The Roser Memorial Community Church, built in 1913 by Charles Roser in memory of his mother, became the island’s first church and remains an iconic landmark today. It symbolized not only the island’s growth but also the blending of community life with seasonal tourism.
Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, Anna Maria grew slowly but steadily. Families built cottages along the beach, and fishing continued to play a central role in the economy. The lack of a bridge, however, meant that most visitors still relied on boats, keeping the island somewhat exclusive and isolated.
The Bridge to the Mainland
The single most important event in Anna Maria’s development was the construction of the Cortez Bridge in 1921, linking the mainland fishing village of Cortez to Bradenton Beach, and later improved connections to Anna Maria itself. This bridge, though rudimentary at first, opened the island to automobiles and made it far more accessible.
With easier access, land sales increased, and more permanent residents settled on the island. Tourism expanded as middle-class families from Tampa, St. Petersburg, and beyond came to enjoy the beaches. shutdown123