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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Tampa Bay History Center
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260912T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T140628Z
CREATED:20260807T125724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T140628Z
UID:10004486-1789207200-1789212600@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:College Hill Black History Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Walk through East Tampa with Fred Hearns\, curator of Black history at the Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa’s Black History Museum\, and hear the stories of the people who built College Hill. \nDuring this 90-minute guided tour\, Hearns shares the history of one of Tampa’s oldest Black communities. In the late 1800s\, Black families began purchasing lots in the area after being promised that a college for Black students would be built nearby. The college never opened\, but the community continued to grow. By the late 1920s\, more than 5\,000 Black residents called College Hill home. \nTour stops include the C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library\, home to the Florida Sentinel Bulletin special collection; Belmont Heights Estates; Memorial Park Cemetery\, established in 1923 and the final resting place of many of Tampa’s Black leaders; and Belmont Heights Little League\, where future Major League Baseball stars Dwight “Doc” Gooden and Gary Sheffield learned to play. \nThe quarter-mile (eight city blocks) tour follows public sidewalks and brick streets. Tours are limited to 25 people\, allowing time for questions and conversation along the way. Guests should wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for walking outdoors. Bottled water is also recommended. \nThis tour begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday\, Sept. 12\, 2026\, from the C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library (2607 E. Dr. MLK\, Jr. Blvd.\, Tampa\, Florida 33610) and does not depart from the Tampa Bay History Center. Please check your eTicket confirmation email for updates. \nGET TICKETS \nAdvance tickets are required. History Center members save 20% on walking tours and should log in before purchasing to apply the discount. \nJoin Now and Save 20%
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/college-hill-black-history-walking-tour-2/
LOCATION:C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library\, 2607 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd\, Tampa\, FL\, 33610\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBHC-CollegeHill-WT_1920x1080_4387-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T134432Z
CREATED:20260716T172036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T134432Z
UID:10004482-1789812000-1789817400@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Ybor City Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore Ybor City with Evangeline “Van” Linkous\, Ph.D.\, AICP\, a History Center-trained guide and USF professor who teaches urban planning history. Her courses examine industrialization\, mutual aid societies\, highway development\, suburbanization and downtown revitalization\, all central to Ybor City’s development.  \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, Van connects her academic expertise with the cigar factories\, social clubs\, brick streets and landmark buildings along the route. Guests will learn how Ybor developed as a central hub of the United States’ cigar industry and how it emerged as a rare multi-ethnic and multi-racial industrial community in the Deep South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Van also provides her urban planning expertise to share the story of Ybor’s post-war transformations and the processes shaping Ybor today. \nLocal guests learn how major developments in American urban history unfolded close to home. Visitors from outside Tampa will gain a clear understanding of how Ybor became one of the city’s most distinctive historic districts. \nThe tour begins at a new location: Parque Amigos de José Martí\, or Friends of José Martí Park\, 1303 E. Eighth Ave.\, Tampa\, FL 33605. Participants will walk approximately one mile along public sidewalks and brick streets. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \nAdvance tickets are required\, and space is limited to 25 guests. History Center members save 20% on walking tour tickets by signing in before checkout. \nGET TICKETS \nBest parking option\n \nUse the Fernando Noriega Jr. Parking Garage\, 2010 N. 13th St.\, Tampa\, FL 33605. Access is available from E. Eighth Ave. or E. Ninth Ave. Click here for the full list of parking garages and lots owned by the City of Tampa.
