History

Sightseeing In Naples

Naples, known historically for its many waterways, has been home to some of the most iconic attractions in the area. Tin City is among these, still sporting the old, historic Florida charm. The main reason behind Tin City's development and the catalyst for its growth has always been the fact that this was the original waterway to Naples.

The owners of Tin City Waterfront Shops are proud of the establishment's role in defining and developing the waterfront and in shaping Naples' history as a whole. They have joined Naples Backyard History to produce A History of the Waterfront Museum. When you're ready to go sightseeing in Naples, Tin City has the history and the beauty needed to make your trip worth it.

A Timeline of Tin City Waterfront Shops

  • 1500s: The Calusa Indians become the first inhabitants in the area, taking up shelling and fishing in the oyster and clamshell deposits that date back thousands of years.
  • Late 1860s: Roger Gordon and Joe Wiggins enter the region by boat and shed their nomadic ways to set up camps that served travelers and settlers. The Gordon Pass and the Wiggins Pass, two key waterways of Naples, are named after them.
  • 1880s: Talk about the waterfront's beauty begins to spread, attracting wealthy tourists and investors, who disembarked at Back Bay (now Crayton Cove) and traveled to the region. This results in the founding of Naples in 1886.
  • 1887: In order to make access more convenient, a 600-foot pier is built into the Gulf of Mexico by a group of wealthy Kentuckians led by Walter N. Haldeman. With the easier access now open, Naples becomes a winter playground for industrialists and celebrities, including Harvey Firestone, Thomas Edison, Greta Garbo, Gary Cooper, and Hedy Lamarr.
  • 1920s: The construction of the Seaboard Airline Railroad makes the humble tin-roofed buildings in Tin City the economic and transport development hub of Naples. The Tin City stretch of the Gordon river becomes the center of Naples's fishing industry, which spanned clam shelling, oyster processing, and boat construction and maintenance.  
  • 1970s: The Old Marine Marketplace is built in Tin City out of seven of the area's sturdy old buildings, with a colorful maritime charm. This marketplace continues to be a vibrant cornucopia of shops and eateries to this day.
  • 2019: Tin City retains its old Florida charm, preserving a small but very significant stretch of the Gordon River for future generations to enjoy.
Tin City Waterfront Shops currently supports over 30 unique boutiques, two waterfront restaurants, 
an ice cream parlor and a variety of fun water and boating adventures that attract people of all ages. 

Visit Tin City Waterfront Shops and see the various attractions we have for you. From sundry fashion to water sports, sightseeing in Naples has never been more charming.

When the construction of the Seaboard Airline Railroad turned this particular stretch of the Gordon River into a prime spot for clam shelling, oyster processing and boat construction and maintenance. Fishing businesses thrived here for decades until the 1970s, when the area began to evolve into a marketplace. Seven of the district’s original buildings were transformed into the Old Marine Marketplace, which became the Tin City we know today.

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