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Friday August 21, 2026, 10 a.m.
Nelson Poynter Memorial Library
Please join Preserve the 'Burg and USF St. Petersburg for the unveiling of a new historical marker on campus commemorating Bayboro Harbor on Friday, August 21 at 10 a.m. at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library.
Bayboro is one of the most storied stretches of waterfront in the city. Dredging of the harbor began in 1907, transforming what was once mud flats and salt marsh into the basin that would later host a U.S. Maritime Service training station during World War II and, eventually, the USF St. Petersburg campus itself.
The unveiling ceremony will begin with a panel discussion featuring USF professor Dr. Catherine Wilkins and recent USF grad Oliver Laczko, whose work inspired the new marker. The panel will discuss Bayboro Harbor's evolution from working waterfront to campus centerpiece, and why markers like this one matter for keeping that history visible to students and neighbors alike. We will then walk from the Library to the Bayboro marker.
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the Mosaic Company. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the Mosaic Company.
Event begins at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, located on the USFSP campus.
Campus Map Detail:
Purple Rectangles = Parking areas
Red Circled Building (POY) = Nelson Poynter Memorial Library
Uptown Porch Party
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Join Preserve the ’Burg for a Porch Party in Historic Uptown and step inside a remarkable example of how an older St. Pete home can evolve while holding onto the character that makes it special.
When owner Kristy Andersen purchased this modest Florida cracker house in 2014, it had been vacant for six years and needed nearly everything. What began as a hands-on restoration soon revealed some welcome surprises—including original porch columns hidden behind later alterations—and eventually grew into a thoughtful expansion designed to meet the needs of modern living without losing sight of the home’s historic roots.
More than a decade later, the house tells a story not only of preservation and adaptation, but of a neighborhood that has undergone its own transformation. Come explore the home, hear its story, and enjoy an evening with friends and fellow preservation enthusiasts in Historic Uptown.
$25 for PTB members and $30 for non-members
PTB Road Trip: Ybor City
Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 10 AM
Join Preserve the 'Burg Executive Director, Manny Leto, for a special road trip to Tampa's Ybor City in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Founded in 1886, Ybor City is one of the oldest urban neighborhoods on Florida's Gulf Coast. Once home to thousands of immigrant cigar workers who created a "city within a city," Ybor was a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic enclave that defined Tampa's urban development, economy, and politics in the early 20th century.
Today, Ybor City is both a Local and National Historic District, home to some of the bay area's most most iconic architecture, from cigar factories and ornately-designed immigrant social clubs to "shotgun" cottages and updated commercial storefronts.
A 3rd-generation Tampa native, Manny has been involved in the Ybor City community for more than 20 years as a preservation advocate, museum professional and resident. Don't miss this insider's look at a truly one-of-a-kind historic neighborhood with Preserve the 'Burg!
Woodson African American Museum Porch Party
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Join Preserve the ’Burg for a special Porch Party at the Woodson African American Museum of Florida and experience the museum’s newly renovated home, exhibits, and gardens.
Explore Many Voices, One Nation – Our Community, developed in collaboration with Florida Humanities, Smithsonian Museum on Main Street, and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. It includes the new monumental mural by Najee Dorsey, pictured above. Blending Smithsonian resources with locally curated stories, the exhibition connects St. Petersburg and the Gulf Coast to the broader American story. Then step into the Legacy Garden for The Underground Railroad Experience, an immersive self-guided tour exploring journeys to freedom, including the lesser-known Saltwater Underground Railroad from the Southeast to the Bahamas.
Woodson staff will also share the story behind the museum’s recent renovation and offer a look at what comes next, including plans and possibilities for the organization’s future. Enjoy refreshments, conversation, and an evening exploring a place that preserves an essential part of St. Petersburg’s history while looking toward its next chapter.
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