Celebrate National Historic Preservation Month with a Preview of Historic Restoration Project in Tallahassee

Tallahassee –

Each year, during the month of May, the Florida Department of State joins efforts led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to raise awareness of historic preservation in Florida. Historic Preservation Month is celebrated to recognize the importance of preserving historic resources and their significance to local communities. This year, the Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources (DHR) is highlighting one of its many successful grant funded projects around the state with a preview of the recent restoration efforts at St. John’s Episcopal Church on May 23 at 6 p.m.

“Located on Monroe Street in Downtown Tallahassee, St. John’s Episcopal Church has been an iconic part of the downtown landscape for 190 years,” said Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee. “Through legislatively appropriated historic preservation grant funding, the Department of State has been able to facilitate the preservation of this valuable historic resource for generations to come.”

On May 23, DHR is partnering with St. John’s Episcopal Church to host a public preview of the recent brick restoration and foundation repair project. The presentation by subcontractor Restocon and members of the project restoration team will begin at 6 p.m. in the historic sanctuary followed by tours of the building and bell tower and refreshments in Eve’s Garden.

St. John’s is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the few brick Gothic Revival historic churches in Florida. St. John’s is the mother church of the diocese of Florida. Chartered as a mission parish by an act of the territorial Legislative Council in 1829, the church’s first building was erected in 1837. After the original church burned in 1879, a new church was built on the same site and consecrated in 1888. It is still the parish’s principal place of worship.

DHR works year-round to protect and promote Florida’s historic places. Preservation of historic sites and properties benefits Florida’s economy, attracting visitors from across the nation and around the world. Historic preservation improves our quality of life and contributes to our understanding of each other and the diverse heritage of our state.

For more information on DHR and a calendar of historic preservation month events, visit the DHR Historic Preservation Month webpage. For more information on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s #ThisPlaceMatters campaign please visit here to learn how you can participate. For more information on St. John’s Episcopal Church, visit saint-john.org. For more information on the event, please visit the DHR Facebook page.

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About The Division of Historical Resources

The Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources (DHR) is responsible for preserving and promoting Florida’s historical, archaeological, and folk culture resources. The Division Director’s office oversees a grants-in-aid program to help preserve and maintain Florida’s historic buildings and archaeological sites; coordinates outreach programs such as the State Historic Markers program and the Florida Folklife program which identifies and promotes the state's traditional culture. DHR directs historic preservation efforts throughout the state in cooperation with state and federal agencies, local governments, private organizations, and individuals. The Division director serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer, acting as the liaison with the national historic preservation program conducted by the National Park Service. The Division is comprised of two Bureaus, archaeological research and historic preservation. For more information visit flheritage.com.