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Tampa's Black History Museum
Welcome

Welcome to Tampa's Black History Museum

The museum is open for select public programs listed below. Weekday tours are available by appointment from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule a tour, call Janine Quarles Adkins at 813-945-2077. The permanent exhibition gallery is scheduled to be installed in time for June 2027.

Upcoming events Video gallery

Upcoming Events

Events

Today

Video gallery

Black Roots: From Dobyville to College Hill

This program featured a discussion with friends and neighbors who lived in 1960s Tampa during segregation. It explored the growth of Black communities across the Tampa Bay area, including the Scrub, Dobyville, Spring Hill, Bealsville, West Tampa and College Hill.

Twistin’ Down Central: A Tribute to Tampa’s Black Music Legends

This program explored Central Avenue’s cultural legacy through the work of Black musicians who performed in Tampa, including Tampa Red, Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb and Ray Charles. It highlighted the music that shaped one of the city’s most important entertainment districts.

Near the Cross: Tampa’s First Black Churches

This program examined the history of Tampa’s first Black churches, beginning with Mt. Sinai African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, founded in the Scrub in 1863. It traced the growth of Black congregations across Central Avenue, Tampa Heights and Bealsville.

An Evening with Bernard LaFayette Jr.

This program featured a conversation with the Rev. Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. about his role in the Civil Rights Movement, from the 1960 Nashville sit-ins to his work with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Promotional graphic for Tampa’s Black History Museum. A black-and-white archival photograph of The Scrub in Tampa, Florida, in 1933 fills the background, showing a church and neighborhood buildings. The museum’s logo appears centered on top, with large “TBHM” letters, a four-color horizontal bar, and the words “Tampa’s Black History Museum.”
Volunteer

Join today as a TBHM Ambassador

Volunteer Ambassador sign-ups are now open. Ambassadors support public programs and help share the history and culture of Black Americans in Tampa. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while connecting visitors.

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Unlock your summer staycation

A Tampa Bay History Center membership helps your family make the most of summer close to home. Enjoy year-round admission, local reciprocal benefits, discounts at Columbia Cafe and the Museum Store, and more ways to explore the Tampa Bay area. Join today and save 15% while supporting the History Center’s mission to preserve Florida’s stories.

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