Upcoming Events

January 24,  2011

Goodwood Mansion’s Carriage House, 6:00 -9:00 pm.

This is the tenth year of Blended Lives , a joint program of the Riley House  museum of black history and the Goodwood Museum and Gardens, originally a white-owned plantation. Blended Lives  began in 2002 as a vehicle for adults to discuss local racial history, while introducing school children to the Riley House  and Goodwood.

More information on the 2011 program will be forthcoming: the following is excerpted from the January 25, 2009 Tallahassee Democrat  article: "Blended Lives Taking the Stage"

"Now, the emphasis is on student education. On Monday, 80 high school juniors will view and discuss the play, "A Trip To Vaudeville." On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 1,700 fourth-graders will visit the Riley House and Goodwood, where they will watch a shorter version of the play and listen to African storytelling.

In recent years, Blended Lives has focused on black-white interaction in literature, business, painting, dance and music.

"There was a blendedness that a lot of people are not aware of that took place in film, music and theater," said Althemese Barnes, director of Riley House. "As time goes on, a lot of these things will be forgotten if we don't go back and recapture them."

Blended Lives has been nominated for an American Association of Museums award, which will be announced April 30-May 2. Ann Fortescue, director of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, nominated the program, praising the partnership of the two museums and the program's "strong content."

"One of the things Blended Lives  does is tell a story," Fortescue said. "Students are able to experience the Riley House , and Goodwood and understand history while at the same time having it made relevant to their lives."

December 4, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – The John G. Riley Museum will host its 10th annual "Culture to Culture" Rock-a-Thon Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 4, 2010  from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m . at Gaither Gym, Wahnish Way. This free event is open to the public and features cultural entertainment, museum tours, vendors, children’s games, special holiday treats and food. Various organizations are claiming their rocking chairs now for a sponsorship of $100.00 as they prepare to engage in this rocking-chair marathon to raise money to benefit Riley Museum’s heritage education programs.

The annual holiday event will feature entertainment from various local cultural groups. A visit from Santa Claus will highlight the event with performing artists showcasing their talents throughout the event.

Join us for a family oriented day. Vendors will be on site to give visitors a jump-start on holiday shopping. If you are interested in participating, sponsoring a rocking chair or being a vendor please call the Riley Museum at (850) 681-7881 or email staff1@rileymuseum.org

May 31st - September 6th, 2010 

 In partnership with Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts, Riley Museum will offer free admission to active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, through Labor Day, September 6, 2010 to show their appreciation for those who are serving this nation. Blue Star Museums  www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums

Showing May 5, 2010 through July 30, 2010

Colored Soldiers on America’s Battlefields From Slavery, To Soldier to Freedom - 

This exhibit is intended to close the gap in a very important part of our local, state and United States history- involvement of Colored Troops in the Civil War and particularly in  the Battle at Natural Bridge, Leon County.  In mutual support with the Natural Bridge Historical Society, the Riley Museum is raising awareness of African American Union Soldiers who fought  and led the charge in this battle.

Annual Applause for the Pioneers Cufflinks and Pearls Gala

February 19, 2010

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Tallahassee Community College, Turner Building, 6:00-8:00 pm

This is the ninth year of Blended Lives , a joint program of the Riley House  museum of black history and the Goodwood Museum and Gardens, originally a white-owned plantation. Blended Lives  began in 2002 as a vehicle for adults to discuss local racial history, while introducing school children to the Riley House  and Goodwood.

More information on the 2010 program will be forthcoming: the following is excerpted from the January 25, 2009 Tallahassee Democrat  article: "Blended Lives Taking the Stage"

"Now, the emphasis is on student education. On Monday, 80 high school juniors will view and discuss the play, "A Trip To Vaudeville." On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 1,700 fourth-graders will visit the Riley House and Goodwood, where they will watch a shorter version of the play and listen to African storytelling.

In recent years, Blended Lives has focused on black-white interaction in literature, business, painting, dance and music.

"There was a blendedness that a lot of people are not aware of that took place in film, music and theater," said Althemese Barnes, director of Riley House. "As time goes on, a lot of these things will be forgotten if we don't go back and recapture them."

Blended Lives has been nominated for an American Association of Museums award, which will be announced April 30-May 2. Ann Fortescue, director of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, nominated the program, praising the partnership of the two museums and the program's "strong content."

"One of the things Blended Lives  does is tell a story," Fortescue said. "Students are able to experience the Riley House , and Goodwood and understand history while at the same time having it made relevant to their lives."

TALLAHASSEE  – The John G. Riley Museum will host its 10th annual "Culture to Culture" Rock-a-Thon Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 5, 2009  from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m . at 419 E. Jefferson Street. Drummers from across the city will perform intermittently signifying the 10th day of Christmas-TEN DRUMMERS DRUMMING. This free event is open to the public and features cultural entertainment, museum tours, vendors, children’s games, special holiday treats and food. Various organizations are claiming their rocking chairs now for a sponsorship of $100.00 as they prepare to engage in this rocking-chair marathon to raise money to benefit Riley Museum’s heritage education programs.

96.1FM Jamz radio personality Joe Bullard  will MC the annual holiday event featuring entertainment from various local cultural groups as well as a visit from Santa Claus will highlight the event with performing artists showcasing their talents throughout the event.

Join us for a family oriented day. Vendors will be on site to give visitors a jump-start on holiday shopping. If you are interested in participating, sponsoring a rocking chair or being a vendor please call the Riley Museum at (850) 681-7881 or email staff1@rileymuseum.org

Chairman, Earnest J. Lane, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity

August 14, 2008 Exhibit Opening

Milestone Memories

This exhibit of artifacts, images and literature will fascinate anyone who sees it. It tells the story of early African American schools and the role of education in early America throughout time until the 60's and the integration of schools.

The Tallahassee Community College Library and the Riley House/TCC Archives have announced the winners of the John G. Riley Essay Contest.

The contest, open to all students at TCC, was coordinated for the purpose of exposing students to the life and significance of John G. Riley, a renowned educator and civic leader in Tallahassee. The contest also afforded participants with the opportunity to learn about the importance of the Riley Archives, which relocated to TCC's campus in 2003, an event that helped fulfill TCC's desire to extend its involvement with the larger community while serving as a valuable contributor to the cultural enrichment of Tallahassee and Leon County.

The Riley Archives, located in Room 202 of the TCC Library, currently houses a vast number of collections on the history of African-American rights in Florida as well as Florida history, from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement.

Jonathan Wing won first place in the essay contest and a $300 cash prize. Wing, a native of Jacksonville, will graduate from TCC this summer then transfer to Florida State University to pursue a degree in accounting. The second place winner ($150) was Jillian Altman and the third place winner ($75) was Robert Evans.