History & Heritage

Florida is not all beaches, palm trees and theme parks and Clearwater is no exception. Over a century of history is easily visible and accessible, much of it free. Consider that the Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa built in 1897, is the oldest occupied wooden building still used for its original purpose; tour the underground railway; take the tour to see the hidden passageways and maybe hear a ghost tale or two. Stroll through historic downtown Clearwater and beautiful Harbor Oaks with its early 20th century homes. Go back in time at Heritage Village, a turn-of-the-century living historical museum where men and women dress in period costume. Climb the batteries at Ft. DeSoto, a Spanish American war fort.

 

Nearby Hillsborough County's Ybor City returns you to the time Tampa was the "Cigar Capital of the World"; turn of the century Cuban and Spanish culture permeates this historic landmark district, one of only three in Florida. Thousands of American Indians once lived along the bodies of water that are now Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico; several areas feature mounds dated from 500 B.C. to 1500 A.D. For more information on the mounds, visit or call the Science Center of Pinellas County. Many of Pinellas County's communities have local historical museums featuring aspects of history unique to Florida and Pinellas County.

  • U.S. Post Office - Cleveland Street
    650 Cleveland Street, Clearwater. Mediterranean revival-style structure representative of 1929-1939 federal public works program.
  • County Courthouse/Courtroom
    One 315 Court, Clearwater. First permanent building erected in Clearwater; built in 1917.
  • Louis Ducros House
    1324 South Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater. Rare example of "carpenter gothic" architecture, built in 1890s for railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant.
  • Donald Roebling Estate
    700 Orange Avenue, Clearwater. Tudor revival-style structure.
  • 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.
  • Plumb House
    1380 Greenwood Avenue South, Clearwater. Built circa 1896, coinciding with the beginning of settlement of Belleair.
  • Andrews Memorial Chapel
    1899 San Mateo, Dunedin. Fine example of Florida Gothic church architecture, built in 1888.
  • J.O. Douglas House
    209 Scotland, Dunedin. Now a Bed and Breakfast, 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.)
  • Philippe Park
    2355 Bayshore Drive, Safety Harbor. Named for first white settler on the Pinellas peninsula, Dr. Philippe, who established his plantation in the 1830s. (Dr. Philippe is credited with being the first to plant citrus trees in rows.)
  • Alexander Hotel
    535 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. Built in 1919, now restored as an office building.
  • Boone House
    601 Fifth Avenue North, St. Petersburg. Classical revival-style house built in 1910.
  • 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.
  • Dennis Hotel
    326 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg. Neo-classical in style, opened in 1925.
  • Potter House
    557 Second Street South, St. Petersburg. A pioneer period Queen Anne-style house built in 1905.
  • 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.
  • Snell Arcade
    405 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg. Mediterranean revival-style shopping arcade and office building.
  • Studebaker Building
    600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg. Tudor revival-style 1925 car dealership.
  • 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.
  • Veillard House
    262 Fourth Avenue North, St. Petersburg. One of the earliest surviving bungalow-style structures, built in 1901.
  • 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.
  • Fort DeSoto Batteries
    Fort DeSoto Park on Mullet Key. Built during the Spanish American War but never used, except for practice.
  • Bay Pines Veterans Facility
    10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Seminole. Built in the early 1930s as a WPA project to house and care for veterans. Mediterranean revival in style with elaborate and decorative tile work.
  • St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
    30 North Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs. A replica of St. Sophia's in Constantinople and an authentic example of New-Byzantine architecture with an interior of sculptured Grecian marble, elaborate iconography and stained glass windows.
  • Arcade Hotel
    210 South Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs. An early "mini-mall" built during the Florida land boom of the 1920s.
  • Safford House
    Parkin Court, Tarpon Springs. Built between 1883 and 1887.