Editing Clearwater, Florida (section)

==Art and culture==
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In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-10-best-places-to-retire.html|title=The 10 Best Places to Retire|website=Yahoo Finance|date=March 8, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref>

===Tourism===

====Clearwater Public Art and Design Program====
The Clearwater Public Art and Design Program,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clearwaterartsfoundation.org/PublicArt.asp |title=Clearwater Arts Foundation |website=www.clearwaterartsfoundation.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822042931/http://www.clearwaterartsfoundation.org/PublicArt.asp |archive-date=August 22, 2006 |access-date=June 18, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> adopted by City Council in 2005, is funded through a 1% allocation on all city capital improvement projects valued at more than $500,000. The program commissions an average of 2–3 new projects per year.

====Capitol and Royalty Theatre====
Pre-Capitol Theatre, a bandstand stood at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater, where the community gathered to listen to music.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite news|first=Paul|last=Guzzo|title=Clearwater's Capitol Theatre, which hosted vaudeville and maybe Jesus, turns 100|date=March 16, 2021|website=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|language=en|url=https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2021/03/16/clearwaters-capitol-theatre-which-hosted-vaudeville-and-maybe-jesus-turns-100/|access-date=March 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316105438/http://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/history/2021/03/16/clearwaters-capitol-theatre-which-hosted-vaudeville-and-maybe-jesus-turns-100/|archive-date=March 16, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> The names of locals serving in World War I were etched on the wall of the adjacent ''Clearwater Sun'' building; this "Panel of Honor" was obscured when the original Capitol Theatre was built but uncovered when the newspaper building was torn down in 2013.<ref name="auto4"/>

[[File:Clearwater, Florida Courthouse pmr01.jpg|thumb|Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater]]
The [[Capitol Theatre (Clearwater, Florida)|Capitol Theatre]] opened March 21, 1921. It was built by Senator-elect [[John Stansel Taylor]]. The theater's architect was [[Lester Avery]] and the contractor was John D. Phillipoff.<ref>New Capitol Theatre Finished and Opened, ''The Clearwater News'', March 24, 1921</ref> Avery is known for his architecture in [[Miami]]. Philipoff also built the Coachman Building (1916), the [[Donald Roebling Estate]] in [[Belleair, Florida|Belleair]] (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979),<ref name="nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/fl/Pinellas/state.html |title=National Register of Historical Places - FLORIDA (FL), Pinellas County |publisher=Nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com |access-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> the [[old Pinellas County Courthouse]] (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992),<ref name="nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com" /> other historical homes which have been saved,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8egNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4696,491932&dq=henry+plant+clearwater+phillipoff|title=St. Petersburg Times - Old homes may find a place in history|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> and did work at the [[Belleview Hotel]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G6kLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xlQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4203,3652567&dq=john-phillipoff Personals]. ''The Evening Independent''. December 26, 1923</ref>

Groundbreaking was December 6, 1920.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JYILAAAAIBAJ&pg=3873,3738850&dq=theatre+clearwater+taylor|title=The Evening Independent - Invitation Accepted|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> The "New Capitol Theatre" was damaged in a storm on October 26, 1921 (so it had been completed).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4rYKAAAAIBAJ&pg=3876,1860580&dq=capitol+theater+clearwater+damage+storm|title=St. Petersburg Times - Clearwater Swept By Furious Storm|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> A [[theatre organ]] was installed in 1922, to accompany [[silent film]]s with music. The organ was made and installed by the [[Robert Morton Organ Company]].

[[Donald Roebling]] was a frequent patron, having his own double seat installed at the theatre.<ref name="olddays">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mRgMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iVoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6286,8176267&dq=clearwater+capitol+movie+houses+were "Old Days: Movie Houses Were King"], ''St. Petersburg Times''. April 8, 1981.</ref>

The theatre was managed by various movie companies (EJ Sparks, Paramount, ABC-Southeastern Theatres, and Plitt Southern) and played the most recent movies of the day. The theatre also offered [[vaudeville]] on Friday nights in the 1930s. Headliners included [[Sally Rand]], [[Fred Stone]] and his daughter, and [[Lum and Abner]] (of radio).<ref name="olddays" /> The theatre was renovated in 1962.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-tAOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3037,4021303&dq=capitol+theater+clearwater|title=St. Petersburg Times - Two more shops open along Cleveland street|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> The Morton theatre organ was most likely removed during this renovation. When Plitt Southern did not renew their contract in 1979, Bill Neville and Jerry Strain tried to save the theatre with film classics and reduced prices. However, the theatre closed its doors on October 28, 1980.

