Skip to main content

History

Happy Pascua Florida Day!
Community News, History

Happy Pascua Florida Day!

Apr 2, 2020 – Cindy Lane
March 5, 2019
By Tom Vaught
Celebrating Island history

Celebrating Island history

Members of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society welcomed the public to celebrate the history of the Island’s early settlers at the annual Heritage Day Festival and Settler’s Market. The festiviti…
, ,
December 30, 2015
By Cindy Lane
St. Augustine National Cemetery

Under Egmont 4: Egmont cemetery mysteries put to rest

BRADENTON – Mark Green stands at a grave marker at the Fogartyville cemetery, refers to an old, hand-drawn map and walks a few paces, ducks under a moss-draped tree, passes a bench and several headst…
, , , , ,
February 25, 2015
By Cindy Lane
Rob Whitehurst at St. Augustine National Cemetery

Under Egmont 3: Found

ST. AUGUSTINE – When Rob Whitehurst began looking for the grave of his great-great-grandfather, the Internet was new, with scant information, and research was challenging. When he learned that Joh…
, , , , , ,
February 4, 2015
By Cindy Lane
Egmont Key cemetery

Under Egmont 2: Unearthing Egmont Key’s mysteries

EGMONT KEY – Underneath Egmont Key, there’s even more history than its century-and-a-half-old lighthouse, the ruins of its Spanish-American War fort and its 1905 red brick road, now used mostly by go…
, , , , ,
January 30, 2015
By Cindy Lane
Narcissus anchor

Under Egmont 1: History’s mysteries persist at Egmont Key

EGMONT KEY – Underwater and underground at Egmont Key, mystery and history have intertwined since the mid-1800s. Just off the northern tip of Anna Maria Island, which has bathed in its lighthouse…
, , , , , ,
November 7, 2014
By Cindy Lane
Coast Lines: Save the refuge for the birds

Army exploring for explosives

PASSAGE KEY – Now a peaceful bird sanctuary, Passage Key was a bombing and aerial gunnery range during World War II, and the military plans to explore it for unexploded munitions within the next year…
, , , , ,
September 21, 2013
By Cindy Lane
Regina marker

Explore the Regina

BRADENTON BEACH – While visiting Anna Maria Island, divers may want to visit the wreck of the Regina, a state underwater archaeological preserve, marked by buoys off the 800 block of Bradenton Beach…
, , , , , , ,
October 27, 2010
By Cindy Lane

Roots in the water

CORTEZ – Like the mangroves that line local shorelines, Manatee County’s historic roots are in the water, and the Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez is bringing two chapters of local history to life…
, , , , ,
December 30, 2003
By Cindy Lane
Regina commemorative plaque

Molasses barge to become preserve

BRADENTON BEACH – A 1940 wreck off the Bradenton Beach coast is in line to become the state’s 10th underwater archaeological preserve. Third Place Environmental Reporting 2004 The Regina, a m…
, , , ,

Upcoming Events

April 9, 2025
11:45 am

The Off-Stage Ladies of the Island Players, April luncheon meeting