St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Demens Landing
Photographed By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008
1. Demens Landing Marker
This city park is located on the site of the first railroad pier in St. Petersburg, built by Peter Demens in 1889. Peter Demens (pronounced de-MENS) was a Russian nobleman, Pyotr Dementyev, who left Russia in 1881, came to Florida, and changed his name to Demens. He became an entrepreneur, investing in a sawmill and a construction company in Longwood, Florida. Later he took control of the Orange Belt Railroad, which he extended from Sanford, Florida to the west coast of Florida in 1888, to a town he had named St. Petersburg, in honor of the capital city of Imperial Russia. Demens also built the first hotel, the Detroit, and the first railroad depot in St. Petersburg in 1888, and is considered one of the founders of the city. Demens Landing was dedicated as a city park to honor Demens in 1977. Florida Heritage Site.
Erected 2000 by Russian Heritage, Inc. and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-421.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pioneer Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Soreno Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); World Record (approx. ¼ mile away); Peter Demens (approx. ¼ mile away); St. Petersburg Central Yacht Basin (approx. 0.3 miles away); The World's First Scheduled Airline (approx. 0.3 miles away); World's First Regularly Scheduled Commercial Airline (approx. 0.3 miles away); The United States Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Petersburg.
More about this marker. On the west end of the bridge into the Marina.
Photographed By Lindsey M. Porter, February 2, 2013
2. Demens Landing Marker
The St. Petersburg Sailing Center can be seen on the left, the Salvador Dali Museum in the distant center.
Photographed By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008
3. Demens Landing Marker
Photographed By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008
4. Russian Centennial Tree marker
Russian Centennial Tree
Dedicated on April 8, 1988
in honor of the
St. Petersburg Centennial
by the National Council
on American-Soviet Friendship.
Photographed By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008
5. Russian Centennial Tree and marker
Photographed By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008
6. Centennial Oak Tree Marker
Centennial Oak Tree
Dedicated on June 8, 1988
in honor of the
St. Petersburg Centennial Committee
C. W. McKee, Jr. President ∙ Tom Gregory Vice President ∙ Mary Grube Secretary ∙ Mary Wyatt Allen President, Centennial Activities Council ∙ David Carr History Coordinator ∙ Eric Petersen Arts Coordinator ∙ Jocelyn White Newsletter Editor ∙ Kay W. Daly Coordinator ∙ Kristin Brett ∙ Bethia Caffery ∙ Chuck Fisher ∙ Rick Fleck ∙ Corinne Freeman ∙ Paul Getting ∙ Watson Haynes ∙ hazel Hough ∙ David Knowlton ∙ Donal MacTavish ∙ Paul McRae ∙ Lee Metzger ∙ Connie Smith ∙ Barbara Todd ∙ Tom Todd ∙ Trevor White
Photographed By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008
7. Centennial Oak Tree and marker
Credits. This page was last revised on April 12, 2018. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. This page has been viewed 7,509 times since then and 313 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 10, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. 2. submitted on February 2, 2013, by Lindsey M. Porter of St. Petersburg, Florida. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 10, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
