Franklin/Call Street in Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Home of the John G. Riley House
Greetings from Tallahassee
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, June 25, 2026
1. John G. Riley House Marker
The John G. Riley House, built circa 1890 in Tallahassee's Smokey Hollow neighborhood, stands as the last surviving home of a once-thriving Black middle- class community. Occupied by John Gilmore Riley, a former enslaved man turned educator, civic leader, and real estate entrepreneur, it reflects Black progress during Reconstruction and segregation. Riley became principal of Lincoln Academy, Tallahassee's first local high school for African Americans in 1892 and served until retiring in 1926. Riley died in 1954, the same year that the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Today, the property is a living testament to the resilience and leadership of African Americans in Florida's capital.
Erected 2026 by America250FL Road Trip.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 30° 26.373′ N, 84° 16.628′ W. Marker is in Tallahassee, Florida, in Leon County. It is in Franklin/Call Street. It is at the intersection of East Jefferson Street and South Meridian Street,
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Regionally, this marker is in North Florida. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Gilmore Riley House (within shouting distance of this marker); John G. Riley Center & Museum of African American History & Culture (within shouting distance of this marker); Smokey Hollow Spirit Houses (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Enduring Spirit of Smokey Hollow (about 400 feet away); The Community Spirit of Smokey Hollow (about 400 feet away); Althemese Pemberton Barnes Park
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, June 25, 2026
2. John G. Riley House Marker
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, June 25, 2026
3. John G. Riley House Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2026, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 27, 2026, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
