Editing Tarpon Springs, Florida (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Recent Sponge Harvest - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Sponge harvest]]
[[File:Spongeorama's Sponge Factory (Tarpon Springs, Florida) 01.jpg|thumb|The Spongeorama museum]]
[[File:Tarpon Springs old city hall01.jpg|thumb|right|Old City Hall.]]
[[File:Tarpon Springs Depot 2016.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tarpon Springs Depot]], built 1909]]

Elaborate religious ceremonies are hosted by the [[St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Tarpon Springs, Florida)|St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral]], part of the [[Church of Greece|Greek Orthodox Church]], including the January 6 [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]] celebration. The first Greek immigrants depended on the sea and their boats for their livelihood. The [[metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of [[Atlanta]] usually presides over the blessings, sometimes joined by the [[Archbishop of America]]. The blessings conclude with the ceremonial throwing of a wooden cross into the city's Spring Bayou, and boys ages 16 to 18 dive in to retrieve it: whoever recovers the cross is said to be blessed for a full year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/first-timer-grabs-the-epiphany-cross-in-tarpon-springs/1269275|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109083449/http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/first-timer-grabs-the-epiphany-cross-in-tarpon-springs/1269275|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 9, 2013|title=First-timer grabs the Epiphany cross in Tarpon Springs|last1=Wang|first1=Stephanie|last2=Summers|first2=Keyonna|date=January 6, 2013|website=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=2016-07-09}}</ref>

Museums include:
*Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum in Craig Park, which features the history and culture of the Greek Community.
*Safford House Museum
*The Depot Museum

Notable districts and properties listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Pinellas County, Florida|National Register of Historic Places]] include:
* [[Tarpon Springs Greektown Historic District]]
* [[Tarpon Springs Historic District]]
* [[Arcade Hotel (Tarpon Springs, Florida)|Arcade Hotel]]
* [[Old Tarpon Springs City Hall]], which houses the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.
* [[Old Tarpon Springs High School]]
* [[Safford House]]
* [[Tarpon Springs Depot]]

Sites related to the sponge industry include:
* [[E.R. Meres Sponge Packing House]]
* [[N.G. Arfaras Sponge Packing House]]

===Library===
The Tarpon Springs Public Library was founded in 1916 by Julia Roswell Smith Inness and other leading members of the Tarpon Springs community.<ref name=":0">Schnur, James Anthony, "The Tarpon Springs Public Library : A Cultural Treasure for Nearly a Century" (2013). USF St. Petersburg campus Faculty Publications. 3082. <nowiki>https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/fac_publications/3082</nowiki></ref> The library began in the northern portion of the second floor of the Tarpon Springs City Hall and was supported by the Library Association and public dues. <ref name=":0" />

The Tarpon Springs Public Library has moved five times over the course of its history to accommodate its increasing collection to support the growing population of Tarpon Springs. <ref name=":1">"Tarpon Springs Public Library" (1998). Florida Library History Project. 35. <nowiki>https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/fl_library_history/35</nowiki></ref>In 1921, the library moved into a house on Orange Street owned by Miss Richey, who also managed the collection. <ref name=":0" /> After the sale of the house on Orange Street and some financial difficulties for the library due to the Great Depression, the library was set up in the Tarpon Hotel thanks to the support from the Tarpon Springs Enterprise Association. <ref name=":0" /> 

In 1937, a plot of land was donated by John and Mabel Cheyney to build a new library on what later became known as Library Lane.  Groundbreaking for this building began in July 1938.<ref name=":0" /> The library was located here until 1964 when a new library building opened in Coburn Park.<ref name=":0" /> The library was housed in this building until the current library building, located at 138 East Lemon St. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689, opened in January of 1997. <ref name=":1" />

The current Tarpon Springs Public Library building is 20,000 square feet and is located in the downtown area of Tarpon Springs.<ref name=":1" /> The front of the building is adorned with a fountain showcasing two life size Tarpons springing forth from the water in celebration of the city's namesake.<ref name=":0" />  The building entrance is decorated with Mediterranean green marble which was also used to create both the Circulation and Reference desks. <ref name=":0" /> 

Tarpon Springs Library is a member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. It offers Pinellas County residents access to its wide collection, free computer use, as well as one-on-one Genealogy assistance.   <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tarpon Springs Public Library |url=https://tarponlibrary.org/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>