1994 Vernon Pictorial Map of St. Petersburg, Florida

This is a 1994 Bob Vernon pictorial view of the northeastern portion of St. Petersburg, Florida, prepared for the novelty company Fun Treasure Maps.

A Closer Look

The view covers from 9th Ave. N. to Ulmerton Rd. and from 34th St. N. in the west to Tampa Bay in the east. The I-275 causeway to Tampa is noted in the background at top-right, while closer to the foreground is the beginnings of the Gandy Bridge. Major roads, including highways, are labeled throughout, but most information relates to businesses, which range from regional and national chains like Days Inn, K-Mart, and Winn Dixie to small mom-and-pop operations. The view includes a fun contest, explained at the bottom, where viewers identify intentional mistakes (such as backward letters in companies' names) and can receive a gift certificate from Fun Treasure Maps in return.

Publication History and Census

This view was drawn by Orlando-based artist Bob Vernon and was printed by Suncoast Color for Fun Treasure Maps, a novelty company based in nearby Bradenton. While the Tampa Bay History Center's Touchton Map Library holds two other Fun Treasure Maps drawn by Vernon (Treasure Island, Florida; Fort Pierce, Florida), we do not locate the present view in theirs or any other institutional collections.