Near Sarasota in Sarasota County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Railroad History
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 3, 2014
1. Railroad History Marker
The railroad came to Venice in 1911 at the request of Mrs. Potter (Bertha) Palmer. The Seaboard Air Line (SAL) Railway extended its line from Fruitville through Bee Ridge, where the Palmer's Sarasota-Venice Company was developing land, to the Palmer's Venice properties. The Palmer interests convinced the U.S. Postal Department to move the Venice post office to the railroad's terminus. The pioneer community at the original Venice post office site thereby lost its identity. Wanting to remain an identifiable community, the residents selected Nokomis as its new name.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) began work on the new City of Venice in 1925. City planner John Nolen designed the city and had the SAL tracks moved eastward to the industrial section. The early depot at the junction of (now) Tampa and Nokomis Avenues was replaced by the current depot on East Venice Avenue.
Over the 80 years the railroad connected Venice with points north, it was associated with the lumber, turpentine and tourist industries; the Kentucky Military Institute; the World War II Venice Army Air Base and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Political Subdivisions • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 27° 14.917′ N, 82° 28.518′ W. Marker is near Sarasota, Florida, in Sarasota County. It can be reached from McIntosh Road half a mile north of Palmer Ranch Parkway, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located on the Sarasota-to-Venice Legacy Rail Trail, on the east side of the trail, near the entrance to Culverhouse Nature Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7301 McIntosh Road, Sarasota FL 34238, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf
Courtesy Venice Archives and Area Historical Collection
2. Marker detail: Venice Rail Yards
Courtesy Venice Archives and Area Historical Collection
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Palmer Ranch (approx. 1.7 miles away); Bee Ridge Woman's Club (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Little White Church at Bee Ridge (approx. 2.4 miles away); Bee Ridge Community (approx. 2½ miles away); Historic Spanish Point (approx. 3.4 miles away); Osprey School (approx. 3.4 miles away); A Doctor's Garden (approx. 3.4 miles away); Wilson Family and Home (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sarasota.
More about this marker. Marker is a large laser-printed metal plaque, mounted horizontally on a waist-high post.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Venice-to-Sarasota Railroad
Also see . . .
1. Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Through The Heart Of The South. American Rails website
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 3, 2014
3. Railroad History Marker (wide view; marker located on east side of rail trail)
The Seaboard Air Line was another of the South's notable railroads. During the heyday of streamliners there were many colorful and attractive trains to ride if you were heading south to sunny Florida and the Seaboard Air Line Railroads Silver Meteor was one of those. While the Seaboard (also known as the SAL) kicked off the streamliner passenger train craze to serve southern destinations other railroads soon followed suit. (Submitted on October 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. The History of Venice, Fl: Preserving the Past. Visit Sarasota website entry (Submitted on March 13, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 3, 2014
4. Sarasota-to-Venice Legacy Rail Trail (former rail line; view south from marker)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 5, 2012
5. Venice Railroad Depot (10.5 miles south of marker on Sarasota-to-Venice Legacy Rail Trail)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 3, 2014
6. Seaboard Railroad Caboose #6443 (on exhibit at Venice Depot, south of marker)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, December 5, 2012
7. Venice Railroad Depot (10.5 miles south of marker on Sarasota-to-Venice Legacy Rail Trail)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 774 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on October 15, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
