Port Tampa City 1938

Wonder what your block looked like almost 70 years ago? Check out the searchable aerial photography database atAerial Photography Florida Then follow these instructions from the most excellent My Florida History blog

"From the site's home page, click "search." You will see a map of the state. Use the "zoom+" button to zoom on the part of Florida that interests you. After you zoom in several times, you will see dots with years, which are the links to photos from that year of that place. If you zoom in more, you will see street names. You can use the "select" feature to draw a rectangle around the dots you want. Links to the photos will appear below the map. Click on the camera icon by the year you want, and a new window will open with that aerial photograph. You can zoom in closer by using the drop down menu, or by clicking on the photograph (which also recenters the image). "

The empty block just below the center of the picture above is where the SW Port Tampa Park and Kwane Doster Rec. Center are now located. The large open space at the very bottom is still open space, occupied only by well used ball fields. Port Tampa City has certainly seen ups and downs over the years, but the Port Tampa blogger family appreciates the relatively high percentage of open space we still enjoy right in the city. Tampa in general does not rate very highly for open spaces and parks compared to other urban environments. It's important to support the Port Tampa City Women's Club in their efforts to make the Spanish American War Memorial Park something to be proud of.