Tampa Bay History Center

His Wildest Dream: A Tribute to the C. Blythe Andrews family and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
2025-01-14 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N Central Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Tampa’s Black History Museum invites you to join us in celebrating the legacy of the C. Blythe Andrews family, founders of the Florida Sentinel Bulletin newspaper, and their contributions as journalists, activists, and Alpha brothers alongside Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Presented by Gamma Zeta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in partnership with the Tampa Bay History Center and the Tampa Housing Authority.

History as a Joke: Gasparilla
2025-01-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Join comedian Matt Fernandez and the History Center’s Rodney Kite-Powell for an entertaining look at one of Tampa’s most iconic celebrations — Gasparilla. Blending humor with historical insights, they’ll explore the legends, lore, and local quirks that make Gasparilla a uniquely Tampa tradition. Advanced registration is required.

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Florida Conversations: History of Catholic-Jewish Relations in Tampa Bay
2025-01-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
This program examines the intertwined history of Tampa’s Catholic and Jewish communities. A panel of longtime local leaders will share knowledge and personal experiences, offering insights into this unique relationship. Dr. Gary Mormino, Frank E. Duckwall Professor of History Emeritus, will moderate the discussion.
This program is co-organized with the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University.
Florida Conversations is free and accessible in person and streamed live on Zoom. We thank our sponsors: USF Libraries, WUSF Public Media, and AARP Tampa Bay. Additional sponsor support is graciously provided by Shelley Blood and the Lorenzo Molay Family.
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Thank you to our community partners:

Florida Conversations: Chitlin’ Circuit
2025-02-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
The Tampa Bay History Center and WUSF present a program on the Florida Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of Black-owned venues that thrived during the Jim Crow era. Local and national experts will discuss how these clubs fostered community and launched the careers of iconic musicians such as Ray Charles. NPR journalist and musician Eric Deggans will lead the discussion, shedding light on this overlooked chapter of American music history.
Florida Conversations is free and accessible in person and streamed live on Zoom. We thank our sponsors: USF Libraries, WUSF Public Media, and AARP Tampa Bay. Additional sponsor support is graciously provided by Shelley Blood and the Lorenzo Molay Family.
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Community support is provided by:

Black History Book Club: "Black Like Me"
2025-02-24 17:30 - 18:45 | Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N Central Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
We are excited to announce the Black History Book Club launch at Tampa’s Black History Museum on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.
Sessions will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at 1213 N. Central Ave. These discussions will occur on the last Monday of February, April, June, August, and October, and the second Monday in December 2025.
The February title is “Black Like Me” by John Howard Griffin. Visit the Museum Store to buy a personal copy or borrow one from the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library (audiobook, eBook, paperback).
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Nell Ward Lecture on Cartography
2025-03-05 18:30 - 20:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Putting Florida on the Map: The Story Behind the Hernan Cortes Map of the Gulf
Featuring Tom Touchton & Rodney Kite-Powell
Few maps surpass the importance of the one created to accompany Hernán Cortés’s 1522 letter to Spain’s King Charles V. That map, published with the letter in 1524, is the first printed map to accurately depict the Gulf of Mexico and the first to show the name Florida. Learn about the map, its creator, and the story surrounding it at the annual Nell Ward Lecture on Cartography.
The Hernán Cortés letter with accompanying map was purchased through the generosity of Tom Touchton, Nancy and Bob Bolt, and Nell Ward.

Time: Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; Program at 6:30 p.m.
Location: TECO Hall (2nd floor) at the History Center
Parking: Free valet parking will be provided.

Please bring your eTicket with you for entry. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at info@tampabayhistorycenter.org.
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Florida Conversations: Tracing Florida Journeys
2025-03-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Dr. Leslie Poole shares research spanning the colonial period to the 20th century, focusing on explorers and travelers who documented their experiences in Florida. Her work reveals how the state’s landscapes have changed over time, contrasting historical Florida with the Florida of today. Dr. Poole’s narrative provides insights into Florida’s natural history and evolving human perspectives, inspiring audiences to embark on their own journeys of discovery.
Florida Conversations is free and accessible in person and streamed live on Zoom. We thank our sponsors: USF Libraries, WUSF Public Media, and AARP Tampa Bay. Additional sponsor support is graciously provided by Shelley Blood and the Lorenzo Molay Family.
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This is the third program in the Florida Humanities Center for the Book 2024-2025 Book Series. Participants are invited to explore our local environment through literature at programs organized in the counties of Broward, Hillsborough, Monroe, Pinellas, and Volusia. Travelers, authors, and adventures have been inspired by the flora and fauna of Florida since the earliest writings. Each program in this series offers an opportunity to engage in deeper discussion on how we have been inspired and lived with the everchanging natural world.

