Harding Circle Historic District (St Armands Circle) - Sarasota, FL
N 27° 19.089 W 082° 34.669
17R E 343888 N 3022660
Large historic district with many things to offer.
Waymark Code: WM6031
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 03/09/2009
Views: 8
In 1923 circus magnate John N Ringling (1866-1936) purchased St Armands Key, an uninhabited, 150 acre, oval shaped island. He planned a community of fine residences with a central circle park surrounded by shops. The park was named in memory of his friend, President Warren Harding (1865-1923). The landscape plan for the island consisting of the central park, boulevards an medians, was designed by a prominent landscape architect, John J Watson (1876-1950). The development work was done by Ringling's partner, Owen Burns (1869-1937). The grand opening of St Armands occured in 1928 when the bridge to the mainland was completed. Lots were sold and subsequently a few homes of Mediterranean and Spanish architecture were built. Although the Depressio (1929-1941) halted the progress of his plan, John Ringling's vision was realized with development of the residential area, beaches and shopping district since 1945. On January 16, 2001, Harding Circle, with its associated medians and boulevards, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places for its unique early community planning and development.
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Decades after conception, St Armands Circle has fulfilled John Ringling's dream of a premier shopping district. Concieved 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 accessable by construction of Ringling Causeway.
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 mispelled in subsequent deeds, built a home, cleared one acre, and claimed his land, 130-plus acres, for $13. Little could he know he would buy less than one square foot of leased area on today's St Armands Circle.
Street address:
John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Cir., and Blvd. of Presidents
Sarasota, FL usa
34200
County / Borough / Parish: Sarasota
Year listed: 2001
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event
Periods of significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949, 1950-1974
Historic function: Landscape, Park
Current function: Landscape, Park
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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