TAMPA, Fla. — From adventurous pirates to Florida's first people, Tampa Bay History Center (TBHC) offers a look into the Sunshine State's 12,000 year history.
TBHC has three floors of permanent and temporary exhibits to explore.
Level 2 showcases the lives of Florida's first people, as well as an interactive look into Cigar City in the 1800s.
Level 3 highlights modern-day Tampa, from local sports to shipping at Port Tampa Bay to the cattle industry. There is also a War Stories gallery that displays the conflicts this region has faced.
Level 4 features TBHC's newest permanent addition, the Treasure Seekers gallery, which focuses on conquistadors, explores and pirates who traveled around Florida. Also part of this exhibit is a map library that is the only cartographic gallery in the southeastern United States. The library is home to thousands of rare maps, documents and charts of Florida and the Caribbean. You can also get some fresh air at Dave's Crow's Nest, which overlooks downtown Tampa.
The history center also showcases rotating galleries. Currently, guests can learn about Tampa's wrestling roots at the Sunshine State Showdown exhibit, and take a closer look at early maps of Florida at The Shape We're In.
In addition to the exhibits, guests can grab a bite at the Columbia Cafe and take in the sights of the Tampa Riverwalk.
Due to Covid, masks are required and a few of the hands-on interactive portions of the exhibits are temporarily closed. Tickets for the history center should be purchased online, or you can scan a QR code in the lobby to by them when you get to the museum.
To learn more about the Tampa Bay History Center, click here.
