St Petersburg Million Dollar Pier

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St Petersburg Million Dollar Pier

by D M Miller
(Naples, Florida)

I guess St Pete is on my mind because of my recent visit.

In the old days, maybe 50 years ago or so, the main tourist attraction in downtown St Pete was what they called "The Million Dollar Pier". It still fascinates me after all these years.

That really dates it, because the unusual inverted building and the pier that it rests on would cost a lot more than a million dollars if it were to be built today.

Most residents of the Tampa Bay area, and millions of tourists, have visited the Pier to see it's aquarium, buy tourist souvenirs, eat in it's restaurants or maybe just enjoy the expansive view of Tampa Bay with the skyscrapers of distant Tampa on the horizon.

After a pier visit, they might visit the replica of the HMS Bounty, the ship used in the movie "Mutiny On The Bounty" starring handsome Clark Gable as the heroic Fletcher Christian and the ugly Charles Laughton as the despicable Captain Bligh.

Well, anyway......I learned yesterday that the St Pete City Council has voted to demolish the Million Dollar Pier before the year 2012. I don't know what will be put in its place, but I'm anxious to find out.

Downtown St Petersburg is beautiful, but it is hard for me to imagine the place without that funky pier.

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St Petersburg Million Dollar Pier

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Mar 11, 2012

THE PIER IS A PERSON IT IS ALIVE DO NOT MURDER THE PIER
by: Anonymous

I AM DEVASTATED THIS IS THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY,
I LIVE ON THE MEMORIES I HAD AS A YOUNG LOVELY TEENAGER IN 1957 ROMANCE WAS IN FULL BLOOM WITH MY CRINOLINS ON AND JOYFUL YOUNG HEART, TO TAK AWAY THIS PIER IS LIKE THE NAZIS KILLING ALL THE JEWS IT IS A MONUMENTAL CRIME AGAINST THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, IF IT GOES AWAY MANY A HEART WILL BE BROKEN PERMANENTLY IT IS JUST UNTHINKABLE IT IS LIKE 9 11 JUST AN ACT OF TOTAL INSANITY, I WONDER HONESTLY IF THE WORLD CAN TAKE A BLOW LIKE THIS, RESTORE IT TO ITS SPLENDOR YES LIKE IN 1926 BUT NEVER EVER WILL ST, PETE BE A ROMANCE CITY WITHOUT THE PIER, I LOVE THAT PIER I CALL EVERYDAY TO JUST ASK A CLERK HOW IS THE WEATHER THERE, I LIVE IN CALIF, I PRAY TO DIE IN FLA, MY TRUE HOME, CALIF IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE MILLION DOLLAR PIER , GOD SAVE THIS PIER WE LOVE IT PASSIONATELY LENORE A TEENAGER IN MY HEART

Jan 08, 2012

Bring back the Million Dollar Pier
by: Bonnie Jenkins Edwards

I am glad they are tearing down the upside down triangle abomination but sad that the buildings they are considering are more abominations!!!!!
What is wrong with the City Council??? The Mediterranean style of architecture is all over the world and is still beautiful so why not go back to the original??? I am going to contact City Hall and get the numbers of all the city council and see if I can get a petition started to stop them from building another monstrosity!!!!!

Dec 09, 2011

Go Back To The Future
by: Dolly Tickell

After viewing the recent futuristic drawings that were presented to replace the inverted Pyramid....I can't imagine that any of those designs will allow for enough rental space to support the cost of construction. My vote is to re-create the original, magnificent, 1926 Mediterranean 'Million Dollar' Pier of yesteryear. That size, shape and style of building would be able to accommodate a lot more retail space, marine science center, ballrooms to rent, restaurants inside with added water sports outside. Construction costs are less when dealing with a footprint that is square or rectangular, new composite moldings that are salt water resistant could add back the grandeur of the original building. Historic buildings NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE!

Nov 25, 2011

past tourist
by: Gayle

I visited the pier many many times as a child.You could get a painted turtle for .25 or an alligator for .50!I used to BEG my parents to let me bring home a gator! I never did.Cherished memories of my parents and grandmother (now gone) and feeding the pelicans trays of fish.Hate to think of it being gone!Should have been saved.History is important and some things should be left alone!MALICE

Oct 03, 2011

I Miss The Pier
by: Marion Bleech

I can't believe the Pier is gone. I haven't been over there in a while, but I agree that St Pete can't be the same without the pier as the centerpiece of the downtown area.

Oct 01, 2011

It is so very sad
by: MaryAnne D

The pier gone, how very sad. I grew up on Redington Beach and whenever my brothers and I went to town we always stopped by the pier. We would ride our bikes to Bay Pines and take the bus from there to downtown. I moved away in 1980 but each time I have come back I have gone to the pier.

No green benches, no pier, St Pete is just not St Pete without them.

Oct 03, 2010

A real tragedy
by: B Kuchau

I am in shock to think the The Pier will be demolished.

In June, 2005 I hosted the Bounty-Pitcairn Conference 2005 in the meeting room at The Pier with HMS Bounty II docked where it could be viewed from the meeting room. Visitors from around the world came to the conference and to see Bounty.

I never come to St. Petersburg without stopping at The Pier. I have been coming to The Pier since 1959.

I do not want new and fancy. I want The Pier.

Shame!

Oct 01, 2010

Time Marches On
by: Barbee

isn't it scary to realize in a very short time - when the pier is gone that you will be one of those few who remembered when it was there and just how meaningful it was ...... at one time!!!!

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St Petersburg Million Dollar Pier

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St Petersburg Million Dollar Pier