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January 15 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,...

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History as a Joke: Gasparilla
Talks
January 22 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...

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Florida Conversations: History of Catholic-Jewish Relations in Tampa Bay
Talks
February 19 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...

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Florida Conversations: Chitlin’ Circuit
Talks
March 6 Set sail aboard Craft’s history lunch cruise, featuring narration by one of Florida’s most esteemed historians, Rodney Kite-Powell. From tales of Henry Plant’s railroad to the evolution of Hillsborough...

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Crafted History Lunch Cruise
Special Events
March 19 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...

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Florida Conversations: Tracing Florida Journeys
Talks

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Today

Living History Saturday: Reading in Cigar City

Tampa Bay History Center 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL, United States

Cervantes, Shakespeare, and Emerson–could these authors have a connection to early Tampa history? Yes! Cameron McNabb, Ph.D., a visiting assistant professor of literature at Eckerd College, will share the various ways literature permeated the cigar culture of Ybor City. Discover how lectores read aloud in cigar factories and became influential in the revolutionary speeches of …

$16.95

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Museum hours

The history center is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

**Galleries are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas and open until 3 p.m. on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Admission prices

Adult: $18.95
College Student: $16.95
Senior (60+): $16.95
Youth (7-17): $14.95
Child (0-6): Free
Members: Free

**First responders and veterans may receive discounted admission at Visitor Services.

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TECO Line Streetcar System
Tampa Bay History Center

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Weddings

The History Center provides a dramatic and historic backdrop for your wedding, wedding reception or rehearsal dinner. Give your wedding a unique Tampa flair your guests will remember for a lifetime.

Corporate events

Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind Tampa experience for your next corporate event or convention party? Are you a meeting planner looking for a unique setting to host a board retreat or employee function? Located within walking distance of downtown hotels, the History Center is perfect for your next corporate event.

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Event Rental Space at the Tampa Bay History Center
Event Rental Space at the Tampa Bay History Center
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