Sarasota in Sarasota County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Circle at St. Armands
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, August 19, 2016
1. The Circle at St. Armands Marker
Decades after conception, St. Armands Circle has fulfilled John Ringling's dream of a premier shopping district. Conceived during Florida's real estate boom, St. Armands was part of the John Ringling Estates Development and the jewel of Ringling Isles, an ambitious venture encompassing planned resorts, a casino, subdivisions and a shopping area scattered from Bird and Lido Keys to southern Longboat Key. Designed by architect John J. Watson of Ohio and Sarasota engineer Leon Pickett the circle and surrounding development were made accessible by construction of Ringling Causeway in 1926.
Reverse:
After its grand opening as the centerpiece of Ringling Isles, St. Armands Circle lay neglected a Depression-era victim of the 1920s Florida land boom. Sandspurs and weeds overran concrete curbs and sidewalks, imported statuary and a bandstand. The key reverted to nearly its state of nature when Charles A. St. Amand had homesteaded in 1885. St. Amand, whose name was misspelled in subsequent deeds, built a home, cleared one acre, and claimed his land, 130-plus acres, for $13. Little could he know his fee would buy less than one square foot of leased area on today's St. Armands Circle.
Erected 1988 by Sarasota County Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed
this page online
Location. 27° 19.131′ N, 82° 34.639′ W. Marker is in Sarasota, Florida, in Sarasota County. Marker is at the intersection of St. Armands Circle and North Boulevard of the Presidents, on the left when traveling west on St. Armands Circle. Marker located along the northern edge of St. Armands Circle. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 St Armands Cir, Sarasota FL 34236, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Captain William Heyer (a few steps from this marker); The Five Ringling Brothers (a few steps from this marker); P.T. Barnum (a few steps from this marker); Albert Rix (a few steps from this marker); Irvin Feld and Kenneth Feld (a few steps from this marker); Clyde Beatty (a few steps from this marker); The Flying Palacios (a few steps from this marker); Merle Evans (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sarasota.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, August 19, 2016
2. The Circle at St. Armands Marker Reverse
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, August 19, 2016
3. The Circle at St. Armands Marker and part of St. Armands Circle
Credits. This page was last revised on April 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 384 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 21, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
