St Petersburg, Florida Audio Tour: From First Flight to Fine Art
Description
St. Petersburg, Florida has been reinventing itself since a Russian immigrant named its streets after his homeland in 1889. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll trace the city's transformation from a quiet railroad town into a cultural destination. The tour starts at the St. Pete Pier, a 26-acre waterfront park that replaced the beloved Inverted Pyramid structure in 2020 after nearly two decades of public debate. From there, you'll follow the bay south past Benoist Centennial Plaza, where pilot Tony Jannus took off on January 1st, 1914 – carrying St. Petersburg's mayor on the world's first scheduled commercial airline flight. The route continues south along Beach Drive, past the Museum of Fine Arts and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, before ending at the Salvador Dalí Museum, whose hurricane-engineered glass structure houses the largest collection of Dalí's work outside Spain.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin your tour at the St. Pete Pier, a 26-acre waterfront park that replaced the beloved Inverted Pyramid structure in 2020. Discover how this transformation came after nearly two decades of public debate over the city's waterfront identity.
Explore the lobby of this elegantly restored Mediterranean Revival landmark, featuring mosaic tile floors and Dale Chihuly's Luna glass chandelier. Learn how the Vinoy housed military trainees during World War II before narrowly escaping the wrecking ball in the 1970s.
Stroll along Beach Drive, passing the Museum of Fine Arts and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Enjoy this scenic stretch of downtown as it continues the route south along the waterfront.
Pass the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the city's leading art institutions along Beach Drive. Its collection spans centuries and continents, reflecting St. Petersburg's growth as a cultural destination.
Explore The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, home to one of the largest collections of Western American and wildlife art in the country. Marvel at works ranging from bronze sculpture to landscape painting, celebrating the American West and its natural world.
Marvel at the hurricane-engineered glass structure housing the largest collection of Salvador Dalí's work outside Spain. Climb the DNA-shaped spiral staircase into galleries donated by private collectors Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, then catch the AI installation that brings the surrealist master back to life in the gift shop.
Wander through North Straub Park, passing century-old banyan trees along the way. Enjoy this green, shaded stretch of the waterfront as part of your walk along the bay.
Discover Demens Landing, where a Russian immigrant's railroad pier directly gave the city its name. Learn how this site marks the origins of St. Petersburg's transformation from a quiet railroad town into the destination it is today.
Highlights
What's included
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
