Swampy's Florida

Swampy visits the Venice Train Depot, at 303 E. Venice Avenue., historic site. Not surprisingly the depot is home to the Venice Historical Society. Click here for more information about the historical society.

The railroad station was active until 1991 when the last of the many Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey trains came through. Venice was the winter home for the Ringling circus.

Here is a view of the station from the tracks.

Here is the other side from the tracks.

Housed in the main depot is the Venice Museum. Outside is a train caboose housing the Venice Historical Society’s offices.

Part of the tracks are still at the park and beside the tracks is a walking and biking trail.

By the depot is the Rollins Coakley Railroad Park. Click here to learn more about Rollins Coakley.

In teh railroad park is a very fine statue of Gunther Gebel-Williams, the “Lord of the Rings” of the Ringling circus. Williams was known for his incredible ability to handle tigers and lions in the circus ring.  Click here to learn more of Gebel-Williams.