Tamiami Trail Scenic Byway

Overview

This road is a trip into Florida’s past, due in part to Barron Gift Collier. A southwest Florida millionaire who amassed a fortune by selling advertising on trolley cars, funded the construction of this road after the State ran out of money in the early 1900s. He wanted a direct route to the wealth that was scattered in Miami, and the Tamiami Trail, which finally opened in 1928, fulfilled that aim. He paid for the dynamite to break apart the swampland, and the oxen and men to move it. Working in 95-degree heat, fog-like humidity, hungry mosquitoes, and alligator-filled swampland, the workers dredged the land and built up the road to prevent flooding, cutting through thick tropical forest to open southwest Florida to the rest of the world. The route flows along US 41 from the Sarasota/Charlotte County line to the Manatee/Hillsborough County line. Recreational opportunities, as well as urban experiences such as shopping, walking, and sightseeing, are found all along the highway. The highway takes travelers through the many wonderful Florida cities such as Palmetto, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, and North Port, all rich with culture, architecture, recreation, and history. There is a lot for the whole family to enjoy on this byway.