Bicentennial of Tallahassee
2024 Paradise Illuminated
Inspired by the historical research of the late Gerald Ensley and many others, a new sculpture is coming in 2024!
The piece will commemorate Tallahassee’s bicentennial year and depict the cascade that moved founder John Lee Williams to select this spot as our Capital City. In his journals, Williams described the area as “high rolling and well watered” and he believed a “more beautiful land can scarcely be imagined.”
We agree, and this artwork will serve as a reflection of our community’s rich past, vibrant present, and promising future.
Build it.
Designed by local artists with community input, this sculpture will be located in Cascades Park near the site of the original waterfall. Work has already begun with existing support from The Knight Foundation through The Community Foundation of North Florida, Bicentennial Steering Committee, Amanda Karioth Thompson of AKT Artful, FSU Master Craftsman Studio, Capital City Bank Group, Tallahassee Historical Society and The City of Tallahassee Parks and Recreation, Neighborhood Affairs Department.
The renderings are conceptual and will continue to evolve along this process. They have been created by FSU Master Craftsman Studio.
Your donation of $200.00 will have your or your loved ones’ name placed on the Bicentennial Sculpture website, along with a public thank you on social media. Please provide your name and email and we will reach out with a form to collect your commemoration and if you would like to receive a tax deductible letter. You are contributing to the success of the project- thank you for your generosity!
Make A Donation
Your donation of $2024.00 your logo and name presented at the unveiling, your name on signage, and you or your loved ones’ name on the Bicentennial Sculpture website, along with a public thank you on social media. Please provide your name and email and we will reach out with a form to collect your commemoration and if you would like to receive a tax deductible letter. You are contributing to the success of the project- thank you for your generosity!
Your donation of $10,000.00 will have your business's name on the sculpture, your logo and name presented at the unveiling, your name on signage, and you or your loved one’s name on the Bicentennial Sculpture website, along with a public thank you on social media. Please provide your name and email and we will reach out with a form to collect your commemoration, logo, and if you would like to receive a tax deductible letter. You are contributing to the success of the project- thank you for your generosity!
Goals:
Through this project, we will find creative ways to honor:
-Diverse voices within our community
-Our community history
-The creative class and future generations of creatives and storytellers
-Making our public spaces safer, more engaging and vibrant
-University/community connectivity- leveraging the talent capital as our cultural capital
-City champions, past and present who have pride and excitement in our community
Process and Timeline
August 2024: Installation complete, unveiling event
July 2024: Site preparations begin
March 2024: Fabrication and installation planning begins
February 2024: Working group approval, engineering begins
January 2024: Final design revisions, second round fundraising begins
December 2023: Announcement of project
November 2023: Working group review
September 2023: 3D model design begins
August 2023: Design revision
July 2023: Revised renderings presented to TDIA Board of Directors
June 2023: Design revision
May 2023: First round fundraising deadline, initial renderings prepared and reviewed by Parks and Rec
April 2023: Parks and Rec concept approval, identified encumbrances and dimensions, the design phase begins
March 2023: Photos of site, research, concept development
July 2022: Seed Funding received through Knight Foundation by Community Foundation of North Florida
June 2022: Applied for seed funding through the Knight Foundation by The Community Foundation of North Florida.
We have spent over 30 hours in the design phase and fundraised $89,000 thus far. We've been in the planning and design phase for a year, ensuring all necessary permissions were in place.
We have an aggressive but achievable timeline that will ensure this project can be completed during the Bicentennial. Much like our community’s growth and forward progress, good things take time.