The Center for the Book Program series is organized by Florida Humanities with funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed at this conference do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Sangria and Stories: Invisible Immigrants
2025-03-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Enjoy a glass of Columbia Restaurant’s signature sangria before a gallery talk with Michelle Hearn, Director of Curatorial Affairs. Invisible Immigrants. Spaniards in the U.S. (1868-1945) exhibits the untold stories of the Spanish American diaspora from the turn of the 20th century. Advanced tickets are required.
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[SOLD OUT] Hillsborough History Talk: Founding Families
2025-04-06 16:00 - 18:00 | Stowers Funeral Home, 401 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL, 33511, United States
Discover the stories of Hillsborough County’s earliest settlers at Hillsborough History Talk: Founding Families on Sunday, April 6, from 4 to 6 p.m., with doors opening at 3:30 p.m. Set in one of Brandon’s oldest surviving homes, the Brandon Homestead, built in 1876, now Stowers Funeral Home at 401 W. Brandon Blvd., this special program brings together historians and local experts to explore the families who helped shape Plant City, Tampa, and Brandon.
Join Gilbert Gott, executive director of the Plant City History & Photo Archives, Rodney Kite-Powell, director of the Touchton Map Library at the Tampa Bay History Center and Hillsborough County’s official historian, and Michael Wigh, a historian with Preserving Brandon, as they bring to life the stories of the people who carved out communities, built businesses, and left lasting legacies in the region.
Presented in partnership with the Plant City History & Photo Archives, Preserving Brandon, 7th Sky Ventures, and the Tampa Bay History Center, this event offers a chance to step back in time and gain a deeper appreciation for the county’s past. Admission is free, but registration is required.
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Photo courtesy of the Robert Cook family.

Ybor City of Past & Present
2025-04-09 18:00 - 20:00 | HCC Ybor Campus, 2112 N. 15th Street, Tampa, FL, 33605, United States
An Evening in Conversation with Sarah McNamara
Explore the important role of women in Ybor City’s history at a special event featuring Sarah McNamara, historian and author of “Ybor City: Crucible of the Latina South.” Moderated by Carmen Alvarez, founder of “tomesandtextiles,” this engaging conversation will delve into Latina heritage, labor, and culture in Tampa’s vibrant historic district.
The event takes place Wednesday, April 9, at 6 p.m. at Hillsborough Community College’s Ybor City Campus, located at 2112 N. 15th Street, Tampa, Florida, in the Ybor Room of the Ybor Building. Copies of McNamara’s book will be available for purchase from Tombolo Books, followed by a signing session.
Co-sponsored by the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce and HCC Ybor City Campus, this event is free and open to the public. Registration is required to receive a campus parking pass.
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Frank E. Duckwall Foundation Lecture & Reception
2025-04-17 17:30 - 20:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Join us for a special reception exclusively for members and friends of the Tampa Bay History Center, followed by our Annual Frank E. Duckwall Lecture. This year, we’re delighted to welcome The Honorable E.J. Salcines, who will present a fascinating historical overview inspired by our current exhibition, Invisible Immigrants: Spaniards in the U.S. (1868–1945), highlighting the unique experiences of Tampa’s immigrant community.
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Registration is required; seating is limited and will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reception, 5:30 – 6:30 PM | Lecture, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Membership Information: To check your membership status, please email membership@TampaBayHistoryCenter.org. To renew by phone, call 813-675-8988, or renew online at www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/membership.
Parking Information: Public parking is conveniently available throughout the Water Street District, with hundreds of parking spaces just around the corner.

Channelside Parking Garage – 369 S 12th St. (6-minute walk)
Garrison Parking Lot – 615 Channelside Drive (6-minute walk)
East Cumberland Garage – 1045 E Cumberland Ave (5-minute walk)

Click here to learn how to pay for street parking with your phone.
Click here to pre-purchase parking passes through ParkWhiz.