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/ybor-city-walking-tour-24/
LOCATION:Parque Amigos de José Martí (Friends of José Martí Park)\, 1303 E 8th Ave\, Tampa\, 33605\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ybor-City-Walking-Tour-Family_photo-by-Pedro-Castellano-scaled.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261010T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261010T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T171234Z
CREATED:20260807T181956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T171234Z
UID:10004616-1791626400-1791631800@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Downtown Tampa Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore downtown Tampa with T.J. Chaltry\, a History Center-trained guide and longtime Tampa resident whose passion for local history began with a visit to the Tampa Bay History Center. That experience inspired years of independent research into the people\, places and events that shaped the city. For more than five years\, T.J. has shared that knowledge with walking tour guests\, transforming familiar streets and buildings into compelling connections to Tampa’s past. \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, T.J. leads guests past landmarks including Old City Hall\, Sacred Heart Catholic Church\, the Floridan Palace Hotel and The Hub\, Tampa’s oldest bar. Along the route\, guests will explore the architecture\, industries\, political conflicts and communities that contributed to downtown Tampa’s development. \nThe tour begins at Lykes Gaslight Park\, 400 N. Franklin St.\, Tampa\, FL 33602. Participants will walk approximately one mile along public sidewalks and brick streets. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \nGet Tickets \nAdvance tickets are required\, and space is limited to 25 guests. History Center members save 20% on walking tour tickets by signing in before checkout. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/downtown-tampa-walking-tour-17/
LOCATION:Lykes Gaslight Square Park\, 400 N Franklin St\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walking-Tour-Downtown-Sacred-Heart-1920x1080-002.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261031T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261031T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T184547Z
CREATED:20260807T160647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T184547Z
UID:10004614-1793440800-1793446200@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Oaklawn Cemetery Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore Oaklawn Cemetery with Fred Hearns\, one of Tampa Bay’s foremost historians and the Tampa Bay History Center’s first curator of Black history. A longtime community leader\, Hearns has spent decades researching and preserving the stories of Tampa’s people and neighborhoods. \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, Hearns guides guests through Oaklawn Cemetery\, Tampa’s oldest public burial ground. Established in 1850 as a burial place for “white and slave\, rich and poor\,” Oaklawn reflects the social\, political and cultural history of Tampa’s earliest years. \nGuests will encounter the graves of 13 Tampa mayors\, a Florida governor\, enslaved people\, individuals associated with piracy\, cigar industry leader Vicente Martinez-Ybor and more than 200 Native Americans. The cemetery also contains two mass burial sites\, contributing to its solemn and complex history. \nHearns connects these burial sites to the broader development of Tampa\, drawing upon his knowledge of African American history\, civil rights and the communities that helped shape the city. His work emphasizes that Black history is inseparable from Tampa’s history\, bringing greater recognition to people whose experiences and contributions have often been overlooked. \nHeld on Halloween morning\, the tour offers an atmospheric opportunity to explore one of Tampa’s most intriguing historic landmarks. Although Oaklawn is often associated with local legends and mystery\, the tour centers on documented history and the lives of the people buried there. \nThe tour begins at the south entrance of Oaklawn Cemetery\, 606 E. Harrison St.\, Tampa\, FL 33602\, between Morgan and Jefferson streets. Guests will stop at notable sites throughout the cemetery while walking along its shaded paths. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \nGET TICKETS \nAdvance tickets are required\, and space is limited to 25 guests. History Center members save 20% on walking tour tickets by signing in before checkout. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/oaklawn-cemetery-walking-tour-3/
LOCATION:502 E Harrison St\, Tampa\, FL 33602\, 502 E Harrison St\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Oaklawn-Cemetery_1920x1080_MG_3148-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261111T111500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261111T140000
DTSTAMP:20260810T154620Z
CREATED:20260807T194703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T154620Z
UID:10004618-1794395700-1794405600@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Crafted History Lunch Cruise
DESCRIPTION:Explore Tampa’s military history from the water during Craft’s history lunch cruise\, narrated by Florida historian Rodney Kite-Powell.\nThe journey begins with Fort Brooke and the early Village of Tampa\, then follows the city’s growth through Henry Plant’s railroad era and the development of Hillsborough County. Along the way\, Kite-Powell will share stories of the Civil War’s Battle of Fort Brooke and Battle of Ballast Point\, the transformation of MacDill Field into MacDill Air Force Base\, and the SS American Victory\, which served during World War II\, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It is a look at how military service\, conflict and change helped shape Tampa. \nCraft’s Executive Chef has freshly prepared a delectable menu\, in America’s first open kitchen concept with gas cooking equipment on a river cruiser. The cruise will feature Rodney’s Tampa history narration as the Captain navigates beneath the many low bridges with inches to spare\, you will experience the best views our city has to offer! Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a first-time visitor\, this journey offers an unforgettable experience that blends history\, culture\, and cuisine in an unparalleled setting. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the Hillsborough River in partnership with the Tampa Bay History Center. \nBook your tickets now for a Crafted History Lunch Cruise that promises to be as enriching as it is enjoyable. \nGET TICKETS \nCrafted History Brunch Cruise Details: \n\nWednesday\, November 11\, 2026\nBoards 11:15 AM\, Cruises Noon – 2:00 PM\nUnparalleled views of scenic waterways and passage beneath low bridges\nIncludes brunch entrée\, dessert & soda\, coffee and tea\nNarration from Rodney Kite-Powell\, Tampa Bay History Center\n\nAppetizers & craft cocktails are also available for purchase. Gratuity is not included in the ticket price. \nReservations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/crafted-history-lunch-cruise-3/
