OLLI-USF: History of the Florida Everglades
Delve into the rich history of the Florida Everglades, from its significance to Indigenous People to the impact of early development and land use. Learners will explore how historical decisions …
OLLI-USF Courses
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at USF (OLLI-USF) is a member-based learning community for adults aged 50+. It offers classes, workshops, lectures, events, and social networking. OLLI provides high-quality, low-cost learning opportunities for seasoned adults across West Central Florida.
The History Center will offer three OLLI-USF virtual courses this spring. Course registration is conducted through the USF OLLI website. History Center members can have their OLLI-USF member fee (not the course fee) waived by calling Charisse Dixon at (813) 974-5848.
OLLI-USF: Mapping the American Sea
The crucial role of the Gulf of Mexico is often overlooked in the study of American history. Tampa Bay History Center (TBHC) historian Rodney Kite-Powell discusses the Mapping the American …
OLLI-USF: The Noble Disaster in Tampa: Prohibition
Tampa had a reputation for being a semi-lawless, wide-open town long before the era of Prohibition. The city certainly lived up to its reputation, with bootleggers and the Ku Klux …
OLLI-USF: The Jose Gaspar Literary Canon: The Many Faces of a Mythical Pirate
Explore the Jose Gaspar myth and body of fiction inspired by the pirate rogue! Genres vary as authors portray the legend as a folk tale, historical fiction, pulp novel, exploitation …
OLLI-USF: Holiday Traditions in Florida and Tampa
Join the History Center’s docents and guest speakers as we discover Tampa’s distinctive holiday spirit in our course, Holiday Traditions in Florida and Tampa. Explore the cherished traditions and past …
OLLI-USF: Tampa Navigates Prohibition Laws and Loopholes
Discover the captivating story of how Tampa navigated the era of Prohibition, exploring its origins, inventive strategies, colorful personalities, and enduring impact. Delve into a world where every stratum of …
OLLI: USF Florida in the Civil War: Not What You Think
In early 1861, Florida became the third of 11 states to secede from the Union. Join docents from the Tampa Bay History Center to learn what role Florida played in …
OLLI-USF: Florida’s Land Boom
Tampa grew a lot in the early 1900s – its neighborhoods, homes, and hotels. Historian Rodney Kite-Powell will share these changes using artifacts and maps from that era. History Center …
OLLI-USF: Tampa at the Turn of the 20th Century
Tampa is now a thriving modern city, but what was it like at the turn of the 20th century? This three-session course, led by History Center docents, lays out some …
OLLI-USF: Florida in the 1920s
Bootleggers flooded Florida with illegal booze, flappers danced to jazz, and workers erected the first elaborate Art Deco buildings in Florida in the 1920s. At the same time, Mediterranean fruit …
