Weedon Island, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Weedon Island
Remains of the airport's waiting room
Weedon Island, Florida Location in Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Pinellas
Area code(s)	727
GNIS feature ID	292981

Weedon Island is a special place in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It's part of the Weedon Island Preserve, located in the northern part of St. Petersburg. This island is very important for understanding ancient cultures. It's the main site for what archaeologists call the Weeden Island Culture. The island got its name from an early owner, Dr. Leslie Weedon.

History of Weedon Island

Early Days and Owners

In 1886, a former soldier named Captain W. B. Henderson bought the land that would become Weedon Island. He used war bonds to pay for it. In 1898, Captain Henderson gave the island as a wedding gift to his daughter Blanche and her husband, Dr. Leslie Weedon.

At that time, Weedon Island was only a true island when the tide was high. During low tide, it was connected to the mainland. Dr. Leslie Weedon and his family would spend weekends there, traveling by boat from nearby Tampa. Another family, the Benjamins, lived on a nearby island called Benjamin Island.

Discovering Ancient Cultures

In 1923–24, an archaeologist named Dr. Jesse Walter Fewkes visited Weedon Island. He was the head of the Bureau of American Ethnology. Dr. Fewkes led digs at the ancient mounds on the island. He believed that two groups of people had lived there long ago. The second group might have come from Georgia, because their mounds looked very similar. The name for the Weeden Island Culture comes from this very island.

Island Development and the Airport

In 1934, a developer wanted to build homes on Weedon Island, but his plan didn't work out. However, one of his partners, Fred Blair, built the San Reno Club and an airport in 1926. This airport was first called Sky Harbor Airport, then Grand Central Airport by the 1930s.

A company called Pitcairn, which later became Eastern Air Lines, used the airport. They flew passengers to big cities like Miami, New York City, and Washington, D.C.. In 1913, Eastern Air Transport (Eastern Air Lines) even moved its main office to the island, making the airport very busy.

Weedon Island in Movies

Weedon Island became a popular spot for Hollywood movie stars in the 1930s. The San Reno Club was turned into a movie studio. After it burned down, a new one was built nearby. In 1933, Sun Haven Studios made three movies here: Chloe, Playthings of Desire, and Hired Wife. Famous actors like Buster Keaton and Olive Borden worked on these films, and local people often got to be extras.

A National Park Idea

In the mid-1930s, there was an idea to make Weedon Island a National Park. People from Pinellas County and St. Petersburg wanted to make it a special place. They hoped it would be recognized as the spot where the explorer Hernando de Soto first landed in Florida.

However, in 1937, an expert named John R. Swanton researched de Soto's landing site. He thought it might have been at the Little Manatee River, not Weedon Island. So, the island did not become a national monument or a protected reserve at that time. The exact landing spot of de Soto is still talked about today.

World War II and Later Years

During World War II, the island's airport was used by the military because many airplanes were needed. After the war, the need for commercial flights went down. Also, a bridge to the island burned down in 1953.

In 1955, a company called Florida Power Corporation (now Progress Energy) bought most of the northern part of the island. They built a power plant there. For a few years in the 1960s, a special plant was built to turn salt water into fresh water.

By the early 1970s, the last private landowners sold their land. It became clear that the island would not be developed for businesses anymore. Only the power plant remained, and the rest of the island was turned into a nature preserve.

Today, Weedon Island is a beautiful preserve where people can explore nature and learn about its long history.

Gallery

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  Airport Waiting Room Ruins (from the tarmac)

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  Airport Waiting Room Ruins (From the trail)