New major exhibit spotlighting Florida’s film industry opening at the Tampa Bay History Center

More than 50 artifacts tell the 120-year story of filmmaking in Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (July 29, 2026) — The Tampa Bay History Center will open Cinema in the Sunshine State, a new original exhibition exploring Florida’s role in the motion picture industry, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

Researched and curated by Michelle Hearn, the Tampa Bay History Center’s director of curatorial affairs, the exhibition features original movie posters, rare film ephemera, 1920s theater projectors, Tampa Theatre marquee letters and Edison-period cameras. Objects gathered from institutions across Florida illustrate how filmmakers promoted their work, captured audiences’ attention and helped shape the state’s cinematic identity.

Cinema in the Sunshine State also examines Florida’s early importance to the developing film industry. Jacksonville became a major center for film production in the early 20th century, before Hollywood emerged as the industry’s dominant location.

“From one-of-a-kind motion picture artifacts to movies that hold a special place in our collective memory, ‘Cinema in the Sunshine State’ explores Florida’s remarkable film history,” said Audrey Chapuis, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay History Center. “Jacksonville was helping lead the emerging film industry while Hollywood was still ranchland and orange groves.”

Motion picture cameras arrived in Florida as early as 1898, only a few years after films became commercially available. During the Spanish-American War, Edison Manufacturing Co. cameraman William Paley traveled to Tampa to record American troops preparing to depart for Cuba — an early example of the state’s connection to the emerging film industry.

“We crisscrossed the state to bring together objects and stories that show the scope of cinema and filmmaking in Florida,” Hearn said. “The exhibition traces the industry’s earliest days while also recognizing the films and promotional artwork that generations of Floridians remember.”

Together, the materials on exhibit demonstrate how Florida’s landscapes, communities and creative industries have contributed to more than a century of filmmaking. With decades of film history in play, Cinema in the Sunshine State also features the story of a beloved Tampa Bay area icon, the Tampa Theatre. 

“We are especially excited to include objects from our collection and some on loan from Tampa Theatre as they celebrate their centennial this year,” said Hearn. “This exhibit includes original tapestries, furniture and blueprints that highlight the theater’s Mediterranean Revival architecture and underscore why it is nationally recognized by the League of Historic American Theatres.”

Cinema in the Sunshine State will be on exhibit in the Wayne Thomas Gallery from Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, through Sunday, March 21, 2027. The Tampa Bay History Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 801 Water St. in Tampa. For admission information and additional details, visit tampabayhistorycenter.org.

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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