Tampa Bay History Center

String Break: Guitar Lab
2026-03-18 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-19 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-20 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Strum, make and explore in this hands-on family program inspired by “America at the Crossroads: The Guitar and a Changing Nation.” Stop by the guitar meet-and-greet to handle picks and strings and try out real electric and acoustic guitars. Then make a guitar pick necklace to take home, with curated music samples playing throughout the experience.

The program runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, March 16 to March 20, 2026, in the Wayne Thomas Gallery and is included with museum admission. All ages are welcome, and it is ideal for families.

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Foreword: A Town Hall with Audrey Chapuis
2026-03-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Meet the Tampa Bay History Center’s new president and CEO, Audrey Chapuis, at Foreword: A Town Hall with Audrey Chapuis in the Lykes Atrium and Upper Terrace of the History Center on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the program runs from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The program is free and open to the public, with limited free tickets available. Complimentary valet parking is available for guests. Columbia Cafe will provide complimentary light bites, along with beer and wine, coffee and tea, and soft drinks.
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This event is designed as an in-person experience and will not be livestreamed or recorded.
The Tampa Bay History Center sets the gold standard for history museums, with national recognition as a top 10 history museum in the 2025 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and full accreditation, a distinction earned by only about 3% of museums nationwide.

Book Club: "American Scare" by Robert W. Fieseler
2026-03-19 10:30 - 11:30 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
This free gathering takes place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the History Center, with a Zoom option available. March’s book selection is American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives by Robert W. Fieseler, with the review led by a guest to be announced. Copies are available in the Museum Store or through the Tampa–Hillsborough County Public Library.
Each month, readers come together to explore Florida’s diverse voices in literature, from fiction and history to poetry, politics, and food writing. All are welcome to join the conversation.
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Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa
2026-03-19 14:00 - 14:20, 2026-03-26 14:00 - 14:20, 2026-04-02 14:00 - 14:20 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
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.”
Enjoy Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa, a 20-minute tour, every Thursday at 2 p.m.
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Every Map Tells a Story
2026-03-20 14:00 - 14:20, 2026-03-27 14:00 - 14:20, 2026-04-03 14:00 - 14:20 | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Step back in time with a tour of Tampa’s history through a stunning collection of maps at the Tampa Bay History Center. Each map provides a unique window into the lives of Florida’s early inhabitants, from indigenous tribes and Spanish explorers to settlers and pioneers who shaped the region. This tour highlights centuries of stories, showing how geography, exploration, and community have influenced Florida’s past and continue to shape its future. Jim Dinsmore leads this gallery tour which is included with admission.
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10 a.m. Chinsegut Hill Home Tour
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-22 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-28 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-03-29 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Chinsegut Hill, 22495 Chinsegut Hill Road, Brooksville, FL, 34601, United States
Open every weekend, Chinsegut Hill Historic Site is located atop one of the highest points in Florida and surrounded by a 114-acre preserve. From prehistoric people to pioneer settlers, from an agrarian plantation before the Civil War to the emancipation of enslaved people, Chinsegut Hill has witnessed thousands of years of Florida’s history.

Adult: $10
Youth (6-12): $5
Child (0-5): Free
Members: Free

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Walking Tour: College Hill Black History
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:30 | C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library, 2607 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33610, United States
On the hunt for a historic tour in Tampa Bay? Experience the College Hill Black History Walking Tour, a captivating 90-minute exploration of significant historical sites in Tampa’s Black community.
The College Hill Black History Walking Tour celebrates the rich heritage of East Tampa’s College Hill neighborhood. In the late 1800s, Black families began purchasing lots in anticipation of a college being built—a promise that ultimately went unfulfilled. By the 1920s, the area had become home to over 5,000 residents. Key landmarks on the tour include Middleton High School, the Lee Davis Community Resource Center, the Florida Sentinel Bulletin newspaper, the Cyrus Greene Recreation Center, and two historic African American cemeteries: College Hill and Memorial Park.
Group size is limited to just 25 guests, making this tour a more personal experience. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the outdoors as you set out to explore. Your journey begins at the C. Blythe Andrews Jr. Public Library, 2607 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33610. Advance tickets are required, and private tours can be arranged by calling (813) 228-0097. Spots fill quickly, so grab your tickets today and get ready to experience Tampa history up close.
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12 p.m. Chinsegut Hill Home Tour
2026-03-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-22 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Chinsegut Hill, 22495 Chinsegut Hill Road, Brooksville, FL, 34601, United States

2 p.m. Chinsegut Hill Home Tour
2026-03-21 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-22 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-28 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-29 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Chinsegut Hill, 22495 Chinsegut Hill Road, Brooksville, FL, 34601, United States

Walking Tour: Central Avenue
2026-04-04 10:00 - 11:30 | Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N Central Ave, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Calling all history lovers, adventurers, and locals ready to see Tampa Bay from a new point of view. This guided walking tour through the vibrant Encore neighborhood uncovers the stories of Central Avenue, once known as “the scrub,” the heart of Tampa’s historic Black community. From the 1890s through the 1960s, this district thrived with music, business, and culture, and its legacy still echoes through the streets today.
Tours begin at 10 a.m. and last 90 minutes, with groups limited to 25 guests for a more personal experience. The route covers less than a mile, weaving through sidewalks, brick streets, and Perry Harvey Sr. Park. Comfortable shoes and outdoor attire are recommended.
Meet your guide at Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N. Central Avenue. Advance tickets are required.
Secure your spot now and walk the path of history. Every step reveals another story waiting to be told.
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