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Guide Location: USA » Sarasota
Guide Type: Self-guided city tour
# of Attractions: 10
Tour Duration: 2 hour(s)
Transportation Mode: by foot
Travel Distance: 3.5 km
Guide Type: Self-guided city tour
# of Attractions: 10
Tour Duration: 2 hour(s)
Transportation Mode: by foot
Travel Distance: 3.5 km
Image Courtesy of Flickr and markus941
Author: brian
Most of the historic buildings in Sarasota are located in the Downtown area. They are in the Mediterranean revival style with similar design. Some of them have been designed by the famous local architect Thomas Reed Martin who has had a huge impact on architecture and style. In the following tour you'll get to see some of the first constructions in Sarasota and their initial functions.
Tour Stops and Attractions
1) Sarasota Times Building
The Times Building opened in 1899 and was the city's first newspaper. It went bankrupt in 1929 and the building later housed different businesses. The Times building is in the Mediterranean Revival style, with three floors and a cast-stone front.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and Lenny Montana
2) Frances-Carlton Apartments
The Frances-Carlton Apartments were built in 1920 by Alex Browning, a Scottish colonist. The building was designed by architect Francis James and is in the Classical Revival style. It is named after Browning's wife and son.
3) The Gompertz
The Gompertz is located on First Street and was built in 1920. Initially the building housed the Park-Seventh Movie House. During the Depression the building was closed. Over the years, it housed a number of different businesses like The Playhouse and Asolo Theater. At present, the Florida Studio Theater uses the building for its shows.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and srqpix
4) Florida Studio Theater
Florida Studio Theater was initially the clubhouse of The Women's Club of Sarasota. It was opened in 1915 and is part of a small group of Sarasota Tudor structures. In '79 the club moved out of the building which then housed the Florida Studio Theater. The building is in the traditional Mediterranean Revival style.
5) Sarasota Opera House
The Sarasota Opera House was built by A.B. Edwards in 1926. Some of the building's rooms were used for business, while the theater hosted silent movies, opera and a variety of plays. The house was named "Temple of Silent Art and Make Believe". It now houses the Sarasota Opera Association.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and srqpix
6) American National Bank Building
The American National Bank building was opened in 1925 and was actively used during the next twenty years. Also known as Orange Blossom Hotel, it was designed by Francis Palmer and is in the Classical Revival style with a stucco and concrete building.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and cmu chem prof
7) Roth Cigar Factory
The Roth Cigar Factory was built in 1923 by Thomas Reed Martin, a famous local architect. It features two floors in the Mission Revival style. The factory was specifically designed to mix well with the surrounding buildings.
8) U.S. Post Office - Federal Building
Located on South Orange Avenue, the U.S. Post Office was built in 1934. The building was designed by Louis A. Simon and George Albee Freeman and is in the Classical Revival style with two floors. It was the last building to be designed by Freeman. The building was added to the National Register in 1984.
9) Sarasota County Courthouse
Sarasota County Courthouse was built in 1926 by architect Dwight James Baum. It is in the Mediterranean Revival style with Rococo and Baroque elements, two levels, two wings and a central multi-floor section. The building was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and srqpix
10) Municipal Auditorium
Municipal Auditorium was designed by architect Thomas Reed Martin and was built in 1938. It is located in the Civic Center and was the first building there. It boasts an Art Deco architecture and was used as a public recreation area.
Image Courtesy of Flickr and srqpix
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