Island History

Curious about the history of Anna Maria Island? This is an easy place to explore the past. You do not need to spend a full day in one museum or drive far off the island. A lot of the story is right here in places you can visit in a couple of hours, from the local museum on Pine Avenue to the old jail, Bridge Street, and some of the...

Once you’re on Anna Maria Island, you can’t go any further north than Bean Point. Named after George Emerson Bean, Anna Maria Island’s first permanent resident, Bean Point is located on a secluded stretch of beach of what was Bean’s original homesteaded property. With breathtaking views of the sunset reflecting off the calming azure waters of where the Gulf of Mexico meets Tampa Bay, Bean Point is a local secret....