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Sarasota History

Narrative History

MacKinlay Kantor May Be the Most Famous Writer You’ve Never Heard Of

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, journalist and longtime Sarasota resident, Kantor wrote dozens of books and screenplays. Novelist Robert Plunket looks back on his life and legacy.

11/01/2026 By Robert Plunket

Flashback

Photo: Bird Key Yacht Club, 1960

Joseph Janney Steinmetz captures the tropical midcentury glamour of the club, which was founded in 1959.

11/01/2026 By Megan McDonald

Dig This

For 50 Years, Archaeologist Marion Almy Has Uncovered and Protected Florida’s Buried History

Now her daughter, Maranda Almy Kles, has joined her.

09/04/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Flashback

Photo: The Steamboat Manatee, 1910

The "Manatee"—Terra Ceia’s main freight and passenger service—was part of H. Walter Fuller Investment Company’s three-steamboat fleet.

09/01/2026 By Megan McDonald

Homes in a Box

Do Kit Homes Still Exist in Sarasota?

The mail-order dream house was an American marvel starting in the early 1900s, including in our region. Most have been lost to time and taste, but we found three that fit the profile.

09/01/2026 By Kendall Southworth

Homes in a Box

Is Your Kit House a Copycat or the Real Thing?

The widespread stealing of designs by both lumberyards and kit home manufacturers means that even if a house looks nearly identical to one in a kit home catalog, it might not be.

09/01/2026 By Kendall Southworth

Guide to Giving

The Names Behind Sarasota's Most Recognizable Buildings

Many of Sarasota’s most recognizable buildings were spearheaded by our town’s philanthropists and activists. Who were the community leaders whose names adorn our buildings?

09/01/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Art History

'Echoes of Sarasota' Exhibit Connects Us to Our Past

The exhibit explores the history of Sarasota, from its swampy beginnings as a farming community to a city of arts and tourism.

07/23/2026 By Jules Telfort

ROAD TRIP

Sarasota County Auto Tours App Connects Past and Present

The app connects users to nine free, self-guided tours that shine a light on the people, places and stories that shaped our area.

07/10/2026 By Kendall Southworth

Flashback

Photo: Carrie Ratliff Jones, Siesta Key Bridge Tender, 1939-1963

Look closely and you can see the bridge controls commingling with Jones’ everyday items.

07/09/2026 By Megan McDonald

The Women Behind the Art

The Untold Stories of Sarasota's Women Artists

From the earliest days of Sarasota’s vaunted arts history, women were painting, drawing, sculpting and otherwise creating.

07/01/2026 By Kay Kipling

Sarasota History

Flashback: Friends at the Bradenton Beach Bathhouse, 1922

While bathing suit styles might have changed dramatically over the past century, our love of the beach hasn’t.

06/05/2026 By Megan McDonald

Suncoast Searchlight

Sarasota Fight to Save Century-Old Downtown Building Pits History Versus Development

The fate of a more than century-old downtown Sarasota building could be headed to court following a last-ditch effort from a preservation group trying to stop it from being razed for luxury condos.

05/26/2026 By Derek Gilliam/Suncoast Searchlight

Flashback

Photo: American Legion War Memorial Dedication Ceremony, 1941

Two local sailors who were home on leave hoisted a flag dedicated by Bertha Palmer, and Sarasota’s town band played “The Star Spangled Banner” while the crowd sang along.

05/05/2026 By Megan McDonald

The Marvelous Mrs. Palmer

Locals Know Bertha Palmer for Her Modest Sarasota Ranch Life, but in Chicago She Defined Gilded Age Luxury

While she helped legitimize Sarasota as a destination for America’s elite, her own elite life was in Chicago, where she was known for her extravagant tastes and influence.

05/01/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Old Soul

Sarasota’s Historic Pearsall House Lists for Just Under $4 Million

In Avondale, the century-old Pearsall House blends historic detail, a sympathetic expansion and thoughtful updates that allow a 1920s home function in the present.

04/10/2026 By Kim Doleatto

Get Crackin'

The Makings of a Florida Cracker Cabin

The 18th- and early 19th-century architecture reflects the importance of ventilation and shade, with high ceilings, large window and a signature wraparound porch.

04/01/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Spend a Night in Florida History

Triangle Ranch Preserves Florida Cracker History

Triangle Ranch is a 1,200-acre working ranch abutting the Myakka River, with cattle and pastures dotting the property between patches of Florida forest thick with palmettos, cabbage palms, pine trees and oaks overflowing with Spanish moss.

04/01/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Fish from the Gulf

Where to Get Real Gulf Seafood

Look no further than A.P. Bell Fish Co., a 100-year-old fish house in Cortez.

04/01/2026 By Isaac Eger

Suncoast Searchlight

Sarasota Erased Downtown Art Without Public Notice. Now Artists Are Seeking Damages.

Nine artists have filed claims against the city of Sarasota, alleging their rights were violated when officials removed pavement art in response to a state directive from the Florida Department of Transportation.

03/20/2026 By Derek Gilliam/Suncoast Searchlight and Carrie Seidman/ArtsBeat.org

At Sarasota Magazine, we celebrate Sarasota’s vibrant culture, rich history, and bright future with award-winning, high-quality content that captures the spirit of our community.

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