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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Tampa Bay History Center
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260205T142000
DTSTAMP:20260727T205417Z
CREATED:20250623T182751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T205417Z
UID:10002843-1770300000-1770301200@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa
DESCRIPTION:Join docent Amy Tyrrell for a 20-minute guided walkthrough of Cigar City and discover how Tampa became one of the world’s leading cigar manufacturing centers. Amy connects Henry B. Plant’s transportation network with Vicente Martinez Ybor’s cigar factories\, revealing how industry and immigration transformed a small Florida community into the city of Tampa. \nExplore maps\, photographs and historical artifacts while learning about Ybor City’s immigrant communities\, mutual aid societies and connections to the Cuban War of Independence. Discover why Tampa’s historic cigars were called clear Havana cigars\, how lectors shaped daily life inside the factories and how the cigar industry influenced Tampa’s development and identity. \nAmy has served as a docent at the Ybor City Museum State Park for five years and works part-time at the Henry B. Plant Museum. Her experience with both institutions provides visitors with a distinct perspective on the relationship among Plant’s transportation system\, Ybor’s cigar industry and Tampa’s growth. \nAbout gallery tours\nDocent-led gallery tours invite guests to examine artifacts\, maps\, photographs and other historical materials from the History Center’s collections while hearing accurate\, well-researched accounts of the people\, events and industries that shaped Tampa Bay. \nDuring each 20-minute tour\, an experienced docent interprets selected artifacts and displays\, explains what they reveal about the past and answers visitor questions. For first-time visitors\, a gallery tour provides a focused introduction to the History Center’s collections and a strong starting point for exploring the galleries. Tours are included with admission. \nADMISSION TICKETS
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/cigar-city-bringing-industry-to-tampa/2026-02-05/
LOCATION:Tampa Bay History Center\, 801 Water Street\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gallery Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cigar-City-at-the-Tampa-Bay-History-Center.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260207T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260207T113000
DTSTAMP:20251104T161635Z
CREATED:20250925T202637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251104T161635Z
UID:10003746-1770458400-1770463800@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour: Downtown Tampa
DESCRIPTION:Join the Tampa Bay History Center for a February 2026 walking tour that brings the city’s past to life. This guided experience takes you through downtown streets where history\, architecture\, and culture meet. \nAlong the route\, your guide will share stories of Tampa’s civic and cultural landmarks. From City Hall and Sacred Heart Church to the Floridan Palace Hotel and Tampa’s oldest bar\, The Hub\, each stop highlights a piece of the city’s evolving story. \nEach tour lasts 90 minutes and begins at 10 a.m. Limited to 25 participants\, the route covers about one mile along public sidewalks and brick streets. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and attire for the outdoors\, and bring water. \nMeeting Place: Center of Lykes Gaslight Park (400 N. Franklin St.\, Tampa\, FL 33602).Parking: Street parking is available in downtown Tampa. \nReserve Your Spot: Private tours are available by calling (813) 228-0097. \nSee Tampa through a new lens. Reserve your tickets today and explore the stories waiting on every corner.  \nTOUR TICKETS
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/walking-tour-downtown-tampa/
LOCATION:Lykes Gaslight Square Park\, 400 N Franklin St\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walking-Tour-Downtown-Sacred-Heart-1920x1080-002.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T130000
DTSTAMP:20260120T144350Z
CREATED:20251230T163958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T144350Z
UID:10004052-1770811200-1770814800@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Florida Conversations: The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers
DESCRIPTION: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. \nThrough 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. \nFlorida 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. \nFlorida 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. \nAbout the Speaker \nRoda 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. \nIN-PERSON RSVP ZOOM-SIGN UP
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/florida-conversations-the-heart-of-the-turf-racings-black-pioneers/
LOCATION:Tampa Bay History Center\, 801 Water Street\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Trainer-James-Rowes-stable-crew-1920-x-1080-px.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260212T142000
DTSTAMP:20260727T205417Z
CREATED:20250623T182751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T205417Z
UID:10002844-1770904800-1770906000@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa
DESCRIPTION:Join docent Amy Tyrrell for a 20-minute guided walkthrough of Cigar City and discover how Tampa became one of the world’s leading cigar manufacturing centers. Amy connects Henry B. Plant’s transportation network with Vicente Martinez Ybor’s cigar factories\, revealing how industry and immigration transformed a small Florida community into the city of Tampa. \nExplore maps\, photographs and historical artifacts while learning about Ybor City’s immigrant communities\, mutual aid societies and connections to the Cuban War of Independence. Discover why Tampa’s historic cigars were called clear Havana cigars\, how lectors shaped daily life inside the factories and how the cigar industry influenced Tampa’s development and identity. \nAmy has served as a docent at the Ybor City Museum State Park for five years and works part-time at the Henry B. Plant Museum. Her experience with both institutions provides visitors with a distinct perspective on the relationship among Plant’s transportation system\, Ybor’s cigar industry and Tampa’s growth. \nAbout gallery tours\nDocent-led gallery tours invite guests to examine artifacts\, maps\, photographs and other historical materials from the History Center’s collections while hearing accurate\, well-researched accounts of the people\, events and industries that shaped Tampa Bay. \nDuring each 20-minute tour\, an experienced docent interprets selected artifacts and displays\, explains what they reveal about the past and answers visitor questions. For first-time visitors\, a gallery tour provides a focused introduction to the History Center’s collections and a strong starting point for exploring the galleries. Tours are included with admission. \nADMISSION TICKETS
