Preserve the 'Burg

For more than 40 years, Preserve the 'Burg has worked to protect & celebrate our city’s history. Follow us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/PreserveTheBurg

08/11/2026

Please join Preserve the 'Burg and USF St. Petersburg for the unveiling of a new historical marker commemorating Bayboro Harbor on Friday, August 21 at 10 a.m. at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library on the USF campus.

Bayboro is one of the most storied stretches of waterfront in the city. Dredging of the harbor began in 1907, transforming what was once mud flats and salt marsh into the basin that would later host a U.S. Maritime Service training station during World War II and, eventually, the USF St. Petersburg campus itself.

The unveiling ceremony will begin with a panel discussion featuring USF professor Dr. Catherine Wilkins and recent USF grad Oliver Laczko, whose work inspired the new marker. The panel will discuss Bayboro Harbor's evolution from working waterfront to campus centerpiece, and why markers like this one matter for keeping that history visible to students and neighbors alike. We will then walk from the Library to the Bayboro marker.

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the Mosaic Company. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the Mosaic Company.

RSVP here: https://ptb.wildapricot.org/event-6787033

07/27/2026

Truly great cities offer a unique sense of place that is layered and authentic. This 727 Day, we're sharing a few of our favorite historic places that make St. Pete truly special. What are some of yours?

07/20/2026

We are so grateful for what our members help us achieve for St. Pete and we'd love to count you among our supporters.

Over the past several years, continued support from our members and donors has allowed Preserve the 'Burg to:

- Host 50 public educational events annually
- Help add properties to the local register of historic places, including the Jack Kerouac House, the Polish American Club, Trinity Lutheran Church and numerous private residences
- Regularly attend public meetings and hearings, working directly with city staff, elected officials, developers and neighborhood associations to protect St. Petersburg's sense of place
- Publish the city's first-ever report on the economics of historic preservation
- Assist property owners with questions about their historic homes and commercial buildings
- Open a new office and gallery space in the Warehouse Arts District

None of this happens without you. As pressure on our city's historic fabric continues to grow, our work—and your support—matters more than ever.

Supporting Preserve the 'Burg with a membership is one of the best ways to keep St. Pete's vibe alive. Membership helps us advocate for historic places while offering you discounts and other year-round benefits.

Through July 31, join or renew at the Centennial level or higher and receive either a PTB hat or a signed print designed exclusively for PTB by renowned illustrator and local resident Alli Arnold!

Or, join at the Household level and choose a PTB t-shirt as a gift.

https://ptb.wildapricot.org/members/

07/06/2026

Supporting Preserve the 'Burg with a membership is one of the best ways to keep St. Pete's vibe alive. Membership helps us advocate for historic places while offering you discounts and other year-round benefits.

Through July 31, join or renew at the Centennial level or higher and receive either a PTB hat or a signed print designed exclusively for PTB by renowned illustrator and local resident Alli Arnold!

Or, join at the Household level and choose a PTB t-shirt as a gift.

We are SO grateful for what our members help

https://ptb.wildapricot.org/members

07/03/2026

With summer upon us and America's 250th birthday on our minds, it's a perfect time to explore the Bay's many historic sites and local history museums. Whether you're looking for something to do over the long weekend or expecting summer guests, we've got a few historic lactations for you to explore.

Chck out our whole list (including many options with a/c) on our blog. https://www.preservetheburg.org/blog/explore-historic-tampa-bay-this-summer

06/01/2026

Thank you to our expert speakers and panelists at the Restoration & Design Expo for energizing conversations about how historic preservation can be part of our day-to-day lives!

05/29/2026

11 TO SAVE: Pasadena Community Church

Each year, the Florida Trust announces its 11 to Save sites, which are nominated by the public and reflect the historic places that matter to local communities. The program is designed to increase the public’s awareness of the urgent need to save Florida’s historic resources, highlight the breadth of Florida’s unique history, inspire unique collaborations and empower local preservationists and community groups in their work to preserve Florida’s rich history.

The Pasadena Community Church sanctuary represented the crowning achievement of the Rev. Dr. J. Wallace’s ministry when it was completed in the 1960s. This mid-century modern, 2,000-seat sanctuary features a dramatic folded-plate roof and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that create a luminous, garden-like worship space. Embracing the congregation’s historic tradition of both indoor and outdoor worship, the sanctuary stands as a defining landmark in St. Petersburg.

The sanctuary embodies the postwar era’s optimism and spirit of innovation in structure, materials, and spatial design. Constructed during St. Petersburg’s westward suburban expansion, it reflects the evolution of religious architecture in response to technological advancements while also honoring the congregation’s origins as a “drive-in” church.

In February 2026, Pasadena Community Church members approved a resolution proposed by the church’s Discernment Committee to demolish and replace the sanctuary with a new worship center. The committee concluded that the cost of renovating and preserving the building would exceed that of constructing a new facility. The sanctuary has remained unused since sustaining damage during Hurricane Milton.

Inclusion in Florida’s 11 to Save is a starting point for the Florida Trust’s advocacy and education efforts and is intended to be part of a collaborative effort to identify custom solutions for each property.

See the full 11 to Save list here: https://floridatrust.org/11-to-save/

05/28/2026

It’s official! You can now research in the Peter Belmont Preserve the 'Burg Collection at the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library on the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida.

The collection consists of materials related to Preserve the 'Burg's activities and governance, historic preservation activities (including legal proceedings and other documentation) for historic districts and individual properties, clippings, ephemera, photos, media, and blueprints. The collection also contains documents related to other St. Petersburg historic preservation organizations and publications related to historic preservation in St. Petersburg and Florida.

Preserve the ‘Burg donated the collection in 2022 to ensure that decades of knowledge, experiences, and activism is also preserved for the future!

Learn more about the Peter Belmont Preserve the 'Burg Collection here:
https://archives.lib.usf.edu/repositories/3/resources/750

05/27/2026

Congratulations to our newest class of tour guides! After completing several weeks of training on local history and storytelling, these dedicated volunteers are ready to lead engaging walks that bring St. Pete’s past to life.

We’re proud to welcome Dawn Goddard, Mary Dowd, and Susan Jacobson as ambassadors who will help preserve, promote, and celebrate the places that make our city special!

Stay tuned for our summer programs and tours and say hi to our new tour guide cohort!

Address

Saint Petersburg, FL
33731

Telephone

+17278247802

Website

https://www.preservetheburg.org/events

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