LOCATION:CRAFT\, 603 Channelside Drive\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Special Events,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/craft-exterior-harbor-island-lighthouse-e1786036188249.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="CRAFT":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261121T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261121T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T134113Z
CREATED:20260716T172040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T134113Z
UID:10004483-1795255200-1795260600@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Ybor City Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore Ybor City with Evangeline “Van” Linkous\, Ph.D.\, AICP\, a History Center-trained guide and USF professor who teaches urban planning history. Her courses examine industrialization\, mutual aid societies\, highway development\, suburbanization and downtown revitalization\, all central to Ybor City’s development.  \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, Van connects her academic expertise with the cigar factories\, social clubs\, brick streets and landmark buildings along the route. Guests will learn how Ybor developed as a central hub of the United States’ cigar industry and how it emerged as a rare multi-ethnic and multi-racial industrial community in the Deep South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Van also provides her urban planning expertise to share the story of Ybor’s post-war transformations and the processes shaping Ybor today. \nLocal guests learn how major developments in American urban history unfolded close to home. Visitors from outside Tampa will gain a clear understanding of how Ybor became one of the city’s most distinctive historic districts. \nThe tour begins at a new location: Parque Amigos de José Martí\, or Friends of José Martí Park\, 1303 E. Eighth Ave.\, Tampa\, FL 33605. Participants will walk approximately one mile along public sidewalks and brick streets. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \nAdvance tickets are required\, and space is limited to 25 guests. History Center members save 20% on walking tour tickets by signing in before checkout. \nGET TICKETS \nBest parking option\n \nUse the Fernando Noriega Jr. Parking Garage\, 2010 N. 13th St.\, Tampa\, FL 33605. Access is available from E. Eighth Ave. or E. Ninth Ave. Click here for the full list of parking garages and lots owned by the City of Tampa.
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/ybor-city-walking-tour-25/
LOCATION:Parque Amigos de José Martí (Friends of José Martí Park)\, 1303 E 8th Ave\, Tampa\, 33605\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1920-x-1080-px-87.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261128T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261128T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T190548Z
CREATED:20260807T204133Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T190548Z
UID:10004619-1795860000-1795865400@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:West Tampa Black History Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore West Tampa with Fred Hearns\, one of Tampa Bay’s foremost historians and the Tampa Bay History Center’s first curator of Black history. A longtime journalist\, community leader and former City of Tampa human rights director\, Hearns has spent decades researching and preserving the stories of Tampa’s Black residents\, neighborhoods and institutions. \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, Hearns guides guests through significant sites connected to West Tampa’s Black history. The route includes the former site of J. W. Roberts City\, West Tampa’s first brick cigar factory; the University of Tampa’s I. W. Phillips Field football stadium; Clara Frye Memorial Hospital\, which provided medical care to Black patients during segregation; Tampa’s first public housing development; and the childhood homes of prominent figures in Hillsborough County’s Black community. \nLocal guests will gain a deeper understanding of a neighborhood whose history is often overlooked. Visitors from outside Tampa will discover how West Tampa’s cigar industry\, community institutions and Black residents contributed to the development of the wider Tampa Bay region. \nThe tour meets inside Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. Look for the Bob Buckhorn River Center\, 402 N. Laurel St.\, Tampa\, FL 33607\, and meet your guide at the flagpole. \nParticipants will walk approximately eight blocks along public sidewalks. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \n\n\n\n\n\nGET TICKETS \nAdvance tickets are required\, and space is limited to 25 guests. History Center members save 20% on walking tour tickets by signing in before checkout. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/west-tampa-black-history-walking-tour-nov2026/
LOCATION:Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park\, 1001 N Blvd\, Tampa\, FL\, 33607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walking-Tour-West-Tampa-Ripple-Gates_1920x1080.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261212T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261212T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T182752Z
CREATED:20260807T183450Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T182752Z
