A short history of Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is about 7 miles (11 km) long and is home to three towns: Anna Maria in the north, Holmes Beach in the middle and Bradenton Beach in the south. An early settler was George Emerson Bean, who took up a homestead in 1893 at what is now Bean Point, at the northern tip. He was an early settler of the town's history, not the first person to live on the island.
Most of what you can see today is much younger, and a lot of it is being rebuilt. You do not need a day for it. Fit the places below around the things to do in Anna Maria Island.
The three towns
When each one became a town.
| Town | Incorporated | Where and why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Maria | 1923 | North end of the island, with the City Pier and Bean Point |
| Holmes Beach | 1950 | Middle of the island, named for the developer Jack Holmes |
| Bradenton Beach | 1952 or 1953 | South end, with Bridge Street, Coquina Beach and the road to Cortez |
The towns sit end to end on one road, so they feel like one place, but each has its own history and rules. For most visitors who want the history in one afternoon, start in Bradenton Beach on Bridge Street and walk or ride on to Cortez.
Our pick: a sunset paddle with local history
The guide talks about the area's wildlife and history along the way, so it is the closest thing to a history tour among our picks.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Boat tours and activities on Anna Maria Island
Dolphin cruises, sunset boats, kayak trips and fishing charters, with live prices and availability.
The City Pier and the bridges
Two things that tied the island to the mainland and to the water.
Anna Maria City Pier
The City Pier was first built in 1911. Hurricane Irma damaged it in 2017, and Helene and Milton damaged it again in 2024. These are separate events with separate repairs, not one long story. Reconstruction is under way now. See the piers guide for its current state.
The first bridge
A first bridge connected the island to the mainland in 1921 or 1922. Later bridges followed in the 1950s and 1960s, and the Cortez Road bridge is being replaced now.
Bridge Street Pier
The island part of the old wooden bridge in Bradenton Beach was kept. Today it is a fishing pier with public restrooms, a sales area and a floating day dock.
Cortez: the old fishing village
The village that was once called Hunter's Point.
Cortez was called Hunter's Point before its present name. Family histories there go back to the 1880s, and the whole village has been a historic district in the National Register since 1995. It is a village with its own story and should not be mixed up with the founding of the town of Bradenton Beach.
The Florida Maritime Museum, which offers a walking tour brochure of the village, is closed for building rehabilitation. No reopening date is set, so check before you plan a visit. You can still walk the streets and the harbor edge. See the Bradenton Beach and Cortez guide for the neighborhood.
Seeing the history today
Four places, in order from south to north.
Cortez village
Walk the village streets and the harbor edge. The museum building is closed for rehabilitation, so there is no indoor visit for now. The Cortez Road bridge is a construction zone, so allow extra time on the way.
Bridge Street Pier
The island part of the old wooden bridge in Bradenton Beach. Bring a camera, not a rod, unless you have checked the fishing rules and hold a license.
The City Pier site
The City Pier in Anna Maria is being rebuilt. You can look at the site from the shore, but do not plan around walking on it until it reopens.
Bean Point
The northern tip, where the 1893 homestead stood. It is a place for views of the water. Do not treat it as a guarded swimming beach.
Old Florida: what the phrase means here
A theme, not a promise.
Writers often call the small fishing villages, wooden bridges and beach towns of the past "Old Florida". Treat it as a theme to explore, not as a promise that every street looks unchanged. The island has been rebuilt after storms before, and it is being rebuilt again. The history is real, but today's buildings, piers and shops change with each repair.
Anna Maria Island history: frequently asked questions
Who first settled Anna Maria Island?
George Emerson Bean took up a homestead in 1893 at today's Bean Point, the northern tip. He was an early settler of the town's history, not the first person to live on the island.
When were the three towns founded?
Anna Maria was incorporated in 1923 and Holmes Beach in 1950. Bradenton Beach followed in 1952 or 1953.
How old is the Anna Maria City Pier?
It was first built in 1911. Hurricane Irma damaged it in 2017, and Helene and Milton damaged it again in 2024.
Where does the name Anna Maria come from?
The origin of the name is not settled.
What is Cortez?
A historic fishing village, once called Hunter's Point. It has been a National Register historic district since 1995.
Can I visit the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez?
Not at the moment. The museum is closed for building rehabilitation and no reopening date is set. You can still walk the village streets and the harbor edge.