Sarasota in Sarasota County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Siesta Public Beach
Side 1
This island has had various names. During the 1800s and early 1900s it was known as Little Sarasota Key and Sarasota Key. Common usage of the name Siesta, taken from a residential development at the islands north side, began shortly after 1907 but was not officially applied until 1952. Early access to the island was by boat. Building of the first bridge in 1917 enabled automobiles to reach the Gulf beaches, which quickly became popular. Many Sarasotans built beach cottages . Bathing pavilions and a casino for the public were built by I.G. Archibald, Frank Roberts, and Andrew McAnsh between 1919-30.
Side 2
Sand on these shores is mostly mineral quartz, ultimately derived from the southern Appalachian Mountains. Over millenniums, sand grains were carried by rivers into the Gulf and down the coast. Sarasota County purchased property here in 1954 for a public beach. Additional parcels expanded the park area to forty acres, and a pavilion was constructed in 1959. In 1983 Sarasota County began a program to restore the sand dunes which had been destroyed by carelessness over the years. The long range plan is to preserve the beach in its natural state for the enjoyment of future generations.
Erected 1986 by Sarasota County Parks & Recreation Department and the Sarasota County Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1954.
Location. 27° 15.997′ N, 82° 33.121′ W. Marker is in Sarasota, Florida, in Sarasota County. Marker is at the intersection of Beach Road (Alternate County Road 789) and Beach Way Drive, on the left when traveling west on Beach Road. Siesta Beach is located on Siesta Key in front of the beach pavilion. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sarasota FL 34242, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Edson Keith Estate (approx. 1.2 miles away); Bispham Dairy (approx. 1.9 miles away); Riverview High School (approx. 2.4 miles away); South Lido Park (approx. 2.4 miles away); Siesta / Harry L. Higel (approx. 2˝ miles away); San Remo Estates (approx. 2.6 miles away); Gulf Beach Motel (approx. 3.2 miles away); Sarasota's First Post Office (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sarasota.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2020, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 324 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 7, 2020, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.