Tarragona Tower is a historic structure at Tarragona Way and International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Florida. Built as an entrance monument for a planned development, it is notable for its Mediterranean Revival design and its history beside a major highway. The tower is about a 9-minute drive from Sunshine Inn of Daytona Beach, a Daytona Beach hotel.
- Location: Tarragona Way and International Speedway Boulevard, on the south side of U.S. Highway 92.
- Typical visit pattern: No public visiting hours are posted in the cited materials.
- Access: Confirm current visitor access before making plans.
Where is Tarragona Tower?
Tarragona Tower stands beside International Speedway Boulevard at Tarragona Way, on the south side of U.S. Highway 92. Daytona State College’s campus is across the highway, on the north side.
The National Park Service gives the location as Tarragona Way and International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Volusia County. The tower is approximately 1¾ miles east of Interstate 95 and just under 1 mile west of the Halifax River and the heart of mainland Daytona Beach.
What is the tower’s history and architecture?
Tarragona Tower was completed in 1925 as a monument marking the entrance to the proposed Daytona Highlands development. The National Register nomination names Elias De La Haye as the architect who prepared the plans and Charles Ballough as the builder.
The nomination describes a roughly four-story hexagonal tower attached to a lower extension with a two-story arch, ending at a smaller one-story hexagonal tower. Mediterranean Revival styling, Spanish tile roofs, Moorish details and coquina stone give the structure its distinctive character.
The original tower spanned a two-lane roadway that later became International Speedway Boulevard. The road was widened in 1943 and the arch above it was removed; in 1994, the tower was moved approximately 75 feet south to make room for further highway widening.
Tarragona Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 6, 2005, for its significance in architecture and community planning and development.
What can you see at Tarragona Tower?
The tower’s exterior is the main point of interest described in the historic records: its coquina construction, tiled roofs, hexagonal forms and remaining lower extension. The arch that once crossed the road is no longer there.
A Florida Memory catalog describes the base as containing a lecture room, storeroom and drafting room, with a lookout above. Those details describe the building’s original arrangement, not confirmed public access today.
How should you plan a short visit?
Treat Tarragona Tower as an exterior landmark and verify access before setting out. The National Register nomination and City of Daytona Beach material do not provide posted public hours, admission requirements, parking instructions or visitor restrictions, so check the official site before you go with the City of Daytona Beach.
Its position beside U.S. Highway 92, a primary access road to Daytona Beach and its Atlantic beaches, is part of the landmark’s story. If you are arranging a broader day in the area, the one-day Daytona Beach itinerary without a car can help you consider other stops and how they fit together.
FAQs
Is Tarragona Tower also known by another name?
Yes. It is also called Tarragona Arch and Tarragona Castle.
Can you go inside Tarragona Tower?
Current visitor access is unclear. Confirm access with the City of Daytona Beach before planning to enter.
What else can you combine with a Daytona Beach history visit?
The Museum of Arts & Sciences is another local museum stop; its collections and visit details are covered in this guide to the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach.