First Floor

 

• Icons of Tampa Bay Suspended from the ceiling of the Lykes Atrium, these 14 colorful icons represent the distinctive nature and uniqueness of the region.

• Winds of Change Theater profiles the first European contacts in Florida beginning with Panfilo Narváez’s landing near Tampa Bay in 1528.

• Florida’s First People features Tocobaga and Calusa artifacts, including tools, weapons and pottery, as well as original artwork by artist Theodore Morris.

• European Exploration details the arrival of Spanish and French explorers who landed in Florida at the beginning the 16th century.

• Charles E. Knight Gallery showcases Seminole and Miccosukee clothing, patchwork, jewelry, baskets, tools and a replica chickee.

• Coacoochee’s Story Theater immerses viewers in the riveting account of Seminole Chief Coacoochee’s experiences during the Second Seminole War.

• Cigar City chronicles Tampa's cigar industry and immigrant communities while featuring one of the most extensive cigar memorabilia collections in the world.
  
   

Second Floor

• Your Tampa Bay allows visitors to take a virtual tour of significant landmarks and view historic photographs around the Tampa Bay region via an interactive map.

• Cowmen & Crackers showcases Florida’s cattle ranching history, putting viewers in the middle of an actual cattle drive.

• Tampa Bay Timeline features a series of large panels with compelling photographs, renderings and artifacts, covering the past 500 years of history in our region.

• A Place of Our Own provides historical background about the region in kid-friendly and interactive ways.
  • Agriculture/Grove Stand features Floridiana, a restored 1908 REO automobile and a "design your own crate label" station.
  • Natural Resources allows you to test your knowledge of the region's natural resources and supporting industries.
  • Port City tells the story of Tampa's industrial ports with a theater presentation in a cargo container and the "Tiny Tampa" play table.

• Year-Round Play highlights the area’s recreational and social activities, including a sports trivia board and a crewing scull to row up the Hillsborough River.

• Witness to Change examines significant events that were catalysts for change in the Tampa Bay region, focusing on civil rights, urban development, and the natural environment.

• War Stories focuses on participants or those serving on the home front in the wars that have touched our state and region since the 1830s.

• A Land Remembered, inspired by Patrick Smith’s novel by the same name, this area includes a replica pioneer cabin, original artifacts, and a hands-on Discovery Center.

• Touchton Map Gallery is a changing exhibition space that focuses on maps and related cartographic materials. Note: The Touchton Map Gallery will be closed Aug. 9, 2012 through Nov. 2013.