The St. Petersburg Piers of the past

The St. Petersburg Pier is back in the news with Darryl LeClair, a real estate developer, unveiling plans the other day for a downtown beach, an amusement ride and an amphitheater.

The Pier in St. Petersburg has had a rich and varied history. Actually, there have been several piers, including a railroad pier that was the terminus for the Orange Belt Railroad that Peter Demens finally finished.

Over the years, piers have come and gone. We thought it would be interesting to browse the vintage post cards in the collection at Lighthouse Books, ABAA to see what the old piers and the pier area looked like.

Whether a staunch supporter of the inverted pyramid or wholeheartedly embrace something, anything but, the pyramid, or long for the days of the Million Dollar pier with its Mediterranean-style ambiance, you're certain to find something here of interest.

We'll guess that almost no one wants to return to the days of the rickety railroad pier, although you'll have to admit the fishing looks pretty good.