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PlaceMattersSP
Harboring Resilience: the Past, Present, and Future of Bayboro Harbor
Oliver Laczko
Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 6 PM
For over a century, Bayboro Harbor has fueled St. Pete’s growth and economy. But behind its concrete seawalls lies a fragile ecosystem — and a changing climate is pushing us to rethink how we protect our harbor and, by extension, our community. Join Oliver Laczko as he reveals the hidden history and environmental science of Bayboro Harbor, and makes the case for ecological restoration and resilience as key to our region’s future. Discover how restoring Bayboro Harbor can safeguard our city, strengthen Tampa Bay, and inspire action in the face of rising challenges in this interdisciplinary talk.
Oliver Laczko is a fourth year University of South Florida St. Petersburg Judy Genshaft Honors College Student majoring in Environmental Science and Policy, B.S., with minors in Biology and GIS. He serves as the Vice Chair for the Student Green Energy Fund, which directly involves students with sustainability initiatives and alternative energy projects that benefit the campus and the community. Utilizing USF's special collections as well as the archive at SPMOH, Laczko wrote his senior thesis on the human and environmental history of Bayboro Harbor.
Introduction by Dr. Catherine Wilkins, an interdisciplinary educator whose work explores how art, culture, and history shape the stories we tell about ourselves and the world we inhabit. As a faculty member in the Judy Genshaft Honors College at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, she bridges academic research with community engagement.
PlaceMattersSP is presented by Preserve the ‘Burg and USF's Nelson Poynter Memorial Library and funding for this installment was provided through a grant from the 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.
Lecture takes place 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
Millionaires & Bootleggers
Old Southeast Walking Tour
Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 10 AM
Back by popular demand, our all-new "Millionaires and Bootleggers" tour of Old Southeast returns.
We'll gather on the north side of Lassing Park for this special tour before setting off down the brick streets of this historic waterfront neighborhood.
In addition to streets lined with historic homes, stops include the Bayboro House, the Polish American Club, and the Coast Guard Station.
Tour meets at 15th Ave SE and Lassing Park, on the northern end of the park.
PTB members are $10; Guests and non-members are $20/person.
Attendance is limited; advance registration required.
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2026 PTB Walking Tours Sponsored By
Author Series: Monica Kile
Monday, March 30, 2026 at 6 PM
Join local historian Monica Kile for an inside look at the hidden stories behind the grand jewel of St. Petersburg’s waterfront. She’ll unravel everything from the fantastic - if largely fabricated - tale of the golf ball and the pocket watch, to the world‑renowned contributing architect who somehow slipped through the cracks of history. She’ll also explore the complicated truth of who was welcomed at the hotel over the past century—and who was not.
All of these discoveries emerged during her research for the hotel’s 100th‑anniversary book, a project that also seems destined to be lost to history.
Space is limited; reservations are required.
Author Series: Thomas Hallock, Amanda Hagood, Ray Roa
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM
What are the human and natural stories that drain into Tampa Bay?
Join Thomas Hallock (USF St. Petersburg) and Amanda Hagood (Eckerd College) for a conversation grounded in #Creekshed, their collaborative project in environmental storytelling.
Through essays, poems, and scholarly research, they trace how creeks, culverts, and overlooked streams define our sense of place and reveal patterns of environmental change.
Facilitated by Ray Roa (Creative Loafing), this program considers how the written word can foster stewardship and strengthen our shared commitment to preservation.
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from the 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.
Baum Avenue & Green Bench Brewing Tour
Friday, April 10, 2026 at 7 PM
Step off the main drags of St. Petersburg and into Baum Avenue, an old blue-collar corridor named for early local developer Jacob Baum. This short historic walk led by PTB Executive Director Manny Leto circles the block around Green Bench and ends at the brewery. See the warehouse-era brick buildings and loading-bay streetscapes that helped shape what’s now a creative hub at the edge of the Warehouse Arts District and nearby EDGE District.
Designed as a centennial celebration of the Green Bench Brewing Company building, the tour connects neighborhood history with today’s arts-and-maker energy, then wraps with a behind-the-scenes brewery tour and a celebratory drink.
Tour reservations are strongly recommended, space is limited.
Central Avenue/Downtown Walking Tour
Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 10 AM
Did you know that the majority of the buildings lining St. Pete's Central Avenue were built before 1950?
