City Pier, now Sarasota Marina & Island Park

When the colonists arrived from Scotland in late December 1885 to form the new community of Sarasota, one of the first projects was to construct a pier. Almost the only way to travel was by boat, and without a docking facility, the fledgling community would have been cut off from coastal neighbors and the rest of the world. There were no roads and the paths through the woods made travel slow. They were deep sand ruts in dry weather and boggy or under water in the rainy season.

For the rest of this interesting story, visit the floridahistoryalive website, and click on the Journals of Yesteryear section. While on the site, check out the historic markers, historical designations, walking tours, and now a great video spotlight.