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/cigar-city-bringing-industry-to-tampa/2026-02-12/
LOCATION:Tampa Bay History Center\, 801 Water Street\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gallery Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cigar-City-at-the-Tampa-Bay-History-Center.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T113000
DTSTAMP:20251103T161230Z
CREATED:20250905T153147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T161230Z
UID:10003732-1771497000-1771500600@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Book Club: "Welcome to Florida: True Tales from America's Most Interesting State" by Craig Pittman
DESCRIPTION:Join the Tampa Bay History Center’s Book Club on Thursday\, February 19\, 2026\, for a lively conversation on one of Florida’s most colorful storytellers. \nThis free gathering will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the History Center\, with a Zoom option available. February’s title is Welcome to Florida: True Tales from America’s Most Interesting State by Craig Pittman. Copies can be purchased in the Museum Store or borrowed from the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library. \nEach month\, the Book Club explores a new corner of Florida’s literary landscape\, ranging from history and politics to fiction\, poetry\, and food writing. Everyone is welcome to join the discussion. \nATTEND IN pERSON \nAttend Online
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/book-club-welcome-to-florida-true-tales-from-americas-most-interesting-state-by-craig-pittman/
LOCATION:Tampa Bay History Center\, 801 Water Street\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/tbhc-share-image.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T142000
DTSTAMP:20260727T205417Z
CREATED:20250623T182751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T205417Z
UID:10002845-1771509600-1771510800@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa
DESCRIPTION:Join docent Amy Tyrrell for a 20-minute guided walkthrough of Cigar City and discover how Tampa became one of the world’s leading cigar manufacturing centers. Amy connects Henry B. Plant’s transportation network with Vicente Martinez Ybor’s cigar factories\, revealing how industry and immigration transformed a small Florida community into the city of Tampa. \nExplore maps\, photographs and historical artifacts while learning about Ybor City’s immigrant communities\, mutual aid societies and connections to the Cuban War of Independence. Discover why Tampa’s historic cigars were called clear Havana cigars\, how lectors shaped daily life inside the factories and how the cigar industry influenced Tampa’s development and identity. \nAmy has served as a docent at the Ybor City Museum State Park for five years and works part-time at the Henry B. Plant Museum. Her experience with both institutions provides visitors with a distinct perspective on the relationship among Plant’s transportation system\, Ybor’s cigar industry and Tampa’s growth. \nAbout gallery tours\nDocent-led gallery tours invite guests to examine artifacts\, maps\, photographs and other historical materials from the History Center’s collections while hearing accurate\, well-researched accounts of the people\, events and industries that shaped Tampa Bay. \nDuring each 20-minute tour\, an experienced docent interprets selected artifacts and displays\, explains what they reveal about the past and answers visitor questions. For first-time visitors\, a gallery tour provides a focused introduction to the History Center’s collections and a strong starting point for exploring the galleries. Tours are included with admission. \nADMISSION TICKETS
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/cigar-city-bringing-industry-to-tampa/2026-02-19/
LOCATION:Tampa Bay History Center\, 801 Water Street\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gallery Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cigar-City-at-the-Tampa-Bay-History-Center.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T113000
DTSTAMP:20260203T150804Z
CREATED:20260203T150420Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T150804Z
UID:10004061-1771668000-1771673400@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour: Central Avenue
DESCRIPTION:The Tampa Bay History Center offers guided walking tours that foreground the history and lived experience of Tampa’s Black community. Among the most popular is the Encore Tampa tour\, which traces the legacy of the Tempo District\, formerly Central Avenue\, once a major center of Black commerce\, music\, and cultural life. \nThe 90-minute tour explores the Encore neighborhood\, historically known as “the Scrub\,” and examines the social\, economic\, and artistic forces that shaped the area from the 1890s through the 1960s. Highlights include Perry Harvey Sr. Park and nearby sites that continue to preserve and interpret this history. \nTours begin at 10 a.m. and cover less than one mile over sidewalks and brick streets. Guests are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for outdoor conditions. \nMeeting location: Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N. Central AvenueTickets: Advance purchase required \nAttendance is limited to 25 participants per tour. Reservations are recommended to ensure availability. \n\nTOUR TICKETS
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/walking-tour-central-avenue-3/
LOCATION:Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N Central Ave\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Walking-Tour-Central-Leaders-Row-1920x10800-002-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260223T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260223T184500
