The National Park Service has listed our historic Greektown District (Tarpon Springs) on it National Register of Historic Places as a traditional cultural property, which is a FIRST for FLORIDA!!!

"The Tarpon Springs community has functioned as a center of commerce and trade for early Greek immigrants since the 1900s" Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner said in a news relase Wednesday (07/08/14) "Pretty much every Greek Orthodox Christian in America knows the significance of the Tarpon Community," Father Anastasios Gounaris of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral said, "If anything, from the point of view of our community, (the recognition) is probably overdue."

Mayor David Archie said he was elated when he heard the news. "We're in the forefront of the Greek-American tradition."

Tina Bucuvalas, the city's arts and historical resources curator, spearheaded the long application process. She said the designation will offer tax incentives to district residents who want to renovate their building in line with traditional Greek culture. She also thinks it will foster a continued appreciation of the area's traditions.

Tina Bucuvalas shared "People sometimes come to Tarpon Springs and they just see the commercial, touristic storefronts without understanding that there is a very profound and ongoing traditional cultural expression taking place here."

-excerpted from Tampa Bay Times - Local, Friday, July 11, 2014