Monica Kile has been leading walking tours of St. Petersburg for nearly two decades. Now she has a book of self-guided walking tours that reach into areas she can’t always cover on her weekend jaunts. Not content to rely solely on the established histories of the Sunshine City, Monica has conducted hundreds of hours of research, finding forgotten stories and gaining a clearer picture of why St. Pete captures the hearts of visitors and became a place that people are eager to call “home.” Tombolo Books will host a launch party with a book talk and Q&A with Monica on October 15 at 7:00 PM.

“I’ve always been particularly interested in the evolution of the built environment – the buildings and public spaces that make up the urban core. And I’m also fascinated with ‘public history’, or how we share history with the general public. So this book is a great combination of my two loves,” Monica said. 

St. Petersburg, A Walk Through History is published by Reedy Press, publisher of a series of walking tour books in cities nationwide. Monica’s book covers more than 100 points of interest in St. Pete, from the downtown waterfront to Mirror Lake, The Palladium on downtown’s northern edge, and the Royal Theater in the Deuces. 

“I have been collecting and sharing this information for 20 years on walking tours, which taught me which stories really resonate with people. It’s great to know what year a building was built and who designed it. But I think it even more interesting to learn why we still have four arcades remaining downtown, how recreation, like shuffleboard and horseshoes, shaped our city, and the unusual stories behind some of our most beautiful buildings.” Monica never runs out of eye-opening stories that illuminate the fabric of the city. 

Most weekends, you’ll find Monica leading a walking or trolley tour with a mix of recent transplants, out-of-town visitors, and longtime residents. Lang, Demens, Straub, and Wimbish are familiar names, but why these names endure is what makes St. Pete unique. Most people know Al Lang had something to do with baseball because his name is on the field, but they might not know how he created Spring Training in Florida, or how years later, leaders in the Black community forced the desegregation of Spring Training accommodations nationally. 

“I just love watching people’s eyes light up when I tell them the stories behind buildings they see every day, like the bank built and staffed entirely by women, or the office complex that was originally built as Hartmann’s Amusement Palace—a massive ballroom. I think I’ve developed almost a sixth sense for the stories that delight people, and have spent hour-upon-pleasurable-hour reading old newspapers to dig up those gems.” Monica said.

St. Petersburg, A Walk Through History will be available at Tombolo Books, (including signed copies) as well as other shops and booksellers in October. Come to Monica’s book launch and presentation at Tombolo Books on October 15 at 7:00 PM. CLICK HERE for full details and to RSVP. Want to join Monica for a walking or trolley history tour in person? We’ve added new tours through December! These tend to sell out quickly, so reserve your spot today. Get your tickets here.