There is so much more to Tampa than just our incredible sports teams, amazing weather, and delicious restaurants. If you want to dive deep into Tampa’s roots, look no further than the Tampa Bay History Center located in Downtown Tampa, right off the Tampa Riverwalk. An ideal location to learn more about what made Tampa the great city it is today. Every visit to the Tampa Bay History Center is unique as they have permanent and everchanging exhibits that range from the history to cigar factories in Ybor and the University of Tampa football team. Did you know they had a football team? Well, you can find out that and so much more in the three floors of galleries focusing on 12,000 years of Florida’s history.

Your visit isn’t quite over when you’ve seen each exhibit, you can take the family for a yummy meal at the Columbia Café located right inside the Tampa Bay History Center. I highly recommend their famous Cuban sandwich with the 1905 salad, can’t go wrong with that duo.

Have more time on your parking meter? Go across the street to Sparkman Wharf. There is souch to do and see in Downtown Tampa.

If you want to learn more about the Tampa Bay History Center and check out their upcoming events or even book a walking tour, you can head to their website: www.tampabayhistorycenter.org

Hear all about the Tampa Bay History Center (5:50) on the Experience Tampa Bay in 10 Minutes or Less podcast. You can also hear more about a great place where your kids can learn to dance (3:40) and the upcoming Strawberry Festival concerts (:50).

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Produced & Written by Micaela Figueroa