Visit the Pier

VISIT THE PIER

Glazer Family Playground

At the nautical-themed Glazer Family Playground, you’ll find an expansive, colorful playground conceived by one of North America’s premier playground designers. Your little ones can burn off energy on slides, swings, climbing structures, kiddie obstacle courses, activity nodes, and more. This area is conveniently located between the Bending Arc Sculpture and the Majeed Foundation Splash Pad.

VISIT THE PIER

Majeed Foundation Splash Pad & Pier Plaza

Keep the kiddies cool — and tire them out in the process. At the Pier Plaza, visitors will find an interactive water feature that serves as both a fountain and a splash pad, featuring large and small vertical water jets. Nearby, shade trees are abundant, and there is a covered pavilion for enjoying snacks and cold drinks.

VISIT THE PIER

Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center

This must-visit facility is operated by Tampa Bay Watch, a highly respected environmental organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Tampa Bay estuary. Located on the over-water walkway approaching the Pier Point, the Discovery Center presents all you need to know about Tampa Bay’s unique ecosystem in a way that’s entertaining and hands-on.

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VISIT THE PIER

St. Petersburg Museum of History

The St. Petersburg Museum of History has shared the city’s stories for 100 years. This must-see museum is open 7 days a week and offers some of the most unique exhibits you’ll find anywhere, including the Odditorium with a two-headed calf and a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy, the Flight One Gallery with a working replica of the Benoist XIV airboat, and Schrader’s Little Cooperstown.

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VISIT THE PIER

Spa Beach

If you’re a visitor staying downtown, you can now get sand between your toes without having to drive across town to the Gulf Beaches! Enjoy the beach, launch a kayak or paddleboard, or simply dig your toes into the sand while taking in views of the downtown skyline. You can easily get here on foot from anywhere along St. Pete’s waterfront.

VISIT THE PIER

Fishing Deck

Fishing has been a tradition at the St. Pete Pier since its earliest days in the late 1800s. Cast a line from the dedicated Fishing Platform overlooking Tampa Bay, complete with a fish cleaning station and convenient access to Gator Jim’s Tackle for frozen bait, gear, tackle, and nets, and other supplies.

VISIT THE PIER

Majeed Foundation Coastal Thicket

Take a relaxing walk or bike ride through a corridor of native Florida vegetation along the north side of the Pier. This ADA-accessible boardwalk winds through large trees, palms, sea oats, and native grasses, creating a scenic escape with beautiful waterfront views. It’s also illuminated for evening strolls!

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THE PIER DISTRICT

Explore the St. Pete Pier

Gateway
‘Myth’ by Nathan Mabry
Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro
St. Petersburg Museum of History
The Marketplace
Family Park
‘Bending Arc’ by Janet Echelman (Temporarily Closed)
St. Petersburg Municipal Marina
Glazer Family Playground
Spa Beach Park
Spa Beach

Spa Beach Bistro
Majeed Foundation Splash Pad
Pier Plaza
Cultural Grove
‘Morning Stars’ by Xenobia Bailey
Benoist Centennial Plaza featuring the World’s First Airline Monument
Courtesy Docks
Tilted Lawn
St. Pete Pier Operations Offices
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
Majeed Foundation Coastal Thicket

Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
‘Olnetopia’ by Nick Ervinck
The Great Lawn
Rooftop – Pier Teak; Level 4 – Teak; Level 2 – Driftwood Cafe;  Level 1 – Pier Gear & Gifts + Gator Jim’s Tackle
Fishing Deck
The Point
Perry’s Porch

Tram Stops

Parking Lots

Restrooms

Accessible Route

Information Kiosk

1889

The Railroad Pier

The city’s first pier dates back to 1889, built by railroad entrepreneur Peter Demens. The Orange Belt Railway built the Railroad Pier, which extended a half-mile into Tampa Bay from the foot of 1st Ave S, the terminus of the railroad. Lined with warehouses and loading docks, the 3,000-foot-long structure soon became popular with anglers and swimmers, prompting the construction of a bathing pavilion and toboggan slide.

1896

The Brantley Pier

Constructed by boatbuilder D.F.S. Brantley, the 1,500-foot Brantley Pier featured a horse-drawn flatcar that carried passengers and goods to ships moored offshore. Its popular 34-room bathing pavilion made it a favorite gathering place and helped establish the tradition of piers extending from 2nd Ave NE. Although it never surpassed the Railroad Pier in commercial terms, it played an important role in the city’s waterfront history before being replaced in 1906.

1900

The Fountain of Youth Pier

Built by Edwin H. Tomlinson, this 2,000-foot pier became famous for its artesian well. After purchasing the property in 1908, Dr. Jessie F. Conrad promoted the mineral-rich, lithium-containing water as the Fountain of Youth, drawing visitors from near and far. The pier was demolished in 1927, but the Fountain of Youth remains a local landmark today at 4th Ave and 1st St SE.

1906

The Electric Pier

In the years before World War I, the Electric Pier became a major tourist attraction and a symbol of the new St. Petersburg. Known for its hundreds of electric lights and streetcar lines, the Electric Pier extended 3,000 feet into Tampa Bay. Publisher Frank Davis, who also owned the St. Petersburg Electric Light & Power Company and the St. Petersburg & Gulf Electric Railway, developed this pier, which became a major tourist attraction. It was demolished in 1914.

1913

The Municipal Recreation Pier

Opened in 1913, the Municipal Recreation Pier was St. Petersburg’s first automobile-friendly pier. On January 1, 1914, Tony Jannus flew the first flight of the world‘s first airline from the Central Yacht Basin by the pier across the Bay to Tampa. Additional attractions included “the Spa” indoor pool, an aquarium (which later became the museum of history), and a dance hall and banquet facility. Following hurricane damage in 1921, it was replaced by the Million Dollar Pier in 1926.

1926

The Million Dollar Pier

Opened in 1926, the Million Dollar Pier (and its casino) quickly became one of St. Petersburg’s premier gathering places. In addition to Spa Beach and a solarium, it accommodated a two-lane roadway, streetcar line, observation deck, bait houses, and even a radio station. Designed in the Mediterranean Revival style popular during the city’s boom years, the pier blended Spanish, Italian, and Moorish elements. The Million Dollar Pier was demolished in 1967 due to deterioration.

1973

The Inverted Pyramid Pier

Designed by noted architect William Harvard, Sr., the Inverted Pyramid, with its unconventional, forward-thinking structure, was built atop the 1926 Pier head. It opened in 1973 and became a symbol of St. Petersburg’s waterfront for four decades. Over the years, it housed three restaurants, snack bars, miniature golf, shops, and an aquarium, all set against breathtaking views of Tampa Bay. The structure closed in 2013 to make way for a new St. Petersburg Pier.

2020

The St. Pete Pier

The new 26-acre Pier District opened on July 6, 2020. Today, it is home to seven restaurants, public art installations, family-friendly attractions, waterfront recreation, green spaces, shopping, educational experiences, and gathering places that stretch across the 1,380-foot pier. Use the map and legend above to locate attractions and plan your visit.

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Visit the Pier

Glazer Family Playground

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The Railroad Pier

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