Smoke. Style. Stories. Explore Tampa’s historic cigar industry, where skilled artisans crafted hand-rolled cigars in bustling factories, shaping the city’s cultural identity and earning it the nickname “Cigar City.” Join Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa, a 20-minute docent-led tour offered every Tuesday at 2 p.m., and step into this gallery chronicling Tampa’s rise as the cigar-making capital of the U.S.

Discover the journey that lifted Tampa from a struggling post-Civil War town to a vibrant cultural hub, attracting Spanish, Cuban, and Italian immigrants united by the craft of cigar making. Begin with the political landscape that set the stage for the industry, from the Morrison Act of 1883 to labor strikes that brought Tampa’s factories to national attention. Step into a recreated cigar shop, where vintage cigar labels, boxes, and unique cigar items reveal the world of artisans and families whose livelihoods depended on the “one product, many hands” model of cigar production.

As you move through a gallery echoing the feel of an authentic cigar factory, listen to the voice of “el lector,” the reader chosen by workers to bring novels, news, and culture to life in Spanish. Watch videos capturing the spirit of Ybor City and learn about mutual aid societies that played a crucial role in helping immigrants settle into American life, while preserving their heritage.

This tour offers a window into Tampa’s past and how it connects with issues of today—labor, immigration, globalization, and international affairs—making the story of Cigar City as relevant as ever.

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