative Session generally occurs during...

1. January & February

2. March & April

3. August, September, & October

4. May, June, & July

5. Florida's three branches of government are...

1. House, Senate, & Governor

2. Legislative, Executive, & Lobbyist

3. Public, Private, & Press

4. Executive, Judicial, & Legislative


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6. The length of the Governor's term is...

1. 4 years

2. 6 years

3. 2 years

4. 5 years

7. The structure of Florida's government is set by the...

1. U.S. Constitution

2. Florida Concordance

3. Florida Constitution

4. U.S. Congress

8. The term for a member of the Florida House of Representatives is...

1. 4 years

2. 6 years

3. 2 years

4. 5 years

9. The Florida Supreme Court has...

1. 9 Justices

2. 7 Justices

3. 8 Justices

4. 5 Justices

10. The closing day of Legislative Session is called...

1. Cosine Die

2. Archos Day

3. Fin Day

4. Sine Die


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Capitol Quiz Answers

1. To the question: The Capital of Florida is...

The correct answer is Tallahassee.

2. To the question: The First Territorial Governor was...

The correct answer is William DuVal.

3. To the question: The Architect for the Capitol was...

The correct answer is Edward Durrell Stone.

4. To the question: The Governor's Office is on the...

The correct answer is Plaza Level.

5. To the question: The Observation Deck is on the...

The correct answer is Twenty-Second Floor.

6. To the question: The Legislative Chambers are on the...

The correct answer is Fourth Floor.

7. To the question: The 'Images of the Sunshine State' murals are next to the...

The correct answer is Florida Welcome Center.

8. To the question: The Area between the Old and New Capitols is called...

The correct answer is Capitol Courtyard.

9. To the question: The Walls of the Heritage Chapel are made of...

The correct answer is Coquina.

10. To the question: The Dolphin Sculpture in Waller Park is called...

The correct answer is Stormsong.


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State Quiz Answers

1. To the question: The State Motto is...

The correct answer is In God We Trust.

2. To the question: The State Reptile is...

The correct answer is Alligator.

3. To the question: The State Pie is...

The correct answer is Key Lime Pie.

4. To the question: The State Animal is...

The correct answer is Panther.

5. To the question: Florida means...

The correct answer is Flowery.

6. To the question: The State Saltwater Mammal is...

The correct answer is Porpoise.

7. To the question: The State Day is...

The correct answer is April 2.

8. To the question: Florida became a state on...

The correct answer is March 3, 1845.

9. To the question: The State Bird is...

The correct answer is Mockingbird.

10. To the question: Florida's Official Nickname is...

The correct answer is Sunshine State.


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Government Quiz Answers

1. To the question: The Governor of Florida is...

The correct answer is Rick Scott.

2. To the question: The number of Florida State Senators is...

The correct answer is 40.

3. To the question: The people who make up the Florida

Cabinet are...

The correct answer is Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, & Commissioner of

Agriculture.

4. To the question: The Regular Florida Legislative Session generally occurs during...

The correct answer is March & April.

5. To the question: Florida's three branches of government are...

The correct answer is Executive, Judicial, & Legislative.

6. To the question: The length of the Governor's term is...

The correct answer is 4 years.

7. To the question: The structure of Florida's government is set by the...

The correct answer is Florida Constitution.

8. To the question: The term for a member of the Florida House of Representatives is...

The correct answer is 2 years.

9. To the question: The Florida Supreme Court has...

The correct answer is 7 Justices.


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10. To the question: The closing day of Legislative Session is called...

The correct answer is Sine Die.

Welcome to the Florida Capitol Florida's new Capitol building has a rich

ancestry, which began in 1824 with the

establishment of Tallahassee as the new capitol

city. As Florida's population has continued to

grow, so has its need for government services.

The New Capitol symbolizes the growth and

development of Florida. The Capitol Complex,

located in downtown Tallahassee, provides a

dignified and serviceable headquarters for state

government.

The Capitol is the twenty-two story building. It

is home to Florida's Executive and Legislative

branches. Others building at the Capitol

Complex include the two four story office

buildings for the House of Representatives and

Senate as well as the Historic Capitol and

Knott Building.

The Capitol is located in downtown

Tallahassee at the intersection of Apalachee

Parkway and Monroe Street. The Capitol is

open to the public Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. -

5:00 p.m. Closed weekends and holidays.

The VisitFloridaCapitol.com

Visitor’s Guide to the Florida

Capitol

"We dedicate it, not only here today,

but every day as we work for the

people who really own it. For those

of us who work here are only tenants.

We do not own the building. So I

think we should dedicate this

building to the owners."

Governor Reubin Askew

Capitol Dedication Ceremony

March 31, 1978


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the visitor’s guide to the florida capitol

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