The history of St. Petersburg piers is as extensive as the city itself. The tale begins three years before the city’s inaugural incorporation in 1892 when the Railroad Pier was built in 1889 by the Orange Belt Railway. This first privately owned pier was an immediate attraction for tourists and locals.
The famous Electric Pier, on Second Avenue North, was erected in 1906 and boasted an elaborate design. The privately owned pier extended 3,000 feet into the bay. This pier was well known for its dramatic night lighting and was demolished in 1914.
The year 1914 brought the construction of the first Municipal Pier, with a $40,000 bond approved by voters. This pier was built on Second Avenue North – 10 feet from the north side of the Electric Pier.
The Hurricane of 1921 played a significant role in the development of the existing pier structures, destroying all the standing piers. The then eight-year-old Municipal Pier was severely crippled and in 1925 the Million Dollar Pier dream was realized. Pledges of $300,000 were raised throughout the community and a $1,000,000 bond issue paid for the new pier to be built in the same location as the demolished Municipal Pier. This was to be the first city-owned pier in St. Petersburg History.
The world famous Million Dollar Pier lived up to its legacy when it opened in 1926. The Million Dollar Pier was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in 1926, with ceremonies attended by more than 10,000 people. The Mediterranean-revival casino style building featured a central atrium, an open-air ballroom with terrazzo floors on the rooftop and an observation deck costing $998,279.18. 
The Pier remained popular in the years to come as a gathering place for card games, tourist meetings, community sings and fishing tournaments.
Trolley tracks from downtown came into the casino and the trolleys parked under the portico. Later this car barn area was walled in for WSUN-TV’s studios, where “Captain Mac” was seen in the 50’s with his television show for children.
However, in late 1967, the 40-year-old, badly deteriorated building was demolished. A park was established temporarily while the present day pier was being constructed.
The inverted pyramid pier that stands today has become a landmark in itself. Owned by the City of St. Petersburg, The Pier opened its doors in January 1973. Today it continues its legacy as a centerpiece of St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront with five stories of shopping, dining and adventure. Visitors can find 16 specialty shops, galleries and boutiques, four sit-down waterfront restaurants, the Dockside Eatery food court, The Pier Aquarium, as well as a variety of outdoor water and land adventures to enjoy. 
The Pier still holds community dances, has an observation deck for viewing the stars, and visitors still fish and feed the pelicans – just like in the early days of the Municipal Pier. The Pier is open 365 days a year, rain or shine, and holds over 300 activities annually.
In 2004, the City's Engineering Department determined the pilings underneath The Pier "approach" (bridge to The Pier building from the mainland), surrounding drive around The Pier and under the first floor were in need of replacement by the year 2014, or so. In 2005, $50 million in Tax Increment Financing dollars were earmarked and approved by the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners and sanctioned by 27 surrounding municipalities for construction/renovations for The Pier.
In the fall of 2008, various community meetings were held within Pinellas County to get input from the public on The Pier and what they envisioned for its future. In March 2009, St. Petersburg City Council formally approved the creation of The Pier Task Force who recently concluded their findings after 63 meetings. The Task Force was charged with providing multiple re-development alternatives, reviewing the status of The Pier, to consult with the citizens, persons with experience in architectural/development matters, and others as the Task Force deemed appropriate, and to submit their recommendations to the City Council, which was completed on June 10th. The Task Force provided multiple opportunities for community input through the evaluation process, and has recommended an action plan that takes into consideration The Pier visioning project data, community input, and other information compiled by the Task Force.
City Council has reviewed those alternatives and held a workshop recently with the consultants who worked with the Task Force. The landside option has been eliminated from consideration and the renovation of the existing inverted pyramid has also been removed from consideration, due to the expense involved. This leaves a clean slate for a design competition to be held taking into consideration the City wants an iconic/landmark structure out into Tampa Bay with views of the City from the new structure. Funds for this project are not available until 2012, which allows time for design, community input, permitting, etc. The Pier remains OPEN FOR BUSINESS until all plans, permitting and funding sources are in place, which will be approximately 2013.
The Pier is a landmark that, perhaps more than any public building, defines our city and reflects our heritage. The Pier has undergone many changes in form over the years, but it has always maintained its function as a downtown anchor, economic catalyst and amenity for local residents. The Pier is not just a downtown matter. It is a matter of importance to the whole city and to Pinellas County. We ARE St. Petersburg!
Written as of August 6, 2010.