Investigating Historic Florida: A Journey Through Its Authors
2025-04-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Examine the connections between Florida’s varied landscapes, turbulent past, and the authors who brought its stories to life. This presentation looks at the work of writers who drew lasting inspiration from the state—from Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Zora Neale Hurston, and Ernest Hemingway to John D. MacDonald, Carl Hiaasen, and Elmore Leonard. Their work reveals how Florida’s setting and history inform fiction that is both grounded and provocative.
Join the free “History in 60” discussion and history talk to explore how the state’s identity continues to influence American literature. Please register in advance to ensure everyone has a seat.
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Check-in at the Visitor Services Welcome Desk and proceed to the TECO Learning Center on the third floor.

Black History Book Club: "Women, Race, and Class"
2025-04-28 17:30 - 18:45 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
We are excited to announce the Black History Book Club launch at Tampa’s Black History Museum on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.
Sessions will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at 1213 N. Central Ave. These discussions will occur on the last Monday of April, June, August, and October, and the second Monday in December 2025.
The April title is “Women, Race & Class” by Angela Davis. Visit the Museum Store to buy a personal copy or borrow one from the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library (eBook and paperback).
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History as a Joke: Baseball
2025-05-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Step up to the plate for History as a Joke: Baseball, an evening program set for Thursday, May 29, from 7 to 8 p.m. Join comedians Johnny B, John J. Murray and Matt Fernandez from the 3 Ugly Mugs podcast, along with the History Center’s Rodney Kite-Powell and baseball historian and author Rick Vaughn, as they swing into one of Florida’s favorite pastimes: baseball.
Explore Florida baseball history, from the early days of spring training to the rise of the Tampa Bay Rays, including legendary stories, scandals and quirky moments that defined the game. Admission is $5.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Elisha Matthew “Bitsy” Mott, left, a former Philadelphia Phillies player and instructor, demonstrates the “Hook Slide” as Ben Podolsky of Philadelphia slides into base during a base-stealing lesson in Tampa, Fla., Feb. 20, 1948. Mott later served as a personal security guard for Elvis Presley. (State Archives of Florida)

Black History Book Club: "Why we Can't Wait"
2025-06-30 17:30 - 18:45 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
We are excited to announce the Black History Book Club launch at Tampa’s Black History Museum on Monday, February 24, 2025.
Sessions will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at 1213 N. Central Ave. These discussions will occur on the last Monday of April, June, August, and October and the second Monday in December 2025.
The June title is “Why We Can’t Wait” by Martin Luther King, Jr.. Visit the Museum Store to buy a personal copy or an eBook from the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library.
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Slice of History: Pizza and Trivia
2025-07-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Mark your calendars for July 3, 6-8 p.m., because the History Center’s Lykes Atrium is daring to blend free pizza with, wait for it… history. Once you’re stuffed, stagger over to the “Invisible Immigrants” exhibit. You’ll marvel at artifacts and trivia that will have you saying, “wait, that actually happened?”—as if pizza wasn’t thrilling enough. Slice of History is for young adults 18-30 seeking enlightenment (or just free food). Admission is free, but sign up first. Bring cash for drinks; apparently, history isn’t hydrating enough.
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Preserving Tampa’s Black History: Boots on the Ground Campaign
2025-07-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N Central Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Join us Tuesday, July 15, at 6 p.m. at Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N. Central Ave., as we kick off the “Boots on the Ground for Our History” campaign. Celebrate Tampa’s birthday and discover how your personal artifacts can help preserve the stories of Tampa’s Black heritage. History Center staff will be on hand to share insights and answer questions.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
About Archives Awareness Week
The City of Tampa celebrates Archives Awareness Week each year in mid-July, coinciding with the city’s birthday. In 2025, Tampa marks its 138th year since its founding on July 15, 1887. Established in 1992 by the City of Tampa Archives Advisory Committee, Archives Awareness Week highlights the importance of preserving Tampa’s history and government records. Led by Archives and Records, a division of the City Clerk’s Office, the week features exhibits and programs presented by local institutions showcasing the value of archives in preserving community heritage.
This year’s participating organizations include Centro Asturiano de Tampa, the City of Tampa, the Henry B. Plant Museum, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Museum, Sacred Heart Church Historical Society, the Tampa Bay History Center, the Tampa Firefighters Museum, Tampa International Airport, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, and USF Libraries.
Additional support is provided by Bookends: Literature & Libations, Preserve the ‘Burg, Shuffle, and the Ybor City Historical Society.
PHOTO: (Adobe Stock/Seventyfour)

