On April 1, 1901, prominent Michigan journalist William L. Straub purchased the St. Petersburg Times and began a quest to transform St. Petersburg from an industrial port town, to a city filled with waterfront public parks.The paper’s editor until 1939, Straub visualized a city void of ramshackle fishing huts, warehouses and smoke stacks emitting their noxious fumes, and used the Times’ editorial pages to wield considerable influence on city leaders.
Always a cheerleader for the city and its waterfront parks, Straub also used the paper to campaign for the creation of Pinellas county – a governed county on the Pinellas peninsula separate from Hillsborough county. Thanks to his vision, the Sunshine City is now famous for its beautiful waterfront parks – including the the four-block stretch of parkland that bear Straub’s name.
The St. Petersburg Museum of History is located at 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. For more information about exhibits, hours, and ticket pricing visit SPMOH.com.
