Heritage

West central Florida’s links to its diverse past, including its Native American heritage, strategic position in the Spanish-American War, early settlers and key involvement in the early development of the railroad system and tourism are well represented throughout the Clearwater area.

Dunedin
Visitors should not miss the Dunedin Historical Society and Museum. The original station for the Orange Belt Railroad System dating to 1889 showcases the history of Dunedin and Pinellas County through thousands of artifacts, photographs and documents. Dunedin’s village-like downtown with its restored Main Street area has been named one of America’s “Five Most Walkable Downtowns” by Walking magazine. The community celebrates its Scottish heritage several times a year through festivals and competitions.

Fort DeSoto
Ft. DeSoto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde (727) 582-2267
In addition to some of the region’s best recreational beaches, nature and canoe trails, visitors will find plenty of historical sites of interest as well in Ft. DeSoto Park. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the fort itself – built during the Spanish-American War – is on Mullet Key, the largest of the five islands that make up the park. Adding to the historical interest are a 12-inch mortar battery, two British breechloading, rapid-fire rifles of 1890s vintage and the Quartermaster Storehouse Museum.

Heritage Village
11909 125th Street North, Largo (727) 582-2123
Heritage Village is a 21-acre, open-air historical village and museum located in Pinewood Cultural Park, home to some of Pinellas County’s most historic buildings. The 28 structures, some dating back to the mid-to late-19th century, include the Lowe Barn, a school, church, railroad depot, and store as well as a variety of historic homes. The homes range from the McMullen-Coachman Log Cabin, the oldest existing structure in Pinellas County, to the magnificent Victorian-era House of Seven Gables. The Pinellas County Historical Museum traces the county's history from the Indian-Spanish period to contemporary times.

John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk
John’s Pass Historic Village and Boardwalk, located on the Intracoastal Pass between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island, is named for French pirate John LeVique who is said to have lost his treasure here during a hurricane in 1848. Today over one hundred merchants inhabit the Village which features retail shops, restaurants, fishing and water recreation. Visitors will want to check out Hubbard’s Marina, the Village’s centerpiece. Daily boat trips are available which include, among several nature-based cruises, trips to Egmont Key - Ft. Dade, site of sunken Spanish-American War ruins, a ghost town, an 1858 operational lighthouse and the picturesque fort itself.

Safety Harbor
The Native Americans and early settlers of Pinellas County believed the mineral water here could aid in healing the sick. Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto believed he had found the “Fountain of Youth.” Safety Harbor became known as the “Health Giving City” with five separate springs providing legendary curative powers. A walking tour of this historic community offers quaint streets, parks, homes and Indian mounds. While here, visitors should stop in at the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History. The museum features artifacts of the region from prehistoric times to Aboriginal Indians and pioneers as well as educational exhibits throughout the year.

Tarpon Springs
An unlikely blend of two cultures can be experienced here, Pinellas County’s oldest city and the “Sponge Capital of the World.” Its waterfront is a working seaport and shopping district with the feel of a Grecian fishing village. Downtown is a showcase of Victorian-era buildings and homes. Visitors will not want to miss the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum which contains historical exhibits and information, particularly on how the marine and natural environments shaped the city's development, the local people and the sponging industry.

Ybor City
Once known as the “Cigar Capital of the World,” Tampa's Latin Quarter is one of only three National Historic Landmark Districts in all of Florida. The neighborhood is still famous for its historic streets and architecture (including restored cigar factories), but it’s also a thriving cultural community offering nightlife, shopping, art galleries, and a variety of dining establishments. The Ybor City Museum features exhibits on Vicente Martinez Ybor, the founding and early history of Ybor City, its social clubs and cigar industry.

HISTORICAL SITES

County Courthouse/Courtroom
One 315 Court, Clearwater.
First permanent building erected in Clearwater; built in 1917.

South Ward School
610 South Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater.
Built in 1906, the oldest school in the county continuously operating from the same building.

Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa
25 Belleview Blvd., Clearwater.
Built in 1897, reputed to be the oldest occupied wooden structure still used for its original purpose. "The White Queen of the Gulf" became a vacation retreat for steel magnates, railroad presidents and industrial barons.

J.O. Douglas House
209 Scotland, Dunedin.
Oldest house in Dunedin and the first to be constructed of sawn lumber. (Douglas was responsible for petitioning the government requesting a post office named "Dunedin," Gaelic for Edinburgh, capital of Scotland.)

Carnegie Library
300 Fifth Street North, St. Petersburg.
First library built in the city, Beaux Arts style.

Central High School
2501 Fifth Avenue North, St. Petersburg.
Mediterranean revival in style, the school was built in 1925 during the Florida land boom and cost one million dollars.

St. Petersburg Lawn Bowling Club
536 Fourth Avenue North, St. Petersburg.
One of the oldest lawn bowling courts in the country, built in 1926 and still used for tournaments.

U.S. Post Office
76 Fourth Street North, St. Petersburg.
Built in 1917 in Mediterranean revival style; only open-air post office in the country.

Renaissance Vinoy Resort
501 5th Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg.
Luxury resort hotel built in 1925.

Don CeSar Hotel
3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach.
Built in 1928 at the height of Florida's land boom in Mediterranean revival-style.

Arcade Hotel
210 South Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs.
An early "mini-mall" built during the Florida land boom of the 1920s.

Historic Plumb House Museum
1380 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater.
An original two-story Cracker-style wood house built in 1896 houses period furnishings, vintage photographic collections and artifacts. The Clearwater Historical Society offers free tours.