Treasure Island, Florida and its environs is one of the best hotbeds of mid-century modern architecture in America—right on the Gulf of Mexico, about a mile from Jack Kerouac’s last home, was an example of every major architectural style and trend from America’s high point.
In an effort to bring awareness to what they had, years ago I got Treasure Island on the front page of The New York Times. They didn’t get it then, even as the national spotlight was thrown upon them.
I’ve been making some trips down there to document what’s left, and I’ve become happily surprised by something else: there’s new interest and hope in historic preservation. Now that mid-century modern is so hot, this might be a very good year for the city.
