Boca Grande, Florida is a small island town on the coast of southwest Florida on Gasparilla Island, one of the Grand Barrier Islands, between Sarasota and Ft. Myers. Its first recorded human occupants were the Calusa Indians, who are said to stretch back to the 800-900 AD period in history.During the 1700s, a pirate known as Jose Gaspar made the Island his place of refuge and eventually they named it after him. In the late 1800s the discovery of phosphate rock on the Island caused a major economic boom in the small fishing village, transforming it into one of Florida's most widely used deep water ports. Boca Grande Pass is said to be one of the deepest natural inlets in Florida.  A railroad was built in the early 1900s to transport the much demanded phosphate, and for the next 50 years it was distributed worldwide from Boca Grande. Phosphate was a huge commodity during this time, and put Boca Grande on the map internationally. By 1969 Port Boca Grande was recognized as the fourth busiest in Florida, but in the 1970s Tampa became the port of choice for phosphate distribution, slowing down traffic at Port Boca Grande considerably. Tourism became a major economic source for the island.  By the early 1900s Boca Grande had also become legendary for tarpon fishing. Generations of families have continued the fishing tradition, and each spring Boca Grande hosts the "World's Richest Tarpon Tournament," drawing in hundreds of tarpon fishermen for a chance at the cash prize that is offered. In 2003 the prize is $150,000. 
American Agricultural and Chemical Company brought power to the ever growing Boca Grande Port in 1910. This was what set into motion the building of the town. The now extinct Boca Grande Hotel, along with numerous other structures of Spanish style architecture, sprang up in Boca Grande, and soon it became a destination for more than just fishing. These days this 7 mile long island is a quiet place most of the time, known for its exquistite architecture and "Old World Florida" climate.  Banyan Street is renowned for 80 year old trees that stretch across to form an arch in the sky. Boca Grande doesn't host a single stoplight. In 1890 the US Coast Guard used the Boca Grande Lighthouse for the first time. This lighthouse is still functional. Boca Grande offers numerous dining options, from casual to formal, art galleries, shopping, and beautiful beaches. We spent our time shopping and taking in the wonderful ambiance of this gem of the gulf coast.
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