Venice

Originally known as "Horse and Chaise," this area was renamed Venice in 1888 in recognition of its many natural waterways. Venice became a reality as a city when the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (B. of L.E.) arrived in 1925 and began building a planned retirement community for its members. Designed by city planner John Nolen, the original plan included wide paved boulevards with planted medians, small parks throughout the community, a golf course, a beachfront amphitheatre, lots reserved for schools and hotels, and an agricultural area known as Venice Farms. Mediterranean architecture gave Venice a unique charm, but the dream died with the 1929 stock market crash. For years, Venice lay dormant, with Dr. Albee's Florida Medical Center, Kentucky Military Institute, and Venice Farms providing the only economic life during the 1930s. The city came to life again with the creation of an Army Air Base during World War II, and the Ringling Brothers Circus relocated their winter home there in 1960. Although Venice has grown beyond the original plan, many old landmarks remain, as does its unique charm, and a new generation now enjoys the retirement dream.

Venice, Florida · United States