Ruskin in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Ruskin College President's Home

Photographed by AGS Media, July 20, 2011

1. Ruskin College President's Home Marker

Inscription. Ruskin College opened in 1910 as a coeducational industrial and liberal arts college. It was located on part of a large tract of land purchased by Dr. George McA. Miller beginning in 1907 for the purpose of establishing a cooperative college and a planned community modelled on the philosophy of British social thinker, John Ruskin. Ruskin believed in making education available for everyone. Dr. Miller had previously established two other Ruskinian colleges in the mid-West and was devoted to the educational principle of combining intellectual endeavors with manual labor. His wife, Adeline Dickman Miller, designed the Swiss chalet style structure located near this marker. It was constructed in 1912 and was the only one of Ruskin College's original buildings to survive a fire in 1919. By that time the cooperative college had declined due to loss of students during World War I. In 1940, the Miller House was deeded by that family to the Ruskin Woman's Club. This structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It remains a symbol of the utopian origins of the community of Ruskin.

Erected 1976 by

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The Ruskin Woman's Club, in cooperation with the Department of State. (Marker Number F-246.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Communal and Utopian Societies series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 27° 42.892′ N, 82° 26.056′ W. Marker is in Ruskin, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is at the intersection of South Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and 5th Avenue Southeast, on the right when traveling south on South Tamiami Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 503 South Tamiami Trail, Ruskin FL 33570, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Tampa Bay.

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

Photographed by AGS Media, July 20, 2011

2. Ruskin College President's Home Marker

Outside the Ruskin Woman's Club

least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Florida Honors and Remembers our POW’s and MIA’s (approx. 1.8 miles away); a different marker also named Florida Honors and Remembers our POW's and MIA's (approx. 2.4 miles away); Staking Their Claim (approx. 3.2 miles away); Miracle at Cockroach Bay The Leisey Shell Fossils (approx. 3.9 miles away); Landing in La Florida (approx. 4.4 miles away); Sun City Center (approx. 5 miles away); Do You See a Manatee? (approx. 5½ miles away); Listen carefully to hear a manatee! (approx. 5½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ruskin.

More about this marker. The marker stands along the highway outside the Adaline Dickman Miller Memorial Ruskin Woman's Club.

The marker is capped with the Great Seal of the State of Florida.

Regarding Ruskin College President's Home. The architecture of the Ruskin College President's Home shows Swiss Chalet style influence with elements of Stick and Prairie styles.

The structure is listed with the National Register of Historic Places under the name "George McA. Miller House" (#74000630).

Photographed by AGS Media, July 20, 2011

3. Ruskin College President's Home Marker

Ruskin College President's Home - The George McA. Miller House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by AGS Media, July 20, 2011

4. Ruskin College President's Home - The George McA. Miller House

Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,542 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 21, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.