Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society plans to Recreate Hotel Charlotte Harbor Mural

The Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society has received a $7,500 matching grant from the Charlotte Community Foundation to re-create its first Mural, "Hotel Charlotte Harbor."  According to Bob Armstrong, PGHMS President, PGHMS plans to have the mural repainted on the south walls of the Charlevoi Condominiums, located on Charlotte Harbor.  They are looking to raise $7,500 in matching funds, to complete the project.

The original mural, a section of which is depicted above,  was installed in 1995 on the wall of the old Punta Gorda Mall on the harbor. It was destroyed along with the mall in 2004 during Hurricane Charly

The Hotel Charlotte Harbor (originally the Hotel Punta Gorda) was frequently mentioned during early Team Punta Gorda sessions after Hurricane Charley.  While many of us were not here when it stood on the Harbor, we realized it represented a grander era in Punta Gorda, which those participating in the master planning effort for the new Punta Gorda hoped to recreate.  Old-time Punta Gordans, who did remember the hotel,  reflected on it with great fondness.

Originally called the Hotel Punta Gorda, it opened with great fanfare in 1888, and became a beacon for the city sitting majestically on the Harbor. One of Punta Gorda's first major buildings, during its first  season, the Hotel Punta Gorda welcomed over 3000 guests.  All of the hotel's 150 rooms covering three floors had views of the magnificent harbor.  Built in the Queen Anne style, with  gables, a wrap-around veranda, clapboard siding, and a hipped roof,  the hotel, despite being in what was then a remote part of Florida,  had many of the  modern conveniences of the time such as gas lighting, electric bells, steam heat and open fireplaces.  Roses draped over the railings of the veranda, and the grounds were extensively landscaped with camphor trees and palms.

The hotel attracted many notables of the day from around the world including Thomas Edison, John Wanamaker, W. K. Vanderbilt, the Samuel Colt family and many others.  After a period of decline, the Hotel Punta Gorda was bought by Barron Collier, who changed the name to the Hotel Charlotte Harbor, remodeled it to a more Mediterranean style, extended the grounds, and added a swimming pool, tennis courts and a boat basin. The hotel flourished again for a time, but then fell on hard times.  It was finally destroyed in a fire in August of 1959.