Capitol Hill in Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The World War II Years

Cascades Park

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, November 13, 2022

1. The World War II Years Marker

Inscription. Tallahassee became a boom town during World War II. Dale Mabry Air Base opened in 1941 and employed more than 5,000 soldiers and civilians. The base trained thousands of fighter pilots, including the all-black Tuskegee Airmen corps. — — — — Tallahasseeans planted victory gardens, conducted metal and paper drives, bought war bonds and opened their homes to visiting families or soldiers. The city rollicked on weekends as thousands of servicemen poured in from nearby bases, many of whom met their future wives while on leave in town.

World War II involved dozens of nations and more than 100 million military personnel. In Florida, 172 military sites were established to train soldiers and pilots. German submarines sank numerous boats off Florida's coast, killing hundreds or seamen and destroying millions of dollars in cargo. During World War II, military as well as local football and baseball teams used Cascades Park's Centennial Field for recreation.

In 1945 after war officially ended, the local military bases closed, and a flood of veterans entered college on the new G.I. Bill. At Florida A&M College (later Florida A&M University), returning veterans pushed enrollment to record breaking levels. Florida State College for Women began admitting men and, in 1947, became Florida State University.

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Portions of Dale Mabry Air Base served male students by holding classes and athletic events as FSU's West Campus until 1956.

(Captions)
Pilots on the steps of barracks at Dale Mabry Field. State Archives of Florida

The Daily Democrat headline from December 11, announces America’s entry into World War II in Europe. State Archives of Florida

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1945.

Location. 30° 26.225′ N, 84° 16.608′ W. Marker is in Tallahassee, Florida, in Leon County. It is in Capitol Hill. Marker is on South Meridian Street, 0.2 miles north of East Madison Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 620 S Meridian Street, Tallahassee FL 32301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Entering the 20th Century (a few steps from this marker); Higher Education (a few steps from this marker); Civil Rights (within shouting distance of this marker); Reconstruction: Changing Times (within shouting distance of this marker); Government Town (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Years (within shouting distance of this marker); Frontier Tallahassee

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, November 13, 2022

2. The World War II Years Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Modern Tallahassee (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tallahassee.

Also see . . .
1. Dale Mabry Field. (Submitted on December 3, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Cascades Park. (Submitted on December 3, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 3, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.