The late 19th-century “Gilded Age” socialites of the northeast sought a subtropical retreat for the harsh winter months. The Tampa Bay Hotel, built in 1891, and the Don CeSar, built in 1928, are excellent examples of the grand establishments…

The great railroad tycoons of the late 19th-century “Gilded Age,” such as Henry Plant and Henry Flagler, facilitated a massive transfer of goods and people into Florida through the railway industries. According to an 1850 census of the Fort Brooke…

The David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, is often called Tampa’s ‘cultural crown jewel’ and recently celebrated its 25-year anniversary supporting growth, culture, and the arts. Built on an abandoned gravel lot in Downtown Tampa, it…

Founded in 1920, the Tampa Museum of Art has gone through many name changes throughout the century. Originally the Tampa Museum of Fine Arts, the museum has educated generations of visitors and served as a staple of Tampa museum culture. Formerly a…

The Florida Museum of Photographic Art stands as a respected photography museum located on the scenic Riverwalk here in Tampa, Florida. The museum began in 2001 by Cynthia Flowers, Charles J. Levin, and Vincent Sorrentino as the Tampa Gallery of…

First open to the public in the Spring of 1965, the Museum of Fine Arts in downtown St. Petersburg houses art collections and exhibits that span from antiquity to the present century. The museum’s personal collection is one of 20,000 works of art,…

If you have ever purchased a Cuban sandwich in the Tampa Bay area, chances are the bread was freshly baked at La Segunda Bakery in Ybor City. For over a century, La Segunda has served the Tampa community an authentic taste of Cuban Bread. Today, the…

Tampa is home to the Gasparilla Pirate Festival named after legendary pirate Jose Gaspar. The festival along with its 3 main parades are quite a sight to witness! The festival began in 1904 when the story of the hidden treasure of Jose Gaspar…

The City of Tampa has been living and breathing since it became incorporated US territory in 1845, however, although Tampa has this deep and rich history the city has only had an archives and records department since 1987. The development of such a…

The original idea conceived by Bertha Honoré Palmer, usually referred to as Mrs. Potter-Palmer, was to see the Temple Terrace area developed into a gold community surrounded by extensive citrus groves. After her death in 1918 and the subsequent sale…