ANNA MARIA – AMI Historical Museum summer intern Kathryn Rohlwing has produced the museum’s first self guided walking/biking tour of the city of Anna Maria.

Rohlwing, who is working on her master of arts in museum studies with a specialization in historical preservation at the University of Florida, initiated the brochure to coincide with the museum’s renovation, set to begin Sept. 1 and be completed in October.

“I began with the Centennial Site Tour and added to it using information in the historical binders, the archives and the Florida Master Site File,” Rohlwing explained. “At first, it was to be the whole Island, but there are so many good sites in Anna Maria that I decided to just do the city.

“I picked out the main sites for easy walking and then did a list of additional sites.”

Rohlwing said the 9-inch by 4-inch layout was AMIHS President Maureen McCormick’s idea so it would fit in the racks at the AMI Chamber of Commerce, city halls and businesses.

The brochure invites people to “Walk or bike this tour of Anna Maria and learn about the rich history of our people and our Island” and it recommends that “you begin your tour at Bayfront Park, where public parking and restrooms are available.”

From Bayfront Park the tour proceeds to the Rod and Reel Pier; the site of George Emerson Bean’s first home; the Anna Maria Motel; the home of Charles Roser; the city pier; Roser Cottage; Roser Chapel; the Historic Green Village, which is home to three historic structures; the Shell Cottage; Shady Mango; the Anna Maria Island Museum complex, which is home to three historic structures; the Island Players Theater and the Sandbar restaurant.

An addendum that will be available online includes14 more sites and a brief history of Anna Maria City. The brochure will be available when the museum reopens after renovations are complete.