Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The King Street Railroad Dock

June 11, 2024

1. The King Street Railroad Dock Marker

Inscription. The Railroad Dock at the foot of King Street (now U.S. 41 North) was the hub of Punta Gorda’s commercial activity from 1897 until 1928. In addition to being the commercial seafood center, it was the port for steamers connecting with the railroad.

The Henry Plant controlled railroad company constructed the pier after making the decision to abandon the Long Dock which extended to twelve feet of water. The King street dock reached only five feet of water. The South Florida Railroad at Tampa was to be the only rail connected with deep water on Florida’s west coast.

Punta Gorda’s Railroad Wharf served the people of the community until 1928. This circa 1908 view of the wharf is from a point in front of the warehouse and shows a few fish-packing houses to the left. The Hotel Punta Gorda appears in the distance.

A fire on the dock in 1915 was a crippling blow to the fish industry. Following the fire, immediate rebuilding was begun by the Chadwick Brothers, the West Coast Fish Company and the Punta Gorda Fish Company. The wharf continued to be used by the fishing industry until 1928 when the construction of the Barron Collier Bridge was started and the fish wholesalers moved to the Maud Street Dock.

(caption) View of A. C. L. Ry. Wharf from a point In front of Warehouse, showing a few Fish

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Packing houses to the left, Punta Gorda, Fla. Hotel Punta Gorda appears in the distance.

Erected by Fishermen's Village.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 26° 55.683′ N, 82° 3.8′ W. Marker is in Punta Gorda, Florida, in Charlotte County. It is in Fishermen's Village. It can be reached from Maud Street near West Retta Esplanade, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1200 W Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda FL 33950, 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 of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old Fish Dock Transformed to "Fishermen's Village" (here, next to this marker); Sport Fishing (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Spanish Anchor (within shouting distance of this marker); The Maud Street Dock (within shouting distance of this marker); Punta Gorda's Fishing Industry (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Theodore Roosevelt Sport Fishing in Charlotte Harbor (about 400 feet away); The Boating History of Punta Gorda (about 400 feet away); The Long Dock (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Punta Gorda.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, July 28, 2025

2. The King Street Railroad Dock Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 20, 2024. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 20, 2024. 2. submitted on July 28, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.