Much has changed in Lakeland’s 138-year history. We’ve scoured through the Lakeland Public Library, State Library, and Archives of Florida to find postcards and photos of the Lakeland of yore. Let’s take a look into the past to see how far we’ve come.
Lake Morton
At one point, it might have been more likely to see a horse around Lake Morton than a swan. Lakeland’s royal swans didn’t arrive until 1957, and the earliest records of swans on the lake date back to only 1923.
Bryant Block
This corner building home to Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille is known for its Neo-Georgian façades, truncated corner entrance, and red brick + cast iron exterior. Built in 1904 after a fire decimated an entire block east of Munn Park, the building has housed several businesses, drugstores, and restaurants like Fat Catz. Next door, downtown shoppers could grab necessities from a five-and-dime store in the Kress Building and a corner drug store.
Clonts Building
One of Lakeland’s more picturesque downtown buildings has housed dry goods businesses, a cigar company, a sporting goods store, salons, and more. Over a century later, the 1903 Richardsonian Romanesque-style Clonts Building still houses several businesses. Stop by to see its iconic arched windows and round tower.
Bowyer Building
The Bowyer Building is Lakeland’s oldest standing commercial building, built in 1902 by a former Lakeland mayor. In 1907, it housed the Electric Theatre, Lakeland’s first movie house. Today, you can stop by this piece of Lakeland history to shop for apparel and accessories from Amelia Paige Boutique.
The Orange Blossom Hotel
Did you know Lakeland’s last standing railroad hotel can be found on North Kentucky Avenue? Identify the 1916 construction by its tin roof and wide, covered porches. You can be completely sure you’ve found the right place if you can find the exterior wash house still standing on the building’s east side.
Joker Marchant Stadium
Henley Field is now used by Florida Southern College’s baseball team.
Postcard via Florida Memory, photo by @lkdflyingtigers
Our relationship with the Detroit Tigers is the longest-standing in MLB history. The team first started spring training in Lakeland in 1934, playing at Henley Field, pictured above. Joker Marchant Stadium opened in 1966, holding just 4,900 fans — it now holds 8,500.
Hotel Thelma
Hotel Thelma’s successor, the Terrace Hotel, stands in the distance.
Left photo via Florida Memory, right photo by LALtoday
Just down the street once stood Hotel Thelma, the first modern hotel in Lakeland built in 1913. It played host to famous visitors like Teddy Roosevelt and Thomas Edison, but shuttered in 1962. Since then, the site has been rebuilt to hold eateries like Frescos Southern Kitchen & Bar and Taco Bus.
Magnolia Building
You can learn to ballroom dance here on Thursday nights.
Postcard via Florida Memory, photo by LALtoday
This city-owned building on Lake Mirror is now an event center — you may have attended a wedding or community gathering there — but did you know it used to be the Lakeland Community Tourist Center? It was built in 1938 and held the Lakeland Tourist Club until 1998. You can take a tour of the Frances Langford Promenade to learn more about historic Lakeland stories like this, or check out this signed postcard from 1953.
