Naples History

How did Naples get its start?

In the late 1800’s Naples, which was sometimes compared to the Peninsula of Naples, Italy, Naples Florida was the talk of advertisers and was bought by affluent Kentuckians in 1887.

Walter Haldeman was the lead in the group and the owner of the Louisville Courier-Journal. He formed the Naples Company and one of the first proposals was for a grand pier. The pier was to stretch out to 600 feet across the water and its “T” shape was intended to allow large ships to dock easily. While the Naples pier was being built it had to be torn down and reconstructed three times before it became a reality in 1888. As Naples gained a reputation celebrities started using Naples as a winter home away from home. It wasn’t unusual to see stars like Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, Rose Cleveland, Greta Garbo, Gary Cooper hanging around town. With celebrities moving into the area, the price of property started to rise. Beachfront land was now up to $125.

In 1911, a streetcar marketing tycoon visited on business. Barron G. Collier was so enthralled by the land in the area that he purchased a million acres of wetlands and property in Naples. He believed with his promotion skills this region could gain as much recognition as the east coast was gaining. In 1923, Collier started work on the Tamiami Trail a railroad project that would bring more people to the area. Three years later Collier had the railroad built. Using his own money he bridged three cities together: Naples, Tampa Bay and Miami.

Collier County is named after Barron Collier and the City of Naples with such opulence can thank one of their founders.