St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Demens Landing

By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008

1. Demens Landing Marker

Inscription. 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-MANS) 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.)

Location. 27° 46.217′ N, 82° 37.932′ W. Marker is in St. Petersburg, Florida, in Pinellas County. Marker is at the intersection of Bayshore Drive and 1st Ave SE, on the left when traveling north on Bayshore Drive. Touch for map. Second Demen plaque near waterfront and two Bicentennial

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.

tree plaques in the same park. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Petersburg FL 33701, United States of America.

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); Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway Terminus (was about 300 feet away but has been reported permanently removed. ); Soreno Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); World Record (approx. 0.2 miles away); Peter Demens (approx. 0.2 miles 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). 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.

Categories. • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers •

By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008

3. Demens Landing Marker

Centennial tree plaque #1 image. Click for full size.

By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008

4. Centennial tree plaque #1

Centennial tree #1 image. Click for full size.

By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008

5. Centennial tree #1

Centennial tree plaque #2 image. Click for full size.

By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008

6. Centennial tree plaque #2

Centennial tree #2 image. Click for full size.

By Julie Szabo, January 5, 2008

7. Centennial tree #2

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 10, 2008, by Julie Szabo of Oldsmar, Florida. This page has been viewed 5,847 times since then and 278 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.