Royalty Theater Company signed leases with the Taylor family in February 1981, when it then became known as the Royalty Theater (Clearwater, Florida). The building was renovated with Ron Winter of Winter Associates as the contractor<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N_oNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7011,6907944&dq=clearwater+royalty "Royalty Can Start Renovating New Home Now That Papers Are Signed"], ''St. Petersburg Times''. September 30, 1981.</ref> and Scott Musheff as the architect.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hvoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5602,2478432&dq=scott+musheff+theater+clearwater "Royalty Theatre Off To Good Start At Capitol With Oliver"], ''St. Petersburg Times'', December 3, 1981.</ref>

During the renovations, Bill Neville's murdered body was found in the balcony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19810529&id=6XFQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5397,3645402&hl=en|title=The Evening Independent - Canadian Man Arrested In Theater Murder Case|website=news.google.com|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref>

The theatre remained in the Taylor family estate until it was sold in 1996. In July 2008, the building went into foreclosure.<ref name="Capitol Theater">{{Cite news|title=Clearwater negotiating to buy old Royalty Theatre building|website=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article838940.ece|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330130640/http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article838940.ece|archive-date=March 30, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2009, the City of Clearwater and [[Ruth Eckerd Hall]] joined forces to purchase the theatre (renamed Capitol Theatre) as well as the neighboring Pat Lokey building as part of a renovation and revitalization of the historic [[Capitol Theater (Clearwater, Florida)|Capitol Theater]].<ref name="Capitol Theater"/> Fowler Associates Architects, Inc. was selected for the renovation of the Capitol Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Renderings reveal Capitol Theatre plans|url=https://www.tbnweekly.com/clearwater_beacon/article_71784c70-d367-5b84-be44-c371a2d48729.html|access-date=March 31, 2021|website=TBNweekly|date=April 3, 2012 |language=en}}</ref> The $10 million renovation and expansion began in 2012 and was completed in 2013.<ref name="auto4"/> In 2019, a $2.5 million donation renamed the building the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre.<ref name="auto4"/>

====Clearwater Public Library System====
In 1911, the city of Clearwater witnessed a vast population increase as well as acquiring telephones, electricity, paved streets and an ice factory. It is during this time that the Clearwater Library Association opened a subscription library on the second floor of the local People's Bank. Its popularity and support led to the request of $10,000 from the [[Carnegie Corporation of New York|Carnegie Foundation]] to build a [[public library]]. The building was designed by Tampa architect F.J. Kennard. In its first year, the library had over 1,277 visitors and 2,792 books borrowed. As a vacation town, the library provided free access to materials for all residents and winter visitors.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary>{{Cite web|url=http://www.myclearwater.com/cpl/about/history/|title=Our History: A Century of Service: Checking Out the History of the Clearwater Library|publisher=City of Clearwater, Florida|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614191124/http://www.myclearwater.com/cpl/about/history/|archive-date=June 14, 2016}}</ref>

During the Depression, the Clearwater Public Library faced many of the same threats seen at other libraries seen throughout the United States. This includes increased patron usage and dwindling budget. In the 1940s, the Clearwater library increased its staff from three assistants to five assistants. The library's collection also grew from 18,047 to over 100,000. To account for this increase, the Librarian and Board President Traver Bayly made an appeal to the City Commission for additional space.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary/>

As a result of [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregation]], the Clearwater Public Library was for White patrons only from its founding in 1911 to the mid-twentieth century. In 1950, the City Commission agreed to the building of the North Greenwood library. Designed by Architect Eugene Beach, the new library allowed access for the city's African American population to many information sources. This library was renovated in 1984. The new Main library was rebuilt beginning in 2000. It opened in May 2004.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary/>

As the population continued to increase throughout the late twentieth century, the library system continued to grow. The Clearwater Public Library System now includes five libraries: Clearwater Main, Countryside, North Greenwood, Beach, and East. In recent years, the Clearwater Public Library System has become increasingly digital, providing patrons with access to computers, online databases, and an online library catalog. This was made possible by the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation, Inc. which formed in 1984.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary/> As a part of the library's Centennial Celebration, a project is commencing to add [[makerspaces]] to the libraries. The Main library's makerspace is the "Studios at Main" and targets creative arts making.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myclearwater.com/cpl/flyers/2016-library-article.pdf |title=Library Launches MakerSpaces |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806151430/http://www.myclearwater.com/cpl/flyers/2016-library-article.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2016  |page=9}}</ref>

The [[Clearwater Public Library System]] is a contributor to the Pinellas Memory Project.<ref name=ClearwaterLibrary/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pinellasmemory.contentdm.oclc.org/|title=Pinellas Memory|website=pinellasmemory.contentdm.oclc.org|access-date=June 19, 2016}}</ref> This system of libraries is part of the [[Pinellas Public Library Cooperative]] which seeks to provide patrons with access to information and programs to benefit the community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pplc.us/about.shtml|title=About PPLC|website=www.pplc.us|access-date=June 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210082323/http://www.pplc.us/about.shtml|archive-date=February 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Clearwater Marine Aquarium ====
The [[Clearwater Marine Aquarium]] is a small non-profit [[Public aquarium|aquarium]]. Opening in 1972 on Clearwater Beach, the aquarium is most famous for Winter the dolphin. Rescued as a calf in 2005, Winter was one of the first dolphins to have been fitted with a prosthetic tail after losing it due to entanglement in a crab trap. The aquarium is also home to other dolphins, otters, pelicans, nurse sharks, and turtles among several species of fish and other marine life. CMA also assists in animal strandings and other emergencies regarding sea life. Animals that have stranded are rehabilitated, and if possible, released back into the wild once they have made a full recovery. It has been featured as the main setting of the American family movie series ''[[Dolphin Tale]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dolphin Tale Set|url=https://www.cmaquarium.org/winters-inspiration/dolphin-tale/|access-date=October 22, 2020|website=Clearwater Marine Aquarium|language=en-US}}</ref>