Tampa Bay Area Museums and History Centers

Curated by The Tampa Historical Team

The Tampa Bay area is rich in history and culture-- and the many fantastic museums and historical centers that seek to preserve and promote it! Any tour of Tampa history should start here, with our strong and growing network of public history and cultural institutions.

Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center

Located along the lovely Bayshore Boulevard, the Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center is a local hub of arts, culture, and history for the surrounding community. The museum is home to a permanent collection of artifacts relating to Safety…

Tampa Museum of Art

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…

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

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…

St Petersburg Museum of History

When you think of places with deep and exciting histories, St. Petersburg, Florida may not be the first city in the world that spring to mind. Yet this is not due to a lack of local history, but rather a lack of public education on the topic. For…

Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg

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,…

Gulf Beaches Historical Museum

Located in the heart of historic Pass-A-Grille is the quaint Gulf Beaches Historical Museum. This one of a kind museum has a history as fascinating as the artifacts inside. The Gulf Beaches Historical Museum was once the community church serving the…

Tampa Bay History Center

As the name suggests, the Tampa Bay History Center (TBHC) is more than just a museum. Here, visitors of all ages can come to learn about Tampa’s past as well as enjoying various educational events to learn more about the place they live. TBHC…

Dunedin History Museum

A non-profit organization focused on community and historical preservation, the Dunedin History Museum has become a major part of Dunedin. Known for its exhibits, holiday events, Orange Festivals, “History Comes Alive” experiences, cocktail parties,…

The Henry B. Plant Museum

Henry B. Plant was named the “King of Florida” in Success magazine in 1898 because of the growth and prosperity he brought to the state of Florida. The outbreak of the Civil War provided Plant with an opportunity to buy out the southern lines he…

American Victory Museum

The ship’s voyage from thirty years of war service to a historic preservation site reached a crescendo on September 23, 2003 when the steam turbine engines were restarted for the first time since 1985 and SS American Victory set sail for her first of…

Tampa Baseball Museum

On February 18, 2017, the Tampa Baseball Museum hosted an event title “Latinos and Baseball: In the Barrios and the Big Leagues.” Partnering with the Smithsonian, the museum provided tours of the almost-finished space, a panel discussion featuring…

Frances Henriquez Archives and Records Service Building

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 Salvador Dalí Museum

In 1943, A. Reynolds and Eleanor Morse purchased their first Dalí painting, Daddy Longlegs of the Evening, Hope! (1940). Not only did the couple build a lifelong friendship with the Dalí’s, but they collected his work for over 40 years. The Morse’s…

Fort Foster

Located just minutes from the Hillsborough River State Park Visitors Center and nestled unseen on the northeast side of U.S. 301 lies a true Florida treasure, the Fort Foster Historic Site. The year was 1836 and the state of Florida was in the midst…