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Journey to new depths off the coast of La Florida.
A look inside "The Pirate's Fate," an immersive experience you'll find only in the History Center's Treasure Seekers gallery.
Decade of Change: Florida in the 1920s
Women on Miami Beach, 1925. Courtesy of State Archives of Florida.
Sharps & Marks in Paradise: Selling Florida in the 1920s
Scheduled to open its doors on November 4, 2023, Decade of Change offers a fascinating exploration of Florida's first modern decade. From the lively jazz tunes of the Roaring Twenties to the architectural evolution witnessed in the construction of bungalows and Mediterranean Revival-style homes, the exhibition provides a snapshot of the diverse facets that defined Florida in the 1920s.

What’s happening at the museum right now.

A postcard featuring the residence of Cody Fowler at 313 Sleepy Hollow Avenue in Temple Terrace. (Courtesy, Tampa Bay History Center)
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A hidden gem in the Sunshine State

Developed during the 1920s Florida Land Boom, Temple Terrace grew from an orange grove development to a city that included a country club and an 18-hole golf course. Prior to 

History you
can touch.

Illustration of hands holding the globe.

Treasure Seekers

There’s more than meets the aye at this exhibit on conquistadors, pirates and shipwrecks. All aboard -- or walk the plank.
Illustration of a magnifying glass.

A Place of Your Own

Experience Tampa’s port industries from inside an actual cargo container. Test your knowledge of Florida’s natural resources. Play with regional history in a whole new way.
Sextant in Treasure Seekers Gallery at the Tampa Bay History Center
Students explore the galleries of the Tampa Bay History Center

Dig through
our archives.

illustration of a treasure map.

Touchton Map Library

Navigate more than 8,000 maps, charts and logs from the early exploration of Europe and North America.
Illustration of a stack of books.

Witt Research Center

View nearly 10,000 books, manuals, maps, documents, microfilm, and family/subject papers spanning prehistoric to present-day Florida.
Tony Jannus and the Benoist Airboat, Opening St. Petersburg-Tampa AirBoat Line, January 1, 1914
Collections archive storage at the Tampa Bay History Center
Paella “Española”
Cafe

Modern flavor.
Historic taste.

Resting on the Tampa Riverwalk inside the Tampa Bay History Center, this charming cafe captures the flavor of the original Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. We offer a sampling of the Spanish- and Cuban-inspired dishes that made the 118-year-old restaurant famous.