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Past Exhibits

EXHIBIT TYPE: Past

Key West and the Florida Keys

Key West connection: The twist that turned the cigar industry toward Tampa Read the full story by Lloyd Sowers for FOX 13 News.
EXHIBIT TYPE: Past

Hillsborough County Women’s Hall of Fame

The Hillsborough County Women’s Hall of Fame exhibit, March 1 to 31 in the Annis Gallery, will feature women from the past 13 years of the Hall of Fame’s honorees 
EXHIBIT TYPE: Past

Cuban Pathways

Taíno Indians, enslaved Africans, Chinese laborers, and pastel-wearing U.S. tourists all traveled to and from Cuba over the last 500 years. Their experiences and labors made the largest island in 

Bring Cuban Pathways to your museum.

The exhibition is now traveling to institutions across the country.

Cuban Chug Vessel

Thousands of Cubans have crossed the Florida straits in chug boats and other vessels like this one. While many survived the crossing, others perished at sea. Those that survived often landed in the Florida Keys, but the Gulf Stream carried some vessels up the Florida coast to Miami and beyond. This chug was recovered from a crossing in 2021 that landed near the Southernmost Point buoy of Key West. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Border Patrol took them into custody. Explore the chug and the small things forgotten and left behind that help to tell the story of the people willing to risk such a crossing to freedom. The chug was displayed as part of Cuban Pathways: The Exhibition at the Tampa Bay History Center.

In partnership with the Tampa Bay History Center, the Digital Heritage and Humanities Collections at the University of South Florida Libraries uses the latest digital and mapping technologies to create a virtual presentation of objects, architecture, and museum exhibitions.

Share your story with #myCubanPathway