Tour Shows Off Small City with Big History

Our knowledgable guide David Carson’s first announcement is a warning: there will be a quiz at the end.

“If I had known you were going to take pictures I would have done something with my hair,” Carson said. “I don’t have any makeup on or anything.”

It is Carson's first time volunteering as a docent for the Dunedin Historical Museum's weekly guided walking tours. The museum just added a new Historic Victoria Drive edition, which premiers as a separate tour on Friday (Nov. 11).

He warms up by asking us to notice of the on businesses throughout town.

“A local artist and another lady — I call them our city criminals — went out and painted some oranges on the sides of buildings without any permits or permission,” Carson said. “We know who does it, and he actually charges for it now.”

They represent Dunedin's transition away from cotton as the primary cash crop. In the 1870s farmers in the Dunedin area grew cotton and transitioned to oranges 10 years later. He revealed the site of the city's first frozen concentrate plant.

Our first official stop is the site of the original Publix grocery store. We also say hello to one of the aforementioned city criminals, Marsha Goins, co-owner of .

Next, we take a look at Dunedin’s 1913-era building, which was once the site of the first bank in Dunedin on the corner of Broadway and Main Street. Carson lets us know of some roof leaks. Apparently building standards were not as stringent at that time, he jokes.

Our guide tells us a little about Dunedin’s first settler Richard Garrison. (The reason Dunedin officially became a city in 1899 is quite colorful. But we aren't going to spoil the rest of the tour.)

Each guest receives a “goody bag” filled with guide books and historic information. They are also eligible for a 15 percent discount from participating restaurants and a 10 percent discount from and on the day of the tour.

Want to go?

• What: 's weekly, guided walking tours, “A Walk Through Historic… and Not So Historic … Dunedin.”
• When: Fridays at 11 a.m. through April 2012.
• Where: Meet in front of the Dunedin Historical Museum
• Cost: $15
• Notes: Discounts on food and merchandise are only available for the day of the tour. Customers must present a valid ticket obtained from the Historical Museum.

Participating restaurants:

• Café Alfresco, 344 Main St
  
• The Dunedin Smokehouse, 471 Main St
  
• Sea Sea Riders, 221 Main St
  
• The Living Room, 487 Main St
• Casa Tina, 365 Main St
  

Participating businesses:

• Enchanted Branch, 318 Main St
• The Candy Bar, 748 Broadway

For more information email dunedinhistory@yahoo.com.