Our guided walking tours are "on vacation" for the summer. They will resume in the fall.
For more info: Read walking tour descriptions. [Download PDF]

March 8, 2008
Saturday, 10 a.m. to Noon. The popular 2-hour Walking Tour of the Downtown Saint Petersburg Historic District will again be led by SPP members Kai Warren and Peter Belmont.The walk begins at the Detroit Hotel corner, Central Avenue at 2nd Street - near the Saturday Morning Market (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.). A $5 donation is requested of non-members. The tour will be repeated each 2nd Saturday of the month through April 2008.

Read walking tour descriptions. [Download PDF]

March 26, 2008
General Membership Business & Election Meeting
Wednesday, March 26, 7PM
Mirror Lake Lawn Bowling Club

March 29, 2008
SAVE THE DATE and JOIN US for a Fundraiser for Historic Preservation

Saturday, March 29 from 6 to 9 pm
Historic Bradshaw House, 609 11th Avenue South

Home of one of the first mayors of St Petersburg, beautifully restored with lovely pool and grounds. Before the party, at 5 pm, there will be a private guided tour of the Greenwood Cemetery. Walk through the cemetery and learn about all the famous St Petersburg citizens buried there. We will provide all the materials for grave rubbings. Meet at Bradshaw House at 5 pm to walk over the two blocks to the cemetery. Then return to the Bradshaw House for fun, music, food and learning about historical figures from our city's past. Photos with costumed "citizens" available.

Official invitations will be mailed first of March
For any questions, call Rebecca at 727-954-8252

March 29, 2008
All Tours start at 10:00 A.M. from the front of the historic Detroit Hotel,located at the corner of Central Avenue and 2nd Street in downtown St. Pete. Tours are free for members and a $5 donation is asked of non-members. Tours last between 2 and 2 ½ hours. The Saturday Morning Market is located across the street from our tour starting point so come enjoy the market before or after taking our tour!

WESTWARD HO FROM THE WATERFRONT – This is a new tour, first being offered February 23 and will be given on the last Saturday of February, March and April. The tour has two distinct segments - the downtown waterfront and westward to the bungalows of the Kenwood neighborhood.

Read walking tour descriptions. [Download PDF]

April 5, 2008
Date moved from regular schedule because of the Festival of States.

Saturday, 10 a.m. to Noon. The popular 2-hour Walking Tour of the Downtown Saint Petersburg Historic District will again be led by SPP members Kai Warren and Peter Belmont. The walk begins at the Detroit Hotel corner, Central Avenue at 2nd Street - near the Saturday Morning Market (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.). A $5 donation is requested of non-members. The tour will be repeated each 2nd Saturday of the month through April 2008.

Read walking tour descriptions. [Download PDF]

April 26, 2008
All Tours start at 10:00 A.M. from the front of the historic Detroit Hotel,located at the corner of Central Avenue and 2nd Street in downtown St. Pete. Tours are free for members and a $5 donation is asked of non-members. Tours last between 2 and 2 ½ hours. The Saturday Morning Market is located across the street from our tour starting point so come enjoy the market before or after taking our tour!

WESTWARD HO FROM THE WATERFRONT – This is a new tour, first being offered February 23 and will be given on the last Saturday of February, March and April. The tour has two distinct segments - the downtown waterfront and westward to the bungalows of the Kenwood neighborhood.

Read walking tour descriptions. [Download PDF]

May 19, 2008
All are invited to attend our Historic Preservation Awards 2008 at 7 p.m. at The Studio at 620 (located at 620 First Avenue South). There is no cost and reservations are not needed. See PRESERVATION AWARDS for the 2008 Nomination Forms.

December 8, 2007
Walking Tour of the Downtown St. Petersburg Historic District, 10 a.m. to Noon, beginning at Central Avenue and 2nd Street, led by Kai Warren and Peter Belmont. $5 donation requested; SPP members no charge.

November 13, 2007
Saint Petersburg Preservation forum at the Museum of History, 335 2nd Avenue NE. Guest speaker Dr. Bill Heller spoke on "Saving the C. Perry Snell and John C. Williams Historic Homes." These homes were preserved by relocating them from their original sites to the Bayboro Campus of the University of South Florida in 1993. Bill Heller was Dean of the USF Bayboro Campus at the time, and along with Dr. Ray Arsenault and others, instrumental in saving these fine examples of early St. Petersburg homes and architecture. Dr. Heller also spoke regarding state opportunities for historic preservation grants. Bill continues to teach at USF and also is State Representative for District 52.

A large photographic display provided by the USF Florida Studies Program featured the Snell and Williams houses before, during, and after the relocations and restorations.

The meeting included a brief update of recent SPP activities.

SPPI members and the public were invited; there was no charge.

November 10, 2007
Walking Tour of the Downtown St. Petersburg Historic District, 10 a.m. to Noon, beginning at Central Avenue and 2nd Street, led by Kai Warren and Peter Belmont. $5 donation requested; SPP members no charge.

October 24, 2007
Presentation by Author Stacy Mitchell, "The Fight for America's Independent Businesses"
Saint Petersburg Preservation was a sponsor of this evening event at The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast Community Center, 3050 1st Avenue South, St Petersburg.
SPPI members and the public were invited; there was no charge.

October 13, 2007
Walking Tour of the Downtown St. Petersburg Historic District, 10 a.m. to Noon, beginning at Central Avenue and 2nd Street, led by Kai Warren and Peter Belmont. $5 donation requested; SPP members no charge.

September 18, 2007
Saint Petersburg Preservation forum at the historic Pennsylvania Hotel, 300 4th Street North.

Guest speaker was Dr. Gary Mormino, Co-Chair of the Florida Studies Program at the University of South Florida at St. Petersburg. His topic was "History's Impact on Home Styles in St. Pete." Dr. Mormino is author of "Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida." His book is the topic of a recent PBS documentary.

SPP presented a Preservation Award to Courtyard Marriott for their preservation and readaptive use of the Pennsylvania Hotel; a tour of the hotel followed. The Pennsylvania was built in 1925, and predates the Vinoy Renaissance Hotel. It was built by Harry C. Case who at one time ran the St. Petersburg Trolley system. Case was one of a number of entrepreneurs, including George Gandy and F. A. Davis, who came to St. Petersburg from Philadelphia. The hotel was later acquired N. U. Bond and operated for many years by the Bond family. The meeting included updates on recent SPP activities involving the Garden Cafeteria/Piano Exchange Building, Mansion By the Bay (Mayor Bert Blocker Home), Detroit Hotel, and other preservation priorities. SPPI members and the public were invited; there was no charge

For many years SPPI has led walking tours in downtown St. Petersburg that explain the founding of St. Petersburg and discuss its historic architecture. These low-priced tours are usually scheduled for one Saturday a month, from early fall through spring, from 10 a.m. to noon. Beginning in October 2007, the tours will be held on the second Saturday of the month. Reservations are not required. For information on upcoming tours, call (727) 824-7802.

February Newsletter
April Newsletter

The Mayor's Historic Preservation Summit was held on June 24, 2006 at the Coliseum. The City's website has extensive coverage including: all the presentations, public participation results, and a historic walking tour brochure.
Please visit: http://www.stpete.org/Summit_main.html