A wide-ranging history of this city on Florida’s Gulf Coast, one of America’s oldest, with numerous photos and maps included.
The Making of St. Petersburg captures the character of this bay city through its past, from the Spanish clash with indigenous peoples to the creation of the downtown waterfront parks and grand hotels. Take a journey with local historian, preservationist, and former museum executive Will Michaels as he chronicles St. Petersburg’s storied history, including the world’s first airline, the birth of Pinellas County, and the good old American pastime, Major League Baseball. From hurricanes to home run king Babe Ruth, the people and events covered in this work paint a rich portrait of a coastal Florida city and capture St. Petersburg’s unique sense of place.Will Michaels has served as Executive Director and Trustee of the St. Petersburg Museum of History; VP of the Woodson Museum of African American History; and President of St. Petersburg Preservation. His civic activity includes service as President of the St. Petersburg Council of Neighborhood Associations and Chair of the Design Committee for the City Pier Advisory Citizens Task Force. He has written numerous locally published articles on St. Petersburg's history.