CoolHistory
We Wish You Were Here!
Before high-rise luxury resorts, social media, and digital tourism commercials, how did St. Petersburg convince the world to visit? From the…
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CoolHistory
The Rays Break Through: From 66 Wins to the World Series
The Tampa Bay Rays had spent their first decade struggling to find their footing in Major League Baseball. That changed dramatically…
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CoolHistory
A Fight for Equality: The Courageous 12
In 1965, St. Petersburg’s police department was segregated. Black officers were restricted to patrolling predominantly Black neighborhoods and could not arrest…
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CoolHistory
Christine Renc-Carter: A Life Dedicated to Art and Printmaking
Christine Renc-Carter has spent her career preserving, interpreting, and creating art. A second-generation Florida artist, she began making drypoints on her…
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CoolHistory
Roadside Wonders: Selling Sunshine Along the Way
As more visitors traded train tickets for automobile trips, Florida’s highways became part of the vacation experience. During the 20th…
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CoolHistory
Every Stitch Tells a Story
Around 1927, Jane Tiger Motlow of the Otter Clan was photographed sewing inside a traditional Seminole chickee. At first glance, the…
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Checking in at the Sunshine City
Before the pink walls of the Vinoy became a symbol of St. Petersburg’s hospitality, a collection of early hotels helped introduce…
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Five Pitchers, One Shutout
On August 22, 2021, the Tampa Bay Rays showed why their depth made them one of baseball’s toughest teams. Facing…
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Inspired by Nature: The Art of Mary-Helen Horne
Mary-Helen Horne proves that creativity can flourish at any stage of life. After a successful career in business, she turned to…
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Rebekah Lazaridis: Preserving the Past Through Printmaking
Rebekah Lazaridis is helping carry Pinellas County’s printmaking tradition into the future. A third-generation St. Petersburg resident, she began studying printmaking…
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Webb’s City: Selling Sunshine Through Spectacle
In St. Petersburg, shopping was never just about buying something. Sometimes, it was an experience all its own. In 1925,…
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Peña’s Pinch-Hit Heroics
On August 18, 2012, the Tampa Bay Rays pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history. Playing the…
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