The late 19th-century “Gilded Age” socialites of the northeast sought a subtropical retreat for the harsh winter months. The Tampa Bay Hotel, built in 1891, and the Don CeSar, built in 1928, are excellent examples of the grand establishments…

The fabulous Floridan Palace Hotel, built in 1926, and Don CeSar, built in 1928, catered to wealthy socialites who visited the Tampa Bay Area on a seasonal basis. It is essential to understand the tourism industries effect on the growth and…

For nearly a century, The Don CeSar has been an icon in St. Pete Beach. Standing eight stories tall, this beautiful Spanish-style hotel and spa can be seen from miles away against the paradisiacal blue sky of Florida. Thousands of people flock to The…

In 1943, A. Reynolds and Eleanor Morse purchased their first Dalí painting, Daddy Longlegs of the Evening, Hope! (1940). Not only did the couple build a lifelong friendship with the Dalí’s, but they collected his work for over 40 years. The Morse’s…

With the spirit of the roaring twenties gripping the country, the building that is now known as the State Theatre was built in 1924 as The Alexander National Bank. Jacob Alexander commissioned architect Neel Reid to design the Beaux-Arts style 8,600…

The Vinoy Park hotel was first built in 1925 by Aymer Vinoy Laughner, a Pennsylvania billionaire. It took ten months to complete construction for this 375-room seasonal hotel, which provided a warm escape for wealthy northern visitors from December…