FotoFlow Photography: Down Town Charlie Brown

Photo above shot on the Apple iPhone4.

St. Petersburg Pier as I've known it my entire life....

This pier has been the heart of our city since 1973 too bad the city is getting ready to tear it down.

Time to rebuild!

B/W Photo to the left & info below courteousy of www.stpetepier.com

:::History of the St. Petersburg Pier:::

The history of St. Petersburg piers is as extensive as the city itself. The tale begins three years before the city’s inaugural incorporation in 1892 when the Railroad Pier was built in 1889 by the Orange Belt Railway. This first privately owned pier was an immediate attraction for tourists and locals. The famous Electric Pier, on Second Avenue North, was erected in 1906 and boasted an elaborate design. The privately owned pier extended 3,000 feet into the bay. This pier was well known for its dramatic night lighting and was demolished in 1914. The Hurricane of 1921 played a significant role in the development of the existing pier structures, destroying all the standing piers.

The world famous Million Dollar Pier lived up to its legacy when it opened in 1926. The Million Dollar Pier was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in 1926, with ceremonies attended by more than 10,000 people. The Mediterranean-revival casino style building featured a central atrium, an open-air ballroom with terrazzo floors on the rooftop and an observation deck.

However, in late 1967, the 40-year-old, badly deteriorated building was demolished. A park was established temporarily while the present day pier was being constructed. The inverted pyramid pier that stands today has become a landmark in itself. Owned by the City of St. Petersburg, The Pier opened its doors in January 1973. Today it continues its legacy as a centerpiece of St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront with five stories of shopping, dining and adventure.

Demolition Begins 2013 :(