Ask anyone in Safety Harbor about the town's history and you'll hear about the springs, the waterfront, and the community that grew around them. But one of the most interesting chapters involves a piece of fruit: the grapefruit.
A French settler on Old Tampa Bay
In 1842, a French settler named Odet Philippe acquired 160 acres on a bluff overlooking Old Tampa Bay, in what is now Safety Harbor. He is recognized as the first permanent, non-native settler on the Pinellas peninsula, and he established a plantation there known as St. Helena.
The grapefruit connection
Philippe is credited with introducing citrus, along with cigar making, to the Tampa Bay region. A historical marker at his burial site states that he was the first to cultivate grapefruit in Florida. Historians describe this as a credited or believed distinction rather than a settled fact, but it's a story the town proudly tells.
From plantation to park
Philippe's home place was wiped out by the Great Hurricane of 1848, according to his descendants, but he rebuilt, and the land stayed in the family until the late 1940s. Pinellas County acquired it in 1948, and it opened as Philippe Park in 1952, the first park in the county park system. The park also contains the Safety Harbor Site, a Tocobaga temple mound that is a National Historic Landmark.
Philippe died in 1869 and is buried in the park, though the exact location of his grave is unknown. His descendants, including the Booth and McMullen families, still gather there for a family reunion, a tradition that began in 1965.
Carrying the story with you
That history is the inspiration behind our Safety Harbor Grapefruit & Gazebo Long Sleeve Tee, which pairs a grapefruit on the front with the town's iconic gazebo on the back. If you prefer a short-sleeve option, check out our Safety Harbor Gazebo T-Shirt.
Explore everything in the Safety Harbor Collection.
Sources: Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce, a historical marker at Philippe Park, Pinellas County parks information, and local news coverage of the Philippe family reunion.