A New Era on the Waterfront

On June 19, 1908, the City of St. Petersburg awarded Bradford Lawrence a lease to construct a bathhouse on the north mole near the Municipal Pier. By the end of the year, the facility opened as the Spa, becoming the city’s first modern public bathhouse.

At a time when St. Petersburg was still a young and growing community, access to recreational amenities along the waterfront was an important part of attracting both residents and visitors. The Spa offered saltwater bathing facilities and quickly became a popular destination on the downtown shoreline.

Its construction reflected a broader vision for the waterfront as a public gathering place. Over the following decades, the Spa expanded and evolved into one of the city’s best-known landmarks. Generations of residents and tourists visited the facility for swimming, social activities, and relaxation along Tampa Bay.

The Spa’s beginnings in 1908 marked an important chapter in the development of St. Petersburg’s public waterfront, helping establish a tradition of recreation and community use that continues to shape the city’s relationship with the bay today.