Tampa Bay History Center opens Tampa Bay Timeline exhibit with more than 75 artifacts

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay History Center has opened Tampa Bay Timeline, a new exhibit that traces West Central Florida history from Indigenous peoples to the present through more than 75 artifacts and milestone moments that shaped the region.

“The story of the Tampa Bay area stretches back much farther than many people realize,” said Audrey Chapuis, president and CEO of the History Center. “The ‘Tampa Bay Timeline’ gives visitors an in-depth look at our past and offers a perspective that helps connect generations of stories into a single experience.”

Designed to orient visitors at the start of their museum experience, Tampa Bay Timeline spans centuries of change, from early Indigenous communities to pivotal dates in regional and state history. Highlights include the early 1500s, when Juan Ponce de León brought oranges and cattle to La Florida, the establishment of Fort Brooke on Jan. 22, 1824, and Florida statehood on March 3, 1845. The exhibit also follows dramatic population growth, from approximately 9,000 people to 3.4 million today, and includes cultural milestones such as the founding of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 24, 1974.

“This exhibit anchors the entire visit to the Tampa Bay History Center and plays a central role in our third-floor galleries and beyond. We invite the community to explore the ‘Tampa Bay Timeline’ with friends and family and discover the surprising artifacts that fascinate history buffs and those new to the story,” Chapuis said.

Tampa Bay Timeline is now open and was made possible with the support of Hillsborough County and the generous donors of the Tampa Bay History Center. 

Media availability on Friday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m.

Press are invited to join us on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, at 10 a.m. for a Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting for Tampa Bay Timeline. Activities and visuals will include:

• Interviews with Audrey Chapuis, president and CEO
• Interviews with curatorial staff about standout artifacts and key moments on the timeline
• B-roll access in exhibit spaces
• Exhibit gallery shots and close-ups of select artifacts

About the Tampa Bay History Center
Located on Tampa’s Water Street, the Tampa Bay History Center offers three floors of exhibits that highlight 12,000 years of Florida’s history and culture. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a Smithsonian Affiliate, the center features the Touchton Map Library and Florida Center for Cartographic Education, as well as the Witt Research Center. The History Center is also home to the Columbia Cafe. Known as one of Tampa’s premier cultural venues, it provides interactive, hands-on exhibits and theaters that offer an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages. For more information, visit www.tampabayhistorycenter.org.

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