Tampa Bay History

Long-lost cutter, local memory and mural outside our door

The wreckage of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa has been located off Cornwall, bringing new attention to a World War I tragedy remembered in a mural outside the Tampa Bay History Center.

Apr 30, 2026

Exhibitions

The Tampa Bay Timeline and the stories locals preserved

The Don Cesar, then and now In 1928, the Don Cesar opened on St. Pete Beach. The Don CeSar debuts as a beachfront hotel and thereafter becomes a landmark with …

Apr 29, 2026

Tampa Bay History

The ships of Jose Gaspar

Many things distinguish pirates from typical brigands, highwaymen, or common thieves, but the main one–and the biggest–is their ship. Tampa’s Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla is no exception, as they …

Jan 21, 2024

Tampa Bay History

Gasparilla floats through the years

Colorful floats carrying bead-throwing pirates and a whole host of others have been a mainstay of Gasparilla for decades.

Jan 14, 2024