Weedon Island Preserve

The Weedon Island Preserve is a 3,190-acre natural area situated along the western shore of Tampa Bay and located at 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It is predominately an estuarine preserve composed of upland and aquatic ecosystems such as mangrove forests, pine/scrubby flatwoods, and maritime hammocks, and is home to a variety of native wildlife. The preserve is also a designated archaeological area, with several shell mounds identified on the property that provide evidence of early peoples who inhabited the land for thousands of years. On June 13, 1972, Weedon Island Preserve was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. In 1974, the state of Florida purchased Weedon Island and its surrounding islands, which were officially opened for public use in December 1980. In 1993, the state created a lease agreement with Pinellas County to manage and maintain the preserve. The county's Department of Parks and Conservation Resources presently manages the area. Weedon Island Preserve's name is derived from Tampa doctor and amateur archaeologist Leslie Washington Weedon. Recreational activities The preserve offers a total of 4.7 miles of nature trails for hiking, with 2 miles out of the total as boardwalks and paved trails that are ADA accessible and the remaining 2.7 miles as natural trail loops. The 3,000-foot Tower Boardwalk trail leads visitors to a 45-foot-tall observation tower, the tallest of its kind in Pinellas County. With favorable weather conditions, one can see much of the preserve and Tampa Bay from this tower, as well as the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg. Three additional observation platforms along the trails offer opportunities for bird and wildlife viewing and are ideal for photography. In addition to hiking, the preserve maintains a 4-mile, self-guided canoeing/kayaking loop called the South Paddling Trail. The path weaves through mangrove tunnels within the preserve and has access points to the bay. Visitors interested in exploring the paddling trail may bring their own vessels or take a tour. Other activities available include fishing from the pier located at the end of Weedon Dr. NE and picnicking at any of the designated picnic tables provided. Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center The Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center opened in December 2002 with the support of the Friends of Weedon Island and is run by Pinellas County Government. The center focuses on the natural, cultural, and archaeological history of the preserve. The Exhibit Hall features interactive displays on the unique wildlife and habitats found on Weedon Island and the ancient and present-day history of the preserve. The most recent addition to the center is a 40 feet (12 m) dugout canoe that was found in the Weedon Island Preserve and is believed to be a Manasotan artifact. It is estimated to be 1,100 years old. Ecosystem The Weedon Island Preserve ecosystems are majority wetlands, including mangrove swamps, with 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) of upland habitat. Flatwoods are represented with pine and scrub, as are coastal hammocks, coastal berms and anthropogenic shell mounds. Programs and events Pinellas County staff provide a wide variety of educational programs and events for the general public that are family-friendly and often free of charge. Monthly programs may include interpretive tours, archaeology classes, speaker series, and environmental sustainability workshops. Program registration and an updated list of current offerings are available on the center's website. Hours of operations The preserve is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 15 minutes before sunset. The Cultural and Natural History Center is open Thursday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Gallery References External links Weedon Island Preserve official site Milanich, Jerald T., Ann S. Cordell and Vernon J. Knight. (1997) Archaeology of Northern Florida, A.D. 200-900: The McKeithen Weeden Island Culture University Press of Florida. ISBN 0-8130-1538-3 Pinellas County listings at National Register of Historic Places Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs Pinellas County listings Archived 2014-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Weedon Island Preserve