UID:10004617-1797069600-1797075000@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Downtown Tampa Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore downtown Tampa with T.J. Chaltry\, a History Center-trained guide and longtime Tampa resident whose passion for local history began with a visit to the Tampa Bay History Center. That experience inspired years of independent research into the people\, places and events that shaped the city. For more than five years\, T.J. has shared that knowledge with walking tour guests\, transforming familiar streets and buildings into compelling connections to Tampa’s past. \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, T.J. leads guests past landmarks including Old City Hall\, Sacred Heart Catholic Church\, the Floridan Palace Hotel and The Hub\, Tampa’s oldest bar. Along the route\, guests will explore the architecture\, industries\, political conflicts and communities that contributed to downtown Tampa’s development. \nThe tour begins at Lykes Gaslight Park\, 400 N. Franklin St.\, Tampa\, FL 33602. Participants will walk approximately one mile along public sidewalks and brick streets. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \nGet Tickets \n\nAdvance tickets are required. History Center members save 20% on walking tours and should log in before purchasing to apply the discount. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/downtown-tampa-walking-tour-18/
LOCATION:Lykes Gaslight Square Park\, 400 N Franklin St\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walking-Tour-Downtown-Sacred-Heart-1920x1080-002.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261219T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261219T113000
DTSTAMP:20260811T174111Z
CREATED:20260811T171522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T174111Z
UID:10004621-1797674400-1797679800@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Historic Central Avenue Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore Tampa’s historic Central Avenue district with Fred Hearns\, one of Tampa Bay’s foremost historians and the Tampa Bay History Center’s first curator of Black history. A longtime journalist\, community leader and former City of Tampa human rights director\, Hearns has spent decades researching and preserving the stories of Tampa’s Black residents\, neighborhoods and institutions. \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, Hearns guides guests through the ENCORE! neighborhood and surrounding historic sites connected to Central Avenue\, once the center of Black business\, culture and community life in Tampa. Historically known as “the Scrub\,” the area was home to generations of residents\, entrepreneurs\, civic leaders and entertainers from the 1890s through the 1960s. Guests will discover Central Avenue’s musical legacy and the people\, businesses and gathering places that shaped African American life during segregation. \nThe route continues through Perry Harvey Sr. Park\, where public art and historical markers commemorate Central Avenue’s former businesses\, music venues and community leaders. \nThe tour begins at Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N. Central Ave.\, Tampa\, FL 33602. Participants will walk seven blocks along public sidewalks and brick streets and through Perry Harvey Sr. Park. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \nGET TICKETS \nAdvance tickets are required\, and space is limited to 25 guests. History Center members save 20% on walking tour tickets by signing in before checkout. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/historic-central-avenue-walking-tour/
LOCATION:Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N Central Ave\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walking-Tour-Central-Leaders-Row-1920x10800-002-1.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270116T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270116T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T140618Z
CREATED:20260807T131412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T140618Z
UID:10004485-1800093600-1800099000@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:College Hill Black History Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Walk through East Tampa with Fred Hearns\, curator of Black history at the Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa’s Black History Museum\, and hear the stories of the people who built College Hill. \nDuring this 90-minute guided tour\, Hearns shares the history of one of Tampa’s oldest Black communities. In the late 1800s\, Black families began purchasing lots in the area after being promised that a college for Black students would be built nearby. The college never opened\, but the community continued to grow. By the late 1920s\, more than 5\,000 Black residents called College Hill home. \nTour stops include the C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library\, home to the Florida Sentinel Bulletin special collection; Belmont Heights Estates; Memorial Park Cemetery\, established in 1923 and the final resting place of many of Tampa’s Black leaders; and Belmont Heights Little League\, where future Major League Baseball stars Dwight “Doc” Gooden and Gary Sheffield learned to play. \nThe quarter-mile (eight city blocks) tour follows public sidewalks and brick streets. Tours are limited to 25 people\, allowing time for questions and conversation along the way. Guests should wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for walking outdoors. Bottled water is also recommended. \nThis tour begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday\, Jan. 16\, 2027\, from the C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library (2607 E. Dr. MLK\, Jr. Blvd.\, Tampa\, Florida 33610) and does not depart from the Tampa Bay History Center. Please check your eTicket confirmation email for updates. \n\nGET TICKETS \nAdvance tickets are required. History Center members save 20% on walking tours and should log in before purchasing to apply the discount. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/college-hill-black-history-walking-tour-3/
LOCATION:C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library\, 2607 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd\, Tampa\, FL\, 33610\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/TBHC-CollegeHill-WT_1920x1080_4387-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270213T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270213T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T185239Z
CREATED:20260807T165211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T185239Z
