The city of Treasure Island, Florida, is on the Gulf of Mexico, part of the Gulf Beaches
near St. Petersburg. This city, an island just a few miles long, has remarkably preserved
a dozen '50s "Space Age" Mid-Century Modern style structures, including unique motels
and signs, and three Art Moderne causeway bridges that have already been determined
to be eligible on the National Register of Historic Places.
near St. Petersburg. This city, an island just a few miles long, has remarkably preserved
a dozen '50s "Space Age" Mid-Century Modern style structures, including unique motels
and signs, and three Art Moderne causeway bridges that have already been determined
to be eligible on the National Register of Historic Places.
Driving through this city is like going back in time to early Las Vegas, Palm Springs or
Wildwood. It is really a remarkable find. The group of men who built these places back
in the '50s were called, in fact, "The Rat Pack of Treasure Island," and postcards
depicting some of these motels and places -- like the Surf, the Sands, and the Sea
Chest -- are highly sought after today. And yet these places still look and feel the same
today, even in some cases down to the original 50s furniture in the rooms!
Wildwood. It is really a remarkable find. The group of men who built these places back
in the '50s were called, in fact, "The Rat Pack of Treasure Island," and postcards
depicting some of these motels and places -- like the Surf, the Sands, and the Sea
Chest -- are highly sought after today. And yet these places still look and feel the same
today, even in some cases down to the original 50s furniture in the rooms!
In fact, this island is such a treasure trove of such unique, irreplaceable 20th century
architecture so well preserved that it is not hard to imagine how, with coordinated effort
and a little planning, that city could be a world-class destination for it -- much like Palm
Springs in California is today. When people think of "retro" roadside Florida, they think
of places like Treasure Island. But sadly, today that sort of thing exists nowhere else in
Florida, certainly not on the water and in such abundance as it does in Treasure Island.
architecture so well preserved that it is not hard to imagine how, with coordinated effort
and a little planning, that city could be a world-class destination for it -- much like Palm
Springs in California is today. When people think of "retro" roadside Florida, they think
of places like Treasure Island. But sadly, today that sort of thing exists nowhere else in
Florida, certainly not on the water and in such abundance as it does in Treasure Island.
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| Treasure Island, Florida |