DTSTAMP:20260202T201507Z
CREATED:20260202T172017Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260202T201507Z
UID:10004056-1771867800-1771872300@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Black History Book Club: "The Message" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
DESCRIPTION:We are excited to announce the next season of the Black History Book Club at Tampa’s Black History Museum on Feb. 23\, 2026. \nThis free event begins at 5:30 pm at 1213 N. Central Ave\, at the Black History Museum. The February book for the month is called The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Purchase this book by visiting the Tampa Bay History Center Museum Store or find the title online. \nJoin us for a community discussion on this collection of essays that slips into different cultural experiences\, travels across global locations\, and also addresses historical injustice. The author explores themes of colonialism\, heritage\, beauty standards and the power of the written word. \nRSVP
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/black-history-book-club-the-message-by-ta-nehisi-coates/
LOCATION:Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N Central Ave\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/The-Message-Book-Cover_1920x1080.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260226T142000
DTSTAMP:20260727T205417Z
CREATED:20250623T182751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T205417Z
UID:10002846-1772114400-1772115600@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa
DESCRIPTION:Join docent Amy Tyrrell for a 20-minute guided walkthrough of Cigar City and discover how Tampa became one of the world’s leading cigar manufacturing centers. Amy connects Henry B. Plant’s transportation network with Vicente Martinez Ybor’s cigar factories\, revealing how industry and immigration transformed a small Florida community into the city of Tampa. \nExplore maps\, photographs and historical artifacts while learning about Ybor City’s immigrant communities\, mutual aid societies and connections to the Cuban War of Independence. Discover why Tampa’s historic cigars were called clear Havana cigars\, how lectors shaped daily life inside the factories and how the cigar industry influenced Tampa’s development and identity. \nAmy has served as a docent at the Ybor City Museum State Park for five years and works part-time at the Henry B. Plant Museum. Her experience with both institutions provides visitors with a distinct perspective on the relationship among Plant’s transportation system\, Ybor’s cigar industry and Tampa’s growth. \nAbout gallery tours\nDocent-led gallery tours invite guests to examine artifacts\, maps\, photographs and other historical materials from the History Center’s collections while hearing accurate\, well-researched accounts of the people\, events and industries that shaped Tampa Bay. \nDuring each 20-minute tour\, an experienced docent interprets selected artifacts and displays\, explains what they reveal about the past and answers visitor questions. For first-time visitors\, a gallery tour provides a focused introduction to the History Center’s collections and a strong starting point for exploring the galleries. Tours are included with admission. \nADMISSION TICKETS
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/cigar-city-bringing-industry-to-tampa/2026-02-26/
LOCATION:Tampa Bay History Center\, 801 Water Street\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gallery Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cigar-City-at-the-Tampa-Bay-History-Center.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa Bay History Center":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260227T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260227T200000
DTSTAMP:20260225T183450Z
CREATED:20260105T161625Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T183450Z
UID:10004053-1772213400-1772222400@tampabayhistorycenter.org
SUMMARY:[SOLD OUT] Fifth Annual Black History Month Reception
DESCRIPTION:Fifty years of celebrating Black History Month (1976-2026)\nJoin us at the Fifth Annual Black History Month Reception on Friday\, Feb. 27\, 2026\, at Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N. Central Ave.\, Tampa. This year’s reception marks a milestone\, as it is the first time the event will be held at the museum. Doors open at 5 p.m.\, and the evening begins with a reception featuring soul food bites\, refreshments\, and live cultural performances. \nThe program includes performances by the Dundu Dole Urban African Ballet\, spoken word\, and musical entertainment. Guest speaker Jai Hinson will address the audience during the program. The evening will also feature the presentation of the Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Sankofa Award to the Florida Sentinel Bulletin\, which has served the community since 1945. In addition\, the Thurgood Marshall History Award\, a $1\,000 donation\, will be presented to a Hillsborough County public high school recognized for the most outstanding Thurgood Marshall History Club project. \nSOLD OUT \nThe reception is sponsored by the Tampa Housing Authority and presented by the Tampa Bay History Center. Each year\, the event recognizes Black History Month and honors the legacy of Rev. Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr.\, a Tampa native from Ybor City and board chairman of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The annual observance traces its roots to 1926\, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched Negro History Week\, and to 1976\, when President Gerald Ford formally recognized February as Black History Month. \nComplimentary parking will be available with three options\, including Ray Charles Boulevard and the Tempo and Trio parking garages.
URL:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/event/fifth-annual-black-history-month-reception/
LOCATION:Tampa’s Black History Museum\, 1213 N Central Ave\, Tampa\, FL\, 33602\, United States
CATEGORIES:Special Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://tampabayhistorycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/5th-Annual-BHMR_1920x1080-V4.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Tampa's Black History Museum":MAILTO:info@tampabayhistorycenter.org
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR