Sarasota

Images of America: Florida

by Amy A. Elder

Images of America: Sarasota celebrates the unique history of one of Florida's most beautiful communities. Once a modest town, known for its ranching, hunting, fishing, and farming, Sarasota has grown into a thriving city. It became a town in 1902 and separated from Manatee County to become Sarasota County in 1921. Surrounded by sparkling water, soft sand beaches, abundant protected wildlife, and spectacular sunsets, Sarasota was and still is a great place to live or visit. This volume contains more than 200 prized images of Sarasota from the mid-1800s to the 1930s. Highlighted are the people who helped to transform the area from a small fishing village into a booming tourist and cultural center. Some of the early pioneers included are fisherman and cattleman William Whitaker; farmers John and Eliza Webb; Scotsman, golfer, and developer J.H. Gillespie; builder Harry Higel; developer and experimental agriculturist Mrs. Potter Palmer; developer Owen Burns; Real Estate promoter J.H. Lord; and circus people and promoters John and Mable Ringling, who left a legacy to the state including their mansion Ca' d'Zan, The John and Mable Ringling Museum, and The Ringling School of Art.

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2003

Reviews

[William Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarasota is a city of beauty and artistry. I consider Sarasota, the “Palm Beach of the west coast of Florida”. This book gives you an inside look at the history and pioneering days of what was considered a frontier town in the burgeoning Gulf Coast. To see the contrast between the before and after images of this great city leaves one with a sense of wonder. I’m glad that the writer of this book included a chapter on The Ringlings, since they were the ones who helped promote this paradise back in the 1920s. I visited the Ca d’Zan at the Ringling Museum back in 2014 and it was a sight to behold. Pick up this book because it will be a great addition to your Florida collection!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had some interesting photos of Sarasota, particularly the pioneers and pre-1920s downtown.