Old Union Depot Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Old Union Depot Hotel
|
|
Old Union Depot Hotel, two weeks prior to its demolition
|
|
 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 858 East Zack Street Tampa Hillsborough County Florida  United States |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architectural style | Masonry Vernacular |
| Demolished | May 23, 2010 |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001228 |
| Added to NRHP | December 11, 2000 |
The Old Union Depot Hotel was a historic building in Tampa, Florida. It was also known as the Union Hotel and Cafe. Built in 1912, it stood at 858 East Zack Street, right across from Tampa Union Station. This hotel was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 2000. Sadly, the building was torn down on May 23, 2010.
Contents
A Unique Building's Story
The Old Union Depot Hotel was built in 1912. It was one of twelve brick buildings that lined the streets around Nebraska Avenue and East Zack Street in downtown Tampa. What made this hotel special was its unusual six-sided shape. This design was needed because the land it was built on wasn't a regular square or rectangle.
Serving Train Travelers
The hotel and its nearby shops mostly served people arriving by train at Tampa Union Station. Like the hotel, the train station also opened in 1912. Over time, the Union Hotel and Cafe closed its doors. It sat empty for many years and no one moved in. Of the original twelve buildings, the Old Union Depot Hotel was the last one still standing.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
On December 11, 2000, the Old Union Depot Hotel was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This is a list of important historic places in the United States. People hoped that this special status would help save the building. They thought it might encourage someone to fix it up and keep it.
Why the Hotel Was Demolished
Unfortunately, the historic status did not save the hotel. After being empty for a long time, and almost ten years after it became a historic landmark, the roof of the building collapsed. The city of Tampa decided the building was unsafe. They ordered it to be torn down. This happened on May 23, 2010.
A Glimpse into the Past
When the Union Hotel and Cafe first opened, it operated during a time in U.S. history when places were often separated by race. This was known as racial segregation. The Union Hotel and Cafe was for "whites only."
The Jackson House
Train passengers and other travelers who were black were directed about one block west from the hotel. They would go along Zack Street to the Jackson House. This rooming house was one of the few places in the city where black travelers could stay. Interestingly, the Jackson Rooming House was built around the same time as the Union Depot Hotel. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