UID:10004615-1802512800-1802518200@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Oaklawn Cemetery Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore Oaklawn Cemetery with Fred Hearns\, one of Tampa Bay’s foremost historians and the Tampa Bay History Center’s first curator of Black history. A longtime journalist\, community leader and former City of Tampa human rights director\, Hearns has spent decades researching and preserving the stories of Tampa’s people and neighborhoods. \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, Hearns guides guests through Oaklawn Cemetery\, Tampa’s oldest public burial ground. Established in 1850 as a burial place for “white and slave\, rich and poor\,” Oaklawn reflects the social\, political and cultural history of Tampa’s earliest years. \nGuests will encounter the graves of 13 Tampa mayors\, a Florida governor\, enslaved people\, individuals connected to Tampa’s stories of piracy\, cigar industry leader Vicente Martinez-Ybor and more than 200 Native Americans. The cemetery also contains two mass burial sites that reveal additional dimensions of the city’s solemn and complex past. \nHearns connects these burial places to the broader development of Tampa\, drawing upon his extensive knowledge of African American history\, civil rights and the communities that shaped the city. His work brings greater recognition to people whose experiences and contributions have often been overlooked while demonstrating how Black history remains inseparable from Tampa’s history. \nLocal guests will gain a deeper understanding of the people and events that shaped the city they know today. Visitors from outside Tampa will discover how one historic cemetery preserves stories spanning race\, politics\, industry\, immigration and community life. \nThe tour begins at the south entrance of Oaklawn Cemetery\, 606 E. Harrison St.\, Tampa\, FL 33602\, between Morgan and Jefferson streets. Guests will stop at notable sites while walking along the cemetery’s shaded paths. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \nGet Tickets \nAdvance tickets are required. History Center members save 20% on walking tours and should log in before purchasing to apply the discount. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/oaklawn-cemetery-walking-tour-4/
LOCATION:502 E Harrison St\, Tampa\, FL 33602\, 502 E Harrison St\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Oaklawn-Cemetery_1920x1080_MG_3148-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270313T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270313T113000
DTSTAMP:20260810T190627Z
CREATED:20260807T204542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260810T190627Z
UID:10004620-1804932000-1804937400@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:West Tampa Black History Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore West Tampa with Fred Hearns\, one of Tampa Bay’s foremost historians and the Tampa Bay History Center’s first curator of Black history. A longtime journalist\, community leader and former City of Tampa human rights director\, Hearns has spent decades researching and preserving the stories of Tampa’s Black residents\, neighborhoods and institutions. \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, Hearns guides guests through significant sites connected to West Tampa’s Black history. The route includes the former site of J. W. Roberts City\, West Tampa’s first brick cigar factory; the University of Tampa’s I. W. Phillips Field football stadium; Clara Frye Memorial Hospital\, which provided medical care to Black patients during segregation; Tampa’s first public housing development; and the childhood homes of prominent figures in Hillsborough County’s Black community. \nLocal guests will gain a deeper understanding of a neighborhood whose history is often overlooked. Visitors from outside Tampa will discover how West Tampa’s cigar industry\, community institutions and Black residents contributed to the development of the wider Tampa Bay region. \nThe tour meets inside Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. Look for the Bob Buckhorn River Center\, 402 N. Laurel St.\, Tampa\, FL 33607\, and meet your guide at the flagpole. Participants will walk approximately eight blocks along public sidewalks. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \n\n\n\n\nGET TICKETS \nAdvance tickets are required\, and space is limited to 25 guests. History Center members save 20% on walking tour tickets by signing in before checkout. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/west-tampa-black-history-walking-tour-march2027/
LOCATION:Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park\, 1001 N Blvd\, Tampa\, FL\, 33607\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walking-Tour-West-Tampa-Ripple-Gates_1920x1080.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270410T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270410T113000
DTSTAMP:20260813T135808Z
CREATED:20260811T173523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T135808Z
UID:10004622-1807351200-1807356600@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Historic Central Avenue Walking Tour
DESCRIPTION:Explore Tampa’s historic Central Avenue district with Fred Hearns\, one of Tampa Bay’s foremost historians and the Tampa Bay History Center’s first curator of Black history. A longtime journalist\, community leader and former City of Tampa human rights director\, Hearns has spent decades researching and preserving the stories of Tampa’s Black residents\, neighborhoods and institutions. \nDuring this 90-minute tour\, Hearns guides guests through the ENCORE! neighborhood and surrounding historic sites connected to Central Avenue\, once the center of Black business\, culture and community life in Tampa. Historically known as “the Scrub\,” the area was home to generations of residents\, entrepreneurs\, civic leaders and entertainers from the 1890s through the 1960s. Guests will discover Central Avenue’s musical legacy and the people\, businesses and gathering places that shaped African American life during segregation. \nThe route continues through Perry Harvey Sr. Park\, where public art and historical markers commemorate Central Avenue’s former businesses\, music venues and community leaders. \nThe tour begins at Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N. Central Ave.\, Tampa\, FL 33602. Participants will walk seven blocks along public sidewalks and brick streets and through Perry Harvey Sr. Park. Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Guests may also want to bring bottled water. \nGET TICKETS \nAdvance tickets are required\, and space is limited to 25 guests. History Center members save 20% on walking tour tickets by signing in before checkout. \nJoin Now and Save 20 %
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/8518/
LOCATION:Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N Central Ave\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walking-Tour-Central-Leaders-Row-1920x10800-002-1.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
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