Lion Sculpture at the Don Cesar

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This lion sculpture is inside the front entrance and part of an archway passage into the Don Cesar, a National Register of Historic Places luxury resort and spa on St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. Also known as “The Pink Palace”, the Don dates to the 1920s Boom Times “Gatsby” era, and opened its doors for business in 1928. The hotel remained viable during the Great Depression, and throughout its storied history a number of celebrities and politicians have stayed at the iconic beachside hotel. The Don also played a role in WWII, serving as a convalescent center for airmen returning from their tours, and from 1945 to 1967 the site functioned as a federal office building. In 1972 hotel developer William Bowman, Jr. purchased the property and along with community support the Pink Palace was restored and reopened with work completed in 1975. Today, the stuccoed Belgian concrete ediface with its vibrant color is a mainstay on the Pass-a-Grille/St. Pete Beach landscape.