Downtown Sarasota

Included in the vacation and real estate magic offered by Sarasota is its colorful history. It first became a modern town in 1880 when Scotland heard about the Florida Mortgage and Investment Company. Soon, Scottish families flocked to the area, eager and dreamy about the possibilities of lush life in this part of the Americas. The immigrants were mesmerized by the idea of fertile land, abundance of citrus fruits and cheap housing. Indeed, hundreds of families from Scotland realized the fresh start they need was found once their steamer sailed for Sarasota.

But many were disappointed once their boat docked. All the Scottish found was a quiet town exhibiting very little signs of richness they sought. So many of these families sailed elsewhere, but a few braved the challenge and stayed. Among these few was Scottish aristocrat John Hamilton Gillespie. A decade or two later, this dreamer was believed to have built America’s first golf course on the almost-barren lands of Sarasota. He also built the historic De Soto Hotel in Main Street, paving way for entrepreneurs and other adventurers to settle in the promising land. In 1902, Gillespie was elected Sarasota’s first mayor.

Today, a century or more later, Sarasota continue to attract some of America’s finest, wealthiest and even the most powerful people. Many of its residents are descendants of those dreamers who helped defined the style and living a century ago. In fact, there are many special remnants of the past that are are part of Sarasota’s attractions in the present day. The Spanish Point today was the waterfront winter estate of Potter Palmer’s widow, and the Myakka River State Park used to be their 30,000-acre ranch. Of course, Potter Palmer was best known as a Chicago developer, but his beginnings could be traced to Sarasota.

Another interesting person who helped shape Sarasota’s early history would be John Ringling of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The visionary, developer and entertainer in Ringling didn’t settle at mere fairs and animal shows. Instead, he employed the circus elephants as well to help build the first bridge that connected the mainland to St. Armand’s Key. As a result, St. Armand’s grew to be a profitable commercial and residential venture.

After having earned for Sarasota the moniker as “circus town”, Ringling went on to his other most-loved pursuit which is art collection. Apart from building the grand Venetian mansion on Sarasota Bay, they have positioned the place as “Florida’s Cultural Coast”. In the mansion which he shared with wife Mable, they collected works of Peter Paul Reubens and other Italian and Flemish art works from the 17th century. Today, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art have been listed among the most visited museums in America.