Woodland Drives in Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Governor John W. Martin House

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 6, 2014

1. Governor John W. Martin House Marker

Inscription. John Martin was born in Plainfield, Marion County, Florida on June 21, 1884. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1914. He joined the Democratic Party and toured the state making speeches in support of President Woodrow Wilson before and during World War I. From 1917 until 1923 Martin served three terms as Mayor of Jacksonville. In 1924 he ran and was elected Florida’s 24th Governor, serving from January 1925 until January 1929, during the height and collapse of the Florida Real Estate Boom. Martin was the first candidate to solicit the women’s vote. At the bottom of his political advertisements was the phrase “The Ladies are Especially Invited.” During his administration he proposed a change in the state constitution to allow the state to provide direct assistance to public elementary schools. This was ratified by the voters in 1926. Wildlife conservation programs were also begun in the state, with the restocking of quail and deer and the establishment of fish hatcheries. Martin’s house, called "Apalachee,” was constructed in the early 1930’s on his 27 acres. It is of the Georgian Revival style. In 1941,

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Martin sold the property to local developers who incorporated all but approximately six acres into a new subdivision called Governor’s Park. Martin moved back to Jacksonville where he lived until his death in January 1958.
Florida Heritage Landmark

Erected 1998 by the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-393.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Women. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #28 Woodrow Wilson series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1925.

Location. 30° 26.163′ N, 84° 16.13′ W. Marker is in Tallahassee, Florida, in Leon County. It is in Woodland Drives. It is at the intersection of Desoto Park Drive and East Lafayette Street, on the right when traveling south on Desoto Park Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 Desoto Park Drive, Tallahassee FL 32301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

Governor John W. Martin House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 6, 2014

2. Governor John W. Martin House

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: De Soto Winter Encampment Site 1539~1540 (a few steps from this marker); Land of the Apalachee (within shouting distance of this marker); His Dream Dies With Him (within shouting distance of this marker); Anhaica (approx. 0.3 miles away); Myers Park Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Korean War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Old Fort Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Old Fort Park (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tallahassee.

Additional keywords. Women's suffrage

Wide view of marker & De Soto Encampment marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 6, 2014

3. Wide view of marker & De Soto Encampment marker

Current use of house image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 6, 2014

4. Current use of house

Governor John W. Martin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by State of Florida Oil Painting, April 5, 2002

5. Governor John W. Martin

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,206 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 9, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.