Old Florida Experiences

Anna Maria Island is known for its gorgeous white sandy beaches. But there is more to this area than meets the eye. Dive into old Florida and relive history with the following adventures.

Try Florida Cracker Food

The first pioneer settlers arrived in 1763 after Florida was traded from Spain to Great Britain. They lived in a much simpler time before air conditioning, mosquito repellent, and screens. Working cattle was one of the main trades. The Florida cowboys did not have lassos but used dogs and cow whips to herd and capture cattle. The cracking of the whip gave them their name: The Florida Crackers. It is a source of pride for families that can trace back their ancestors to these original Floridians.

Traditional Cracker Food consists of boiled peanuts, gator, swamp cabbage, turtle soup, frog legs, smoked mullet and sofkee.

Terra Ceia Island hosts the annual “Mullet Smoke-Off” which is a blast. If you are not in the area for that, stop by the Cortez Fishing Village and sample smoked mullet with the local fishermen.
Another Old Florida treasure is the Linger Lodge. Have some Florida grouper, alligator, frog legs and overlook Braden River. You might see an alligator swimming by too.

Explore Bean Point

Anna Maria Island was not established quite that long ago but the first homesteader was George Emerson Bean and settled here 1892. He owned a large land tract from the North Point of the Island to today’s Magnolia Avenue. Explore the beach at the tip of the island named after him: Bean Point. Walk across the wooden beach access by the corner of North Bay Blvd and North Shore Dr. and enjoy the same water views as Mr. Bean.

Snack on a Fig Newton

In the early part of the 20th century, Charles Roser arrived on Anna Maria Island. Originally, he was a baker in Philadelphia who had created the recipe for the Fig Newton in 1891. He made his fortune by selling his cookie company to another cookie company that later become Nabisco (National Biscuit Company) for a million dollars.
Once on the island, he partnered with George Bean’s son to form the Anna Maria Beach Company to develop the property by laying out streets and selling lots. Proceeds from the enormous cookie sale helped build the island’s first streets, sidewalks, vacation cottages and water system.
Roser also built a pier in 1911 at the end of Pine Avenue for days guests arriving on steamships from Tampa and a bathing pavilion where the Sandbar Restaurant is now located. He had a real estate office within easy walking distance of the pier on the south side of Pine Avenue. In 1913 as a memorial to his mother, he built Roser Memorial Community Church which was the first church on the island.
Stroll along Pine Avenue and stop by all these places that the Fig Newton made possible.

Watch “On an Island with You”

Hollywood swimming star Ester Williams along with hundreds of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer workers descended on tranquil Anna Maria Island in 1948 to shoot the movie “On an Island with you”. In order to set the stage and accommodate the film project, Holmes Beach name patron Jack Holmes had cleared 30 acres of jungle on his 350 island acres in 1947 for an airport which is now the community field in Holmes Beach. The landing strip was constructed in 13 days. The area is now home to the Holmes Beach City Hall, The Community Field with Skate Park, Dog park, Pickleball courts and Playground.

Treasure Hunt on Leffis Key

An estimated 3 million shipwrecks are resting on the bottom of the oceans and many hold fabled tales and other mysteries. The waters around Florida are also home of thousands of sunken ships. Not only hurricanes were a huge danger but the buccaneers during the Golden Age of Piracy had their eye on the cargo ships along the main shipping routes. The real pirate, Jean LaFitte, is rumored to have buried treasures at many locations. Given his legendary reputation, there was much speculation about whether, or how, Lafitte had died. The story goes that in the 1820s, he shipwrecked near Anna Maria Island. It is believed that the Anna Maria Preserve called Leffis Key on the South end of the island is named after him. No treasures were found yet but the first homesteaders dug up human bones and brass buttons when installing wells. What will you discover when taking a walk along the Mangrove trails?

Visit AMI Old City Jail

The Island’s first jail was built in 1927 when islanders had a few too many drinks at the tavern. Inmates were held in the outdoor cell while thousands of mosquitoes swarmed around them during the night. The cell’s windows had bars but no glass or screens. It was used until 1940 when it partially caught on fire and the wooden roof was destroyed. The city decided to keep the jail as attraction. It is now the most photographed spot on the Island and even unique enough to be mentioned in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Stop by for free and visit the AMI Historical Muesum while you are there.