Mr. John G. Riley was a prominent man in the Tallahassee community in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was born to and raised by two slaves and his legacy in the city is that of a man who was born into nothing and worked his way to the top. Mr. Riley gathered his wealth and notoriety through his work in education and civic leadership. He was one of the few African American men who owned land at the beginning of the 1900s.

 

Mr. Riley began teaching in 1877 at a school in Wakulla County. By 1892, Mr. Riley was the principal of Lincoln Academy, which was the "black school" in Leon County during the time of segragation. Mr. Riley served as principal at Lincoln Academy until 1926, when he retired. Lincoln Academy was closed once the Leon County school district became integrated. In memorial to the school, Tallahassee now has a high school named after the Academy, Lincoln High School, and another high school with the colors (royal blue and white) and mascot (the tigers) of the Academy, Godby High School.

 

Mr. Riley's home is now preserved and used to educate the community about the man who once lived there and the causes he lead.

 

To learn more about the Riley House, visit their website at http://rileymuseum.org/site/.