100 Years of Booker T. Washington School
2025-07-16 17:30 - 18:30 | Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N Central Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Join us Wednesday, July 16, at 5:30 p.m. at Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N. Central Ave., as we celebrate 100 years of Booker T. Washington School’s legacy with Fred Hearns, curator of Black History at Tampa Bay History Center, and Ashley Morrow, program manager of Tampa’s Black History Museum.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
About Archives Awareness Week
The City of Tampa celebrates Archives Awareness Week each year in mid-July, coinciding with the city’s birthday. In 2025, Tampa marks its 138th year since its founding on July 15, 1887. Established in 1992 by the City of Tampa Archives Advisory Committee, Archives Awareness Week highlights the importance of preserving Tampa’s history and government records. Led by Archives and Records, a division of the City Clerk’s Office, the week features exhibits and programs presented by local institutions showcasing the value of archives in preserving community heritage.
This year’s participating organizations include Centro Asturiano de Tampa, the City of Tampa, the Henry B. Plant Museum, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Museum, Sacred Heart Church Historical Society, the Tampa Bay History Center, the Tampa Firefighters Museum, Tampa International Airport, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, and USF Libraries.
Additional support is provided by Bookends: Literature & Libations, Preserve the ‘Burg, Shuffle, and the Ybor City Historical Society.
PHOTO: Booker T. Washington, between 1905 and 1945. (Photo by Harris & Ewing, courtesy of the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2016857180)

"Invisible Immigrants:" Exclusive Exhibit Tour
2025-07-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Take an exclusive guided tour of “Invisible Immigrants: Spaniards in the U.S. (1868–1945)” with curator Michelle Hearn. This special exhibit debuted in the U.S. at the Tampa Bay History Center. Guests must register in advance to join the tour.
GALLERY TOUR RSVP
About Archives Awareness Week
The City of Tampa celebrates Archives Awareness Week each year in mid-July, coinciding with the city’s birthday. In 2025, Tampa marks its 138th year since its founding on July 15, 1887. Established in 1992 by the City of Tampa Archives Advisory Committee, Archives Awareness Week highlights the importance of preserving Tampa’s history and government records. Led by Archives and Records, a division of the City Clerk’s Office, the week features exhibits and programs presented by local institutions showcasing the value of archives in preserving community heritage.
This year’s participating organizations include Centro Asturiano de Tampa, the City of Tampa, the Henry B. Plant Museum, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Museum, Sacred Heart Church Historical Society, the Tampa Bay History Center, the Tampa Firefighters Museum, Tampa International Airport, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, and USF Libraries.
Additional support is provided by Bookends: Literature & Libations, Preserve the ‘Burg, Shuffle, and the Ybor City Historical Society.
PHOTO: (Tampa Bay History Center/Octavio Jones)

Latina Legacies: Brunch, Book, and Film Premiere with Dr. Sarah McNamara
2025-07-19 11:00 - 12:30 | Centro Asturiano de Tampa, 1913 North Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, 33602, United States
Join the Centro Asturiano for free brunch and mimosas as Dr. Sarah McNamara discusses Ybor City: Crucible of the Latina South with Manny Leto, executive director of Preserve the ‘Burg. The event will premiere a short film on the history of the 1937 Antifascist March and highlight the importance of preserving the stories of the Latinas who shaped Ybor City. Book signing and author meet and greet to follow the event. Guests must register in advance to reserve seating (and a cocktail).
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About Archives Awareness Week
The City of Tampa celebrates Archives Awareness Week each year in mid-July, coinciding with the city’s birthday. In 2025, Tampa marks its 138th year since its founding on July 15, 1887. Established in 1992 by the City of Tampa Archives Advisory Committee, Archives Awareness Week highlights the importance of preserving Tampa’s history and government records. Led by Archives and Records, a division of the City Clerk’s Office, the week features exhibits and programs presented by local institutions showcasing the value of archives in preserving community heritage.
This year’s participating organizations include Centro Asturiano de Tampa, the City of Tampa, the Henry B. Plant Museum, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Museum, Sacred Heart Church Historical Society, the Tampa Bay History Center, the Tampa Firefighters Museum, Tampa International Airport, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, and USF Libraries.
Additional support is provided by Bookends: Literature & Libations, Preserve the ‘Burg, Shuffle, and the Ybor City Historical Society.

