El Centro Español of West Tampa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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El Centro Español of West Tampa
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| Location | West Tampa, Tampa, Florida |
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| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | Fred J. James |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival with Moorish details |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000632 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1974 |
The El Centro Español of West Tampa is a special old building in the West Tampa area of Tampa, Florida, United States. You can find it at 2306 North Howard Avenue (Tampa). A famous architect named Fred J. James designed it. On July 30, 1974, this building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
What Was El Centro Español of West Tampa?
The Centro of West Tampa was like a club or community center. It was a branch of a bigger club called El Centro Español de Tampa in Ybor City. Money to build it came from the membership fees of cigar workers in both Ybor City and West Tampa.
What Could Members Do There?
Members of the club could use either the main building or the West Tampa branch. They had access to many cool things, like:
- A gym for exercise
- A game room (called a casino back then, but it was just for games)
- A cafe to eat and relax
- A health clinic for medical care
The Centro Español de West Tampa also had a special place called the Royal Theater. At first, live stage shows were performed there. Later, it became a movie theater where people could watch films.
The Building's Journey Through Time
After many years, the building became empty. People tried to fix it up, but it was very expensive, so their efforts didn't work out.
A Temporary Home for Art
However, the city of Tampa decided to restore the Centro. For a while, it became the temporary home for the Tampa Museum of Art. This happened while a brand new museum building was being built downtown.
A New Purpose for the Historic Building
In January 2010, the El Centro Español of West Tampa got a new purpose. The City of Tampa made a 10-year agreement with the Hillsborough Education Foundation.
The Hillsborough Education Foundation is a group that helps public education. Since 1988, they have been raising money to support schools. In 2007, they started a program called Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools. This program runs a store where teachers from schools that need the most help can get free supplies for their students and classrooms.
Before, this store was in a rented space, but it needed a permanent home. With the agreement to use the Centro building, all of the Foundation's programs and staff are now in this historic place. Renovations are still happening, but the Foundation moved its programs into the building on June 14, 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Centro Español de West Tampa para niños
