St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Soreno Hotel
Photographed By AGS Media, December 8, 2011
1. Soreno Hotel Marker
In 1923 construction began on Soren Lund's "Million Dollar" Mediterranean Revival hotel. Prominent features were its clay-tiled roof, rough textured stucco, baroque-type arched entrance and sqraffito decorations. It encompassed the north half of the 100 block of Beach Drive. Noted regional architect Geoffrey Lloyd Preacher designed the Hotel. The Soreno, named for Lund's only son, was finished, and the majority of its rooms leased prior to the opening of the 1924 tourist season. Its completion established a new elegance on the downtown waterfront. The Soreno was the first of ten grand hotels built between 1923 and 1926, which defined St. Petersburg as a winter tourist destination, and was the climax of the Florida land boom in the 1920s. The unusual addition of a seventh floor was completed in 1929, bringing the total number of rooms to 300. Lund's lifelong experience and reputation in the hotel industry kept the hotel full throughout his ownership. During World War II, the Soreno was occupied by servicemen, then operated as a winter season hotel until it was closed in 1984. It was demolished in 1992.Erected
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. 27° 46.329′ N, 82° 38.018′ W. Marker is in St. Petersburg, Florida, in Pinellas County. Marker is on 1st Avenue North west of Beach Drive Northeast, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located across the street from the Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Petersburg FL 33701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pioneer Park (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Demens Landing (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brigadier General Thaddeus Kosciuszko (approx. ¼ mile away); First United Methodist Church (approx. ¼ mile away); St. Petersburg Central Yacht Basin (approx. ¼ mile away); The United States Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Pinellas County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Our Heroes of the World War (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Petersburg.
More about this marker. The marker is capped with the logo of the Florida Historic Marker Program.
Regarding Soreno Hotel. The former
Photographed By AGS Media, December 8, 2011
2. Soreno Hotel Marker
Photographed By AGS Media, December 8, 2011
3. Soreno Hotel Marker
Photographed By Lindsey M. Porter, February 2, 2013
4. Soreno Hotel Marker
Photographed By E.C. Krupp Co.
5. Soreno Hotel Post Card
March 24, 1925
6. Soreno Hotel
Photographed By AGS Media, December 8, 2011
7. The Florencia
Photographed By AGS Media, December 8, 2011
8. Soreno Fountain at The Florencia
Photographed By AGS Media, December 8, 2011
9. Soreno Hotel Coat-of-Arms
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,526 times since then and 326 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 16, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 4. submitted on February 5, 2013, by Lindsey M. Porter of St. Petersburg, Florida. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on December 16, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
