St. Petersburg History
Before the Rays: The Expansion Decision That Stung
On June 10, 1991, baseball fans across the Tampa Bay region received disappointing news. After months of anticipation, Major League Baseball…
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St. Petersburg History
When the Mattie Reached Tampa Bay
On June 8, 1888, the Orange Belt Railway’s locomotive Mattie rolled into the southern end of the Pinellas Peninsula, marking the…
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St. Petersburg History
From Central Avenue to the Henry Ford Museum
On June 6, 1906, St. Petersburg celebrated the arrival of its first fire engine, a major milestone for a growing city…
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St. Petersburg History
June 4, 1943: A Landmark Day for Florida Women
On June 4, 1943, Florida took a significant step toward expanding women’s legal rights when Governor Spessard L. Holland signed legislation…
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St. Petersburg History
Floating Into History: Gemini 4 and America’s First Spacewalk
On June 3, 1965, astronaut Edward H. White II stepped out of the Gemini 4 spacecraft and into history, becoming the…
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St. Petersburg History
The Last American Departure of Amelia Earhart
On June 1, 1937, Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, lifted off from Miami to continue their second attempt at…
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Paul Eppling: St. Pete’s Metal Magician
Local artist Paul Eppling (1949–2016) was a beloved metal sculptor whose work became a distinctive part of the city’s visual landscape.
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CoolHistory
Gulf Coast Wonder: The Story of the Aquatarium
The Aquatarium opened in 1964 and quickly became one of Pinellas County’s most memorable tourist attractions. Located on 17 acres between…
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CoolHistory
Sarah Williams: The Mother of St. Petersburg
On Mother’s Day, 2026, the Museum of History is celebrating Sarah Williams, known as the “Mother of St. Petersburg,” whose quiet…
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CoolHistory
The Poor Nut and a New Beginning
On May 9, 1933, a newly reorganized community acting troupe in St. Petersburg officially adopted the name St. Petersburg Little Theatre,…
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CoolHistory
A 13th-Inning Spark in a Pennant Season
On May 8, 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays were still early in a season no one quite saw coming. The team…
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CoolHistory
F.A. Davis: St. Petersburg’s First Big Dreamer
F.A. Davis arrived in St. Petersburg in the 1890s with a habit of thinking big. After establishing a successful publishing company…
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