Tampa Bay History Center facts for kids
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| Established | 2009 |
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| Location | Tampa, Florida, United States |
The Tampa Bay History Center is a history museum in Tampa, Florida. It's a special partner of the famous Smithsonian museums, which means it meets very high standards.
Inside, you can travel back in time! The exhibits tell the story of the Tampa Bay area, from its first native people thousands of years ago to the Spanish conquistadors who arrived later. You can also learn about the important people who helped build the city and even see a re-creation of a 1920s cigar store.
The museum opened on January 17, 2009, and is located right on the water in Tampa's Channelside District. It has three floors of exhibits that cover 12,000 years of Florida's past, especially the history of Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast. Besides the cool exhibits, there's also a museum store, a research center, a map gallery, and a café.
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The Museum's Story
The idea for a history museum in Tampa is over 100 years old! Back in the 1880s, people were worried that the area's history would be forgotten. But it wasn't until about 100 years later that the plan really started to take shape.
Here are some of the most important steps in creating the museum:
- 1986: Leaders in Hillsborough County created a team to see if building a history museum was possible.
- 1989: A group of citizens, led by a businessman named J. Thomas Touchton, formed a non-profit organization to create the museum.
- 1996: The museum opened in a smaller space and began showing exhibits and teaching people about local history.
- 1998: The county promised $17 million to help build a brand-new, permanent building for the museum.
- 2007: Construction on the new 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2) building finally began.
- 2009: The beautiful new Tampa Bay History Center officially opened to the public!
- 2012: The museum became an official partner of the Smithsonian.
- 2015: It earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, a top honor for museums.
- 2018: A new exhibit called Treasure Seekers opened, all about pirates and shipwrecks.
What You Can See Inside
The museum's galleries are filled with amazing artifacts and stories that cover 500 years of recorded history and 12,000 years of human life in the Tampa Bay area.
Touchton Map Library
Love maps? The Touchton Map Library is the only map center of its kind in the Southeast United States. It holds thousands of maps and charts, some of which are over 500 years old! The library works with the University of South Florida to give the public access to even more maps. Many of these old maps are being scanned so you can see them online.
Treasure Seekers
This exciting exhibit is all about adventure on the high seas. You can learn about pirates, Spanish conquistadors, and the history of ships and sailing. There are fun, hands-on activities where you can try using tools like an astrolabe, which sailors used to find their way by looking at the stars. You can even experience a pirate's journey in "The Pirate's Fate Theater."
Cuban Pathways
This special exhibit, which ran until early 2023, explored the deep connection between Cuba and Florida. It told the stories of Cuban people who moved to Florida and shared how their culture has become a big part of life in the state. The exhibit covered everything from Cuban history to the delicious food and music that have shaped Florida.
Chinsegut Hill Historic Site
The museum also helps manage a historic site in Brooksville called Chinsegut Hill. It is a former plantation house where enslaved people once lived and worked. The house was first built in the 1840s. Later owners renamed it Chinsegut Hill, an Inuit word meaning "the spirit of things lost." The museum's tours of the site focus on the stories of all the different families who lived there over the years.
Fun Programs and Activities
The Tampa Bay History Center offers many ways for people of all ages to get involved with history.
Tours and Talks
You can take a 90-minute walking tour to explore historic places like Ybor City and Central Avenue East. The museum also hosts a free monthly lecture series where experts share their research on Florida's fascinating history.
Get Involved as a Teen
The museum has great opportunities for young people. During the summer, teens can volunteer as counselors for the History Adventure Camps for younger kids. You can also join the Teen Council to help plan events and programs. The museum even hosts special trivia nights to help high school students study for their Advanced Placement (AP) history classes.
Field Trips
The museum is a popular spot for school field trips. Teachers can choose from different options, including virtual field trips where museum staff talk to your class live from the exhibits. There are also guided tours at the museum, a Black History walking tour, and trips to the Chinsegut Hill Historic Site.
