Venice, which takes its name from the famed Italian city, was home to ancient Native American cultures before white settlers began arriving in the mid-nineteenth century. When members of the Knight Family reached the area in 1868 and began raising cattle, they referred to it as "Horse and Chaise," in recognition of a nearby cluster of trees that resembled a rider atop a horse-drawn buggy.

In 1881, Civil War veteran Frank Higel joined the Knights and other early settlers on the Florida frontier, growing cassava and citrus for the production of syrups and canned fruits. It was Higel who recommended changing the community's name to Venice.

The 1910 arrival of Bertha Honoré Palmer, a Chicago millionaire and socialite marked a turning point in the town's history. Over a seven-year period, Palmer acquired over 100,000 acres, promoted the construction of canals, and founded the Sarasota-Venice Company to market lots carved out of her huge landholdings. Fred Albee, a Harvard-educated doctor, followed Palmer's lead, investing heavily in real estate, spurring the city's development during the 1920s, and helping to create an idyllic residential and tourist destination.

In 1925, Albee hired architect John Nolen to design a city around his holdings. Within a week he had sold 1,500 acres-the bulk of contemporary downtown Venice. One primary investor was the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the United States' oldest railway labor union. The BLE constructed several buildings around town, including the Venice Hotel in northern Italian style. Unfortunately, the 1929 stock market crash ended the unions' involvement in the town.

The Great Depression ushered in hard times for Venice. All but one bank closed, and private land holdings reverted back to creditors. City officials even shut off streetlights to save money. Relief came in 1932, when the Kentucky Military Institute chose Venice as the site for the school's winter term. For nearly forty years, thereafter, uniformed cadets were common sites around town. More relief came in 1933, when Fred Albee, who was a pioneer in orthopedic medicine, opened the Florida Medical Center.

During World War II, the Venice Army Air Base housed, trained, and provided support for combat air units. By war's end, the base also housed more than two hundred German prisoners of war. Post-war decades witnessed the reemergence of Venice. In 1960, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus moved its winter headquarters to town. Purchasing land adjacent to the Venice airport, Circus officials constructed an entertainment hall that held 5,000 spectators.

Venice remains in touch with its history. The modern city retains its historic feel in the Hotel Venice, the Venice Railroad Depot, and many other Italianate buildings dating to the 1920s.

This Podcast made possible through a grant from the Florida Humanities Council. Script written by Kyle Burke. Narrated by Dave Dunwoody.