John Hamilton Gillespie, known as the Father of Sarasota, arrived in Sarasota in 1886 and transformed what was then wilderness populated by a few Scottish settlers into a viable village, then a prosperous town, and finally a thriving city. Gillespie was the town's first mayor who introduced the game of golf to Sarasota and Florida. The City of Sarasota has proclaimed October 24 - 30, 2011, "John Hamilton Gillespie Week".
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| Gillespie's home on Morrill Street called "Roseburn" |
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| Gillespie's DeSoto Hotel 1887 |
Owen Burns arrived in Sarasota in 1910 from Chicago and immediately saw the potential to transform a small fishing and agricultural community into a desirable destination for vacationing snowbirds and permanent residents. His development projects, particularly during the roaring 1920s, included some of Sarasota's most significant landmarks. The City of Sarasota proclaimed November 8 - 14, 2010, "Owen Burns Week".
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| Burns Court construction |
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| 431 Burns Lane |
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| Owen Burns's El Vernona Hotel 1926 |
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| El Vernona Hotel Dining Room |
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| Construction of Ringling Causeway 1925 |
