John Gilmore Riley House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John G Riley House
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Tallahassee, Florida |
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| NRHP reference No. | 78000950 |
| Added to NRHP | August 1, 1978 |
The John Gilmore Riley House is a historic home in Tallahassee, Florida. You can find it at 419 East Jefferson Street. On August 1, 1978, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it is officially recognized as an important part of American history. Today, the house is a museum called the John G. Riley Center/Museum of African American History and Culture.
Contents
History of the House
The Riley House was built around 1890. It is the last house left from a busy, successful African-American neighborhood called Smokey Hollow. This community was an important part of downtown Tallahassee over 100 years ago.
The house itself is a two-story home made of wood. It shows that its owner, John G. Riley, was able to succeed even when things were difficult. The Riley family owned the house until 1970.
Saving a Landmark
In the 1960s, the house was almost torn down. However, local citizens and activists worked hard to save it. Thanks to their efforts, the house was restored in 1981. In 1982, the Florida NAACP (a civil rights organization) helped the Riley Foundation buy the house to preserve its history.
The museum officially opened in 1996. Its first director, Althemese Barnes, also helped create a park across the street with replicas of other homes from the Smokey Hollow neighborhood. She also recorded hundreds of interviews with people who used to live there, saving their stories for the future.
The Museum Today
The museum is open to the public and offers guided tours. A tour includes a visit to the house and the nearby Smokey Hollow Commemorative Park.
One of the most popular exhibits is a speaking, moving figure of John G. Riley himself. This animatronic was a gift from the Disney.
In 2021, the museum received a special grant. This money is being used to create digital copies of its large collection of photos, documents, books, and recorded interviews. This helps protect the history of Black families in the local area.
Who Was John G. Riley?
John G. Riley was a very important person in Tallahassee's African-American community. He was born into slavery on September 24, 1857. After slavery was ended, he focused on getting an education and became a teacher.
A Career in Education
Riley began teaching in 1877. From 1892 to 1926, he was the principal of the Lincoln Academy. This was the first high school for Black students in Tallahassee. It was also one of only three special schools in Florida that offered a higher level of education to people who had been enslaved. The school was later renamed Lincoln High School.
A Community Leader
Besides being an educator, Riley was a leader in his community. He was involved in groups like the Royal Arch Masons and the NAACP. He also joined the Negro Business League, which helped Black business owners.
Riley was a successful businessman himself. He bought seven large pieces of land in Tallahassee. He built his own home on one and rented out other properties to families. He became a millionaire and died in 1954 at the age of 97. His life is a powerful story of success and determination.
