Daytona Beach Bandshell

The Daytona Beach Bandshell is an amphitheatre in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. It is located at Ocean Avenue, north of the junction of Main Street and Atlantic Avenue. On March 5, 1999, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. On April 18, 2012, the AIA's Florida Chapter placed the Daytona Beach Bandshell on its list of Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.[2]

Daytona Beach Bandshell
Daytona Beach Bandshell
Located in Volusia County, Florida
LocationDaytona Beach, Florida
Coordinates29°13′54″N 81°00′34″W
Built1936-37
ArchitectAlan J. MacDonough
Architectural styleLate Gothic Revival
MPSDaytona Beach Multiple Property Submission
NRHP reference No.99000159[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 5, 1999

This property is part of the Daytona Beach Multiple Property Submission to the National Register.

History

In the 1920s, residents of Daytona Beach considered this area to be run-down and held discussions on ways to improve it.

In 1936, WPA workers began construction on this community-use project that was to cost Daytona Beach $84,000, the federal government $184,000, and be completed in 1938. Originally known as "Broadwalk", common usage gradually changed the name to the boardwalk.

The first facility constructed was the 48 foot by 114 foot natural coquina rock bandshell which seats 4,500. This was begun in September, 1936, and was completed in time for the first program to be presented on July 4, 1937. Open air concerts, as well as other programs, are still presented in the bandshell. The other structures in the boardwalk area are a clock tower, kiosk, concession facilities, restrooms, subway entrances (now closed), and an elevated walk from Earl to Ora Streets.[3]

The City Band of Daytona Beach, under Everett Allyn Moses, began in 1947. They gave summer concerts in the Band Shell and winter concerts at the city recreation hall. Moses also organized a Junior Orchestra. William P. Schueler became the director of both bands after Moses retired in 1952.[4]

The bandshell, with the ocean for a backdrop, served as the site of an Oct. 5, 1992, campaign rally attended by presidential candidate Bill Clinton and running mate Al Gore and their wives, one of several stops during their cross-state bus tour through Florida a month before the 1992 election.[5]

MTV Spring Break used to hold concerts at the Bandshell in Daytona. In 1987 Crowded House (from Australia) played there for Spring Break. In 1989, Cheap Trick and The Fixx (from the UK) played there. In 2000, Blink-182 (from San Diego) played there for MTV Spring Break.

Images
  • The Daytona Beach Clocktower

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Daytona Beach Bandshell" Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.
  3. Historic Daytona Beach (pamphlet), The Halifax Historical Society, 1992.
  4. Centennial History of Volusia County 1854-1954, Volusia County Historical Commission
  5. "Clinton, Gore Impress Volusia Crowds". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.