Black History Book Club: "Running A Thousand Miles For Freedom"
2025-08-25 17:30 - 18:45 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
We are excited to announce the August reading for the Black History Book Club at Tampa’s Black History Museum on August 25, 2025.
This free event will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at 1213 N. Central Ave. The August title is “Running A Thousand Miles For Freedom by Ellen Craft & William Craft”. This is a book about a slave narrative in which Ellen and William Craft recount their daring 1848 escape from slavery, with Ellen passing as a white male planter and William as her servant, and their eventual exile to England after the Fugitive Slave Act.
Visit the Museum Store to purchase your copy or borrow the eBook from the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library.
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion as we close the year with this classic work of the Harlem Renaissance.
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Sangria and Stories: The Lure of Florida Fishing
2025-09-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Join us for a Sangria and Stories Talk on Thursday, September 25 at 6 p.m.
Enjoy a glass of Columbia Restaurant’s signature sangria before a gallery talk with Rodney Kite-Powell, Director, Touchton Map Library and Michelle Hearn, Director of Curatorial Affairs.
The Lure of Florida Fishing explores more than a century of angling history, from early tarpon expeditions to modern sport fishing. Featuring handcrafted lures, rare artifacts, historic fishing maps, and artwork, the exhibit highlights Tampa Bay’s role in shaping Florida’s fishing culture.
Advanced tickets required.

Florida Conversations: Work, War, Wit, Wisdom: Lessons and Legacies from Ybor City
2025-10-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Presented by the Tampa Bay History Center and USF Libraries, this free program is part of the Florida Conversations series, underwritten by the Tampa Bay History Center Endowment Fund at the University of South Florida with media sponsorship from WUSF Public Broadcasting.
In this special program, Rodney Kite-Powell interviews Donna Piñero Parrino, author of Work, War, Wit, Wisdom: Lessons and Legacies from Ybor City. Parrino, a fourth-generation Tampan, blends history, humor, and reflection in her memoir, recalling Ybor’s “Golden Sunset.” She shares stories of childhood lessons, community warmth, and the struggles of Jim Crow, honoring her cigar-worker grandparents’ resilience through the Great Depression and WWII. The book offers a heartfelt tribute to family, tradition, and a vanished way of life.
Work, War, Wit, Wisdom is available digitally through the USF website: Read the book.
Florida Conversations will be presented in person in TECO Hall and virtually through Zoom. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Ybor’s legacy and hear directly from the author. Reserve your spot today.
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Black History Book Club: "Malcolm X: The Last Speeches"
2025-10-28 17:30 - 18:45 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
We are excited to announce the next session of the Black History Book Club at Tampa’s Black History Museum on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
This free event will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at 1213 N. Central Ave. The October title is Malcolm X: The Last Speeches. Visit the Museum Store to purchase your copy or borrow the eAudiobook from the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library.
Join us for an engaging community discussion as we explore the life, words, and legacy of Malcolm X.
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Florida Conversations: Stories of Florida's Fishing Culture
2025-11-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Discover Florida’s fishing heritage at the Tampa Bay History Center’s 2025 Florida Conversations: Stories of Florida’s Fishing Culture.
Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at noon in TECO Hall or online. Hear from panelists with Florida Fish and Wildlife and Florida Folklore.
Listen to stories and insights from those who know the waters best as they explore how fishing has shaped communities, inspired folklore, and defined life across the state.
Florida Conversations is free and accessible in person and streamed live on Zoom. We thank our sponsors: the USF Foundation, USF Libraries, AARP Tampa Bay, and Shelley Blood.
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Florida Conversations: A Motion Picture Paradise!
2025-12-03 18:30 - 19:30 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
A History of Florida’s Film and Television Industry
In this program, historian David Morton, Ph.D., explores Florida’s overlooked role in shaping the American film and television industries. He traces how the state emerged as a “third coast” for entertainment over the last century, beginning with Jacksonville’s pioneering film studios of the early 1900s and continuing through South Florida’s television boom of the 2000s and 2010s.
From silent reels to streaming culture, Florida has provided a stage for countless stories that captured national attention.
Morton received his Ph.D. in Texts and Technology from the University of Central Florida in 2019, where he teaches History and Media Studies.
A 2016–17 Fulbright scholar and program director for the Flickering Landscapes Conference Series, Morton is also the author of A Motion Picture Paradise!: A History of Florida’s Film and Television Industry, published in July 2024 by the University Press of Florida.
Florida Conversations will be presented in person in TECO Hall and virtually through Zoom. Reserve your spot today.
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This program is made possible with the support of the USF Foundation, USF Libraries, AARP Tampa Bay, and a generous gift from Shelley Blood.

