The History Center’s collections date from prehistoric Gulf Coast Florida to the present. The collection covers all spheres of life, public and domestic, in a fairly complete manner. The research library contains nearly 10,000 books, manuals, maps, documents, microfilm and family/subject papers all Florida history based. Our collection includes artifacts, paintings, textiles, utilitarian ceramics, postcards, documents, ephemera and furniture with a relevance to Florida and specifically to our regional area.

Tampa Bay History Center has an exceptional collection of more than 1,000 Tampa cigar industry related items, as well as a vast display Florida Seminole objects and materials from the Charles L. Knight Family. The collections are assembled to complement and strengthen the interpretation of the history of our area and state. Large galleries, in the new facility, showcase maritime heritage, historic Cigar City, cattle-ranching industry, Seminole materials and our changing environment.

The education collection contains unaccessioned, duplicate, replications and expendable items and consists of some 125 objects directly related to life in historic Hillsborough County and Florida. These items are used in gallery Discovery Boxes, History-to-Go Kits, hands-on tours, teacher workshops and other programs.

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