Walking Through Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida

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The city of St. Petersburg, Florida, sits at the southern tip of the Pinellas peninsula, on the western side of Tampa Bay. The city was founded in 1892, and by 1900 it had grown to a population of 1,600 people. During the 20th century, St. Petersburg became a major tourist destination on the Gulf Coast, with train service providing easy to access from the center of the United States.




Today, downtown St. Petersburg is a tale of two cities, with Central Ave. its dividing line. South of Central Ave is an area with almost all modern buildings, mostly high-rise condos and office buildings. It is an area that has been totally built up and gentrified during the past 20 or so years. My interest has always been in more historical buildings, so, when I found a self-guided walking tour that focused on the historical buildings in the area north of Central Ave., I jumped at the chance to explore some of the city’s past.

Central Avenue and the First Block


St. Petersburg was founded by Russian emigrant Peter Demens, owner of the Orange Belt Railroad, and Michigan native John C. Williams. Demens named the city after the place he grew up, and Williams built the first hotel, naming it The Detroit hotel, which still exists today.



The yellow building is the original hotel


Central Avenue quickly became the commercial center of St. Petersburg, and was until the movement of commerce to malls in the 1970’s and 80’s. During the past 20 years it has been reborn as a tourist and entertainment area, with restaurants, bars/clubs and shops catering to visitors and new residents in the area. 




While the south side of Central Ave. has been almost totally rebuilt, its north side still has many buildings that date back close to 100 years. At the corner of 4th street and Central Ave is the Snell Building and Arcade. Built in 1928, the office building and commercial arcade became the anchor of the city’s business district. I highly recommend a stop at Schakolad Chocolate Factory on its first floor for great flavored mochas.


Snell Building and Arcade


Schakolad Chocolate Factory


Walking on to 8th street, I found many other buildings from the neighborhood’s past.


The Green Richman Arcade

8th Street mural

The Floridian (Old State Theater)

The Crislip Arcade


4th Street Churches

 

My walk continued north along 4th Street.  At 4th street and 1st Avenue North is the country’s only outdoor post office. Designed after the Ospedale degli Innocenti in Florence, Italy, this 1916 building has no interior lobby. Customers stand under its portico to carry out their business or to visit their mailboxes.




Walking north along 4th street I passed several churches within 3 blocks, a couple of hotels, and even a modern brewery in a building that served as a cafeteria for most of the 20th century.

The Pennsylvania Hotel (now a Courtyard)

The First Congregational Church

The former Orange Blossom Cafeteria

The Catherdal Church of St. Peter

The First Baptist Church

The Christ United Methodist Church

 


Playing Games



 

Walking west along 4th Ave. North, I found a remnant and still popular part of St. Petersburg history. In 1916 the St. Petersburg Lawn Bowling Club was formed, followed soon after by the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. Today they sit side by side on 4th Ave. North, between 5th and 7th streets, along side Mirror Lake Park.







Nuts and Bolts


  • My exploration was based on a self-guided tour of St. Petersburg that I found for FREE at the St. Pete Store and Visitors Center - 100 2nd Ave. North
  • St. Petersburg Lawn Bowling Club - 536 4th Ave North. Open Mon, Wed, and Fri 8:30 AM - Noon, Tue 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
  • St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club - 559 Mirror Lake Drive North. Open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM - Noon. 
Location: St. Petersburg, FL, USA

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