Indeed, Central Avenue is one of St. Petersburg's defining features, a historic "main street" lined with distinctive retail storefronts and arcade buildings, many dating back more than a century.
The tour begins at Craft Kafe, 200 Central Avenue, and will include "The 600 Block," the iconic Snell Building and the Open Air Post Office along the way.
This tour will be led by former PTB President and Board Member Emily Elwyn.
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Old Southeast Craftsman Bungalow Porch Party
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Located in St. Petersburg’s Old Southeast neighborhood, 256 20th Ave SE is a 1920 Craftsman-style bungalow steps away from Lassing Park and Tampa Bay. With its low profile and inviting front porch—designed as an outdoor living space—the house has classic Craftsman features that are well-suited to Florida’s climate and porch-centered social life. From the major front porch restoration project completed this December to a recent custom kitchen remodel, the owner's thoughtful updates have focused on retaining historic accents and charm.
Visit this home to experience a comfortable, lived-in example of how historic houses continue to serve modern St. Pete living and preservation values championed by Preserve the ’Burg!
$25 for PTB members and $30 for non-members
Historic Kenwood Walking Tour
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 10 AM
Join Preserve the Burg and the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association on a tour of St. Pete's first suburb.
Attendees will be led on a pleasant stroll through the neighborhood that has one of the largest concentrations of bungalow homes in the country.
The tour will focus on the history of the neighborhood, its revitalization and current activities & events. We will end in the Grand Central District on Central Ave, a great area for lunch at one of St. Pete’s many small local businesses.
Tickets are $10 for PTB & HKNA members or $20 for any non-members.
Twilight Walking Tour: Old Northeast
Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6:30 PM
This special installment of our Twilight Tour will take attendees around the Old Northeast neighborhood.
Old Northeast resident, historic preservationist and PTB Board member Emily Elwyn, leads this evening stroll starting at the Elwyn's beautifully restored 1924 craftsman/colonial home and will visit historically significant styles represented in the Old Northeast.
Don't miss this special guided walk with an Old Northeast insider!
PTB members - $10 per person.
Guests and non-members are $20 per person.
Original Historic Downtown Walking Tour
Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 10 AM
Our "Original" Historic Downtown Walking Tour is a great way for visitors to get an introduction to St. Petersburg and for residents to learn a few things new about the 'Burg's past.
Experience what makes downtown special as you take a stroll though a portion of the city's central business district and the Downtown National Register Historic District.
Participants will see grand historic hotels, stately churches, and architectural treasures like the Snell Building & Arcade and the Open Air Post Office.
Author Series: Polita Glynn
Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 6 PM
Saint Petersburg, Florida has more surviving brick streets than almost any city in America. But what is the story of the brick roads of Saint Petersburg? And why is almost every brick stamped with the name AUGUSTA BLOCK?
Join us for a screening of Brick Roads followed by a conversation between PTB Executive Director Manny Leto and Co-Director and Producer Polita Glynn. This short film explores the City’s brick roads, showing the miles of original brick streets, the loss of those roads as they were paved over with asphalt and the preservation work of the City of St. Petersburg to protect these iconic traditional roadways.
The Brick Roads project received grant support from the City of St. Petersburg.
Preserve the ’Burg Restoration & Design Expo Saturday, May 16 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club
Join Preserve the ’Burg for a day dedicated to historic homes, thoughtful design and St. Pete’s architectural heritage at the annual Restoration & Design Expo. Held at the iconic St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, this free community event brings together local vendors, preservation tradespeople and experts in historic restoration, home décor and period-appropriate design.
Connect with professionals who specialize in restoring older homes, explore vintage-inspired home décor and design ideas, and attend presentations on topics including accessory dwelling units (ADUs), best practices for rehabilitation and how to research your home's history. Learn about the architectural styles that define St. Petersburg’s neighborhoods and discover resources available to property owners and community advocates.
The Expo will also feature guided tours of the historic Mirror Lake area, offering an up-close look at one of the city’s treasured neighborhoods and its distinctive architecture.
Whether you’re restoring a historic bungalow, researching your home’s past, decorating with vintage flair, or simply curious about St. Pete’s history and design, the Restoration & Design Expo offers tools, tips, resources, and a little St. Pete-inspiration.
The Expo is presented in partnership with the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and their Preserve Florida Conference, taking place May 14 and 15 in St. Petersburg. Visit the Florida Trust website here to register.
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