Tallahassee to St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail History
1826
A road was being constructed from Tallahassee to the St. Marks River
1831
The Tallahassee Railroad Company received the first Congressional Land Grant ever given to a railroad
1835
The Tallahassee Railroad Company was approved by the Florida Legislative Council
1836
The first train traversed the railway
1837
Tallahassee-St. Marks Railroad construction completed and regular business operations began
1838
30,000 bales of cotton traveled on the railroad since its operations began
1839
The railroad was extended to Port Leon with the construction of a bridge over the St. Marks River
1843
A hurricane demolished the section of rail in and leading to Port Leon, and St. Marks became the new southern terminus of the railroad
1856
The wooden rails are replaced by steel rails and the mule-drawn carriages were replaced by locomotives
1865
Tallahassee-St. Marks Railroad moved hundreds of confederate troops during the Civil War to the Battle of Natural Bridge
Engraving of railway depot – St. Marks(ca 1876)
Credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory,
http://floridamemory.com/items/show/27758
Seaboard Air Line Railway Company car at buildings on the riverfront
Credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory,
http://floridamemory.com/items/show/24290
1983
Tallahassee-St. Marks Railroad stopped operating
1984
The Florida Department of Transportation purchased 16 miles of the corridor and Florida’s first “Rails to trails” project began.
Bicyclists on the St. Marks Trail
Credit: Deborah Thomas, State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory,
http://floridamemory.com/items/show/114535
(please include photographer’s name when noted).
Bicyclists on Saint Marks Trail
Credit: Deborah Thomas, State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/114534
2008
Boundless Playground was added to the Wakulla Station Trailhead
Boundless Playground at the Wakulla Station Trailhead
2011
The Tallahassee to St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail was widened from 8 to 12 feet
Event participants cut the ribbon during the reopening of the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail
Credit: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Cyclist on the Tallahassee to St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail (2012)
2013
The development of the Capital City to the Sea Trails Master Plan begins
Capital City to the Sea Trails Logo
Capital City to the Sea Trails 