Jackson Rooming House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jackson Rooming House
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The Jackson House viewed from Zack Street
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 851 Zack Street Tampa Hillsborough County Florida USA |
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| Built | 1901 - original structure (additional rooms, 2nd floor, added later) |
| Architectural style | Frame Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000112 |
| Added to NRHP | March 7, 2007 |
The Jackson Rooming House, also called the Jackson House, is a special old building in Tampa, Florida. It was built in 1901 as a boarding house, which is like a hotel where people can rent rooms.
This house was very important during a time when Black people and other travelers of African descent faced racial segregation. This meant they were not allowed to stay in many hotels. The Jackson House offered a safe and welcoming place for them.
It is located at 851 Zack Street in downtown Tampa. On March 7, 2007, the Jackson Rooming House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a very important historic site.
A Home for Travelers
The Jackson Rooming House was one of the only places in Tampa where Black travelers could find a place to stay. During the time of segregation, many regular hotels would not let them in.
The house started as a small six-room cottage in 1901. It was built by Moses and Sarah Jackson. Soon after, they added more bedrooms and a second floor. This allowed them to open and run the rooming house.
The Jackson Rooming House stayed open for a long time, until 1989. The children of Moses and Sarah Jackson inherited the business. Today, the house is still owned by one of their grandchildren.
Famous Guests and History
Many famous entertainers stayed at the Jackson House. These included music legends like Count Basie, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles.
These artists would come to Tampa to perform in the city's Black business district. This area was full of lively nightclubs and thrived until the 1960s. The Jackson House was a key part of this vibrant community.
In the 1970s, many buildings around the house were torn down. This was part of a city plan called urban renewal. By 2007, when the house became a historic place, it was thought to be the last old home still standing in downtown Tampa.
Efforts to Save the House
By 2013, the Jackson House was in bad shape. It was thought to be too damaged to fix and might have to be torn down. People started working hard to save this historic building from being demolished by the City of Tampa.
In early 2014, a person named Todd Alan Clem, also known as Bubba the Love Sponge, planned to buy the property. He wanted to start fixing up the house. However, he later changed his mind. He said it was because of the mayor, Bob Buckhorn, and other city officials.
The Jackson House Foundation is a group working to save the house. They believe it will cost about one million dollars to fully restore the building.