Black History Book Club: "Passing"
2025-12-15 17:30 - 18:45 | Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N Central Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Join the Tampa Bay History Center’s next Black History Book Talk group and help celebrate the 150th birthday of the Father of Black History – Dr. Carter G. Woodson — on Monday, December 15, 2025, 5:30 p.m. All activities will be held at Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N. Central Avenue.
Parking is complimentary. The activities are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. Members of the Tampa Bay Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, ASALH, are the museum’s special guests.
December’s book discussion features Passing, a novel published in 1928 by Nella Larsen. It describes the complicated existence of two Black women in Chicago struggling to navigate the difficulties of crossing over the color line. Their compelling stories reveal much about how some very light-skinned African Americans might struggle with this issue today.
Pre-registration for the event below is recommended.
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History as a Joke: Snow Show
2025-12-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Celebrate the holidays with laughter at the Tampa Bay History Center’s “History as a Joke: Snow Show.” Join comedians Johnny B, John J. Murray, and Matt Fernandez from the 3 Ugly Mugs podcast, along with the History Center’s Rodney Kite-Powell, for a hilarious look back at one of Tampa’s strangest winter tales.
In 1958, downtown Tampa tried to bring winter magic to Florida, but the Snow Show melted into mayhem. What began as a cheerful holiday stunt quickly turned into a frosty fiasco remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Relive the chaos, laugh at the legend, and kick off your holiday season with humor and history. Admission is $10.
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Florida Conversations: The Nine Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Join this season’s Florida Conversations to learn more about landscaping in Florida. Explore how the land-grant and Extension system emerged from 19th- and early 20th-century legislation with speaker Michael Masucci, and how those historical roots continue to shape UF/IFAS Extension’s work in the rapidly growing Tampa Bay region, including programs serving Hillsborough County today.
The program will also examine the nine principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™, a research-based framework that helps homeowners and communities create attractive landscapes that conserve water, reduce pollution, and protect Florida’s natural resources. The principles are outlined at the official Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ website, FloridaFriendlyLandscaping.com (also available at ffl.ifas.ufl.edu).
Florida Conversations is free and open to the public. This program is made possible with the support of the USF Foundation, USF Libraries, AARP Tampa Bay, and a generous gift from Shelley Blood.
About the Speaker
Michael Masucci is a Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ community educator with UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. He works with homeowner association boards, community leaders, and residents to implement research-based practices that conserve water, reduce pollution, and support healthy, resilient Florida landscapes.
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Florida Conversations: The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers
2026-02-11 12:00 - 13:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Join this season’s Florida Conversations for an exploration of African American history in Thoroughbred racing. This program features Roda Ferraro, director of the Keeneland Library and curator of The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers, a traveling exhibition hosted by the Tampa Bay History Center.
Through a talk and audience Q&A, Ferraro highlights the lives and careers of African American horsemen and women from the mid-1800s to today. From nationally celebrated jockeys and trainers to the skilled caretakers who worked behind the scenes, the program examines how generations of Black professionals shaped the racing industry across the United States, often in the face of systemic exclusion.
Florida Conversations is free and open to the public. This program is made possible with the support of the USF Foundation, USF Libraries, AARP Tampa Bay, and a generous gift from Shelley Blood.
Florida Conversations will be presented in-person, in TECO Hall at the History Center, and virtually through Zoom. A recording will be posted on YouTube after the event.
About the Speaker
Roda Ferraro is director of the Keeneland Library and a curator specializing in the history and culture of Thoroughbred racing. With more than twenty years of experience in library, museum, and educational leadership, her work centers on expanding access to historical collections and amplifying underrepresented narratives within the sport.
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