Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island Walking Tour

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The Gasparilla Inn & Club was built by the Boca Grande Land Company between 1911 and 1913. Today, the historic hotel serves as the centerpiece of the Gasparilla Inn Historic District, which is 25 acres in size and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Gasparilla Inn is one of the largest historic resort hotels still standing in Florida. The company intended the Inn to attract wealthy visitors and potential residents, including Northerners, to help spur the growth of the new resort community. The hotel is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and has won several awards for historic preservation.

2. Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway Depot

The Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway (CH&N) built this historic former train station in two phases between 1910 and 1913. The depot represents the important role railroads played in the economic development of Boca Grande and southwest Florida, and it is a fine example of Mediterranean Revival architecture. It is two-stories tall and 141-feet long, and features a French tile roof, a covered arched walkway on the southern end, and a heavy bracketed cornice supporting the roof overhangs. A restaurant called Loose Caboose and several other businesses currently occupy the building. A portion of the former CH&N railroad track is now part of the Boca Grande Bike Path.

3. First Baptist Church of Boca Grande

Built in 1915, First Baptist Church of Boca Grande is the oldest church on Gasparilla Island. The building itself is an excellent example of Carpenter Gothic Revival architecture, which is characterized by lancet windows, a bell tower, and balloon frame construction. The church was built at a time when Boca Grande was emerging as a small but prosperous economic center and tourist destination. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

4. Boca Grande Historical Society & History Center

The Boca Grande Historical Society & History Center preserves and promotes the history Gasparilla Island and the surrounding region. It offers a variety of events programs, collects materials for its archives, and operates a history center which features various exhibits using items in its collection. These items include photographs, newspaper articles, maps, and artifacts. There is also an oral history collection consisting of transcripts and audio and video recordings.

5. Boca Grande Community Center

The Boca Grande Community Center is a cultural and education center that offers a variety of programs including lectures, study groups, workshops, and community events. Built in 1929, it has remained an important landmark in Boca Grande. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 for the impact it has had on the community and for its Mission Revival architecture. Designed by architect N. Gaillard Walker, who was based in Fort Myers, the building features a landscaped courtyard surrounded by an arcaded arched walkway, terra cotta ornamentation, and a two-story tower with a polychromatic line of ceramic square tiles and arched openings. The complex includes the former school, the Community House, and the Teacherage building.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island Walking Tour

Created by Clio Admin on March 11th 2021, 9:20:09 pm.

This tour has been viewed 2254 times.

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Description

This short tour begins at the Gasparilla Inn which is over a century old. The tour continues on the the historic Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway Depot and the First Baptist Church of Boca Grande. The tour then takes visitors to the Boca Grande Historical Society which offers exhibits and programs about the history of Gasparilla Island and concludes at the Boca Grande Community Center. Be sure to also visit the historic lighthouse on the southern end of the island-more information for that landmark is also in Clio.

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Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island Walking Tour

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