History of Anna Maria Island
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Welcome to The Complete History of Anna Maria Island...
Anna Maria Village is located at the end of a seven-mile long island with hundreds of years of history, and there are still many historical “secrets” in plain sight... that is if you know where to look!
With a population of 1,500 residence year round and beaches on all sides - Anna Maria Island is the perfect getaway for any ocean-seeker. On the south of the island there are too very busy vacation towns; Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach. Located on the northern tip is the historic village of Anna Maria.
Anna Maria Island History 101
In 1513 a man named Ponce de Leon started his quest for the Fountain of Youth. This spring was said to have the powers to give eternal youth and heal the sick. The fountain was also said to be surrounded by gold and silver.
Juan Ponce de Leon went with Christopher Columbus on his 2nd trip to America in 1493. In 1506 he discovered and Governed Puerto Rico. Even though he was the Governor of a new found paradise, he still wanted more power. He convinced King Ferdinand of Spain to finance another trip in search of the Fountain of Youth.
Ponce began his search for the Fountain of Youth and on his journey discovered Florida on Easter Sunday, naming it Pascua de Florida which means Feast of Flowers. His bold voyages to the East and West of our state opened the doors of imagination for many Spanish explorers.
His quest continued through Florida and up the Gulf Coast nearly 500 years ago, during which time he found and named the island Ana-Maria-Cay in honor of the Virgin Mary and her Mother, Anne. He wanted to colonize the area; however, Timucan Indians prevented him from doing so. He decided to return to his base in Puerto Rico.
Ponce was shot by Indians in the stomach with arrows in 1521 and he later died from his wounds. They buried him in San Juan Cathedral.
Some time past, and in 1539 the Spaniards returned to Anna Maria Island. Hernando De Soto landed just across the bay from the Island at Shaw’s Point in Bradenton Beach and started a settlement. He was not looking for the Fountain of Youth, instead, was looking for El Dorado - the City of Gold. He explored for thousands of miles into the New World but eventually he became sick and died. When he passed, his men returned to Mexico.
Although Ana-Maria-Cay appeared on charts and galleons filled with conquistadors that frequently landed on Florida shores, the wealth they sought eluded them. In 1561, King Phillip II of Spain reluctantly announced that Spain would no longer pursue expeditions to Florida. Anna Maria Island was quiet for hundreds of years.
George Emerson Bean became the first permanent resident of Anna Maria Island in 1892. He was a world traveler who originally came from Connecticut. His new property started at Magnolia Avenue and continued one block south of Rod and Reel Pier.
Today you can visit Bean Point and experience beautiful sunsets on this private stretch of beach near the home of Anna Maria Island's first resident, George Bean.
Bean died in 1898 but just after the turn of the century his son, George Wilhelm Bean joined up with a financier named Charles Roser. Together, they formed the Anna Maria Beach Company and started to develop the streets and lay out the town.
Roser is also the inventor of the Fig Newton. In 1898 Kennedy Biscuit joined with other bakeries and formed the National Biscuit Company, now known as Nabisco. The stock purchase created a million-dollar windfall for Roser, who joined his father developing real estate in Florida.
The Anna Maria Beach Company built a 678-foot long pier at the end of Pine Avenue in 1911 allowing visitors to come by ship. Through numerous hurricanes the pier survived and still stands to this day. The stroll to the end of the 678-foot Anna Maria City Pier has made Anna Maria Island a travel destination for nearly 100 years.
Charles Roser built the islands first church in 1913; the Rose Memorial Community Church. The island’s first church was inspired by a dream as Charles Roser’s father napped on his front porch.
Today, the non-denominational church still welcomes all visitors to services each Sunday. Roser’s original real estate office still stands across the street, virtually unchanged since it was built.
Now that is a piece of Anna Maria Island history worth seeing!
Finally, in 1921 the Original Cortez Bridge was built that connected Anna Maria Island with Cortez. This allowed visitors to commute easily to the Island. It was a wooden bridge linking the island to the mainland enabling Model T Ford's to begin rolling onto the island. You can still take a walk on the Western end of this historic landmark.
In 1938 Siam Garden Resort began a fish camp and in 1948, MGM brought Esther Williams, Peter Lawford, Ricardo Montalban, Jimmy Durante, Cyd Charisse, and Xavier Cugat to Anna Maria Island to film “On an Island with You”. In the plot "a beautiful movie star travels to Hawaii and finds romance in this South Seas musical” but we all know the real paradise is Anna Maria Island!
The location affectionately became known as Holmes Beach Hollywood.
Progress finally came to this island 10 years after WWII. In 1957 a drawbridge was opened on Manatee and Cortez roads. Since then, wining and dining continued on Anna Maria Island. In fact, from 1948-1973, you could fly directly to Anna Maria Airport without stopping in Sarasota or Tampa!
Today the nearest airports are the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, Tampa International Airport and Orlando International Airport.
Anna Maria Island has continued to grow and the towns of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have become very popular tourist destinations in their own right, and each with their own unique history.
Still surrounded by calm and beautiful beaches, Anna Maria Island has a unique history and is an exceptional place to spend your vacation.
Learn more about Anna Maria Island History. Visit the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum today... Click here for directions and hours.
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