Area Overview

Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon first arrived in the Tampa Bay area in 1513, but the Spaniards focused their attention on settling eastern Florida and left the western areas alone.  In 1824, only two months after the arrival of the first American settler, four companies of the U.S. Army established Fort Brooke to protect the strategic harbor at Tampa Bay. Tampa owes its commercial success to Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River. When phosphates were discovered nearby in the late 1880s, the resulting mining and shipping industries prompted a boom of growth and wealth that lasted through the 1890s.  Tampa's port is now the seventh largest in the nation; today phosphate shipping is supplemented by trade in shrimp. A pleasure cruise line operates as well. In 1886 Vicente Martinez Ybor established a cigar factory in Tampa. From the steps of Ybor's factory, José Marti, sometimes called the George Washington of Cuba, exhorted the cigar workers to take up arms against Spain in the late 1800's.  Hispanic culture enlivens Ybor City, which covers about 2 square miles between Nebraska Avenue, 22nd Street, Columbus Drive and East Broadway. The military has also had an ongoing role in Tampa's development. The city was the primary outfitting and embarkation port for U.S. troops bound for Cuba during the Spanish-American War.  Today the U.S. Operations Command is headquartered nearby at MacDill Air Force Base. Thus Tampa has evolved into a multi-cultural, diverse business center with sustainable communities for its citizens.  People of all ages arrive here to escape the worries and winters of wherever they came from, and an increasing number of them stay. Ybor City Ybor City is one of only three National Historic Landmark Districts located in the State of Florida.  Cobblestone streets and huge old cigar factory buildings make up this historic and legendary town. The factories were worked by mostly Cuban cigar makers, and to a lesser degree by Italians and Spaniards.  By the early 1950's the cigar factories were gone. Ybor was revitalized in the late 1990's and now attracts large numbers of visitors due to the wide variety of shops, restaurants, clubs,  and galleries. Tampa Theatre Tampa Theatre opened on October 15, 1926 and during its early days presented extravagant vaudeville shows, concerts by the Tampa Theatre Orchestra, and silent films.  By 1973, as operating costs soared, the Theatre was no longer economically viable as a commercial enterprise.  Fortunately, rather than demolish the structure, its owners donated the Tampa Theatre to the City of Tampa.  In 1977, the City of Tampa reopened the Theatre and began a comprehensive restoration program.  Tampa Theatre is now open year-round and features an acclaimed Film Series of cinema from around the world.  The Theatre also hosts live concerts and special events. Busch Gardens / Adventure Island Busch Gardens is a 335 acre African theme, family entertainment park. It offers naturalistic animal habitats, thrill rides, live entertainment, shopping, and dining. Adventure Island (next to Busch Gardens) features 36 acres of 17 water play areas with a beach volleyball complex. Lowry Park Zoo The Lowry Park Zoo is home to more than 350 exotic animal species from around the world.  The zoo contains the Asian Domain, Primate World, Florida Wildlife, Aviary, and a petting zoo area.  Manatee viewing tanks give visitors a close up view of these gentle animals. The Lowry Park Zoo Association was formed in 1982 at the suggestion of the Tampa Parks Department, Mayor Bob Martinez, and a group of private citizens who shared a common vision. It's mission was to raise awareness of the Zoo and to promote a public/private partnership to fund the renaissance of Lowry Park Zoo. Design Consortium, Ltd., zoo architects, were hired in 1984 to develop a 24-acre master plan. The first full time zoo superintendent was also hired in this year. The Tampa Bay History Center The Tampa Bay History Center displays artifacts, memorabilia, maps, military uniforms and photographs depicting life in the Tampa Bay regions from 12,000 years ago to the present.  Changing exhibits also are featured. The Tampa Bay History Center is located at the corner of Franklin and Platt Streets. Performing Arts Center The world-class Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center includes four theatres, a rehearsal hall, a banquet hall and in-house catering. The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is located in downtown Tampa. Tampa Museum of Art Located along the scenic Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa, the Tampa Museum of Art provides a broad range of art-related experiences for visitors of all ages. The Museum collection includes twentieth-century and contemporary art and a renowned collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. A changing special exhibitions program provides a lively mix of classical and contemporary shows. Complementing these exhibitions are a wide range of classes, lectures, seminars, walking tours, and children's activities. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Tampa Museum of Art was established in 1979 and is member supported and funded in part by the City of Tampa, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Arts Council.  The Florida Aquarium The Florida Aquarium is a three-story, glass domed aquarium featuring exhibits related to Florida's ecosystem and aquatic habitats.   Highlights include: the Florida Wetlands Gallery, which displays a cypress swamp, mangrove roots, and a river with otters; the Florida Bays and beaches Gallery, which contains freshwater and saltwater displays; the Coral Reefs Gallery, which showcases many fish and colorful reefs; and plants and animals native to Florida (including alligators).   Sharks, rays, and other sea creatures from the Gulf of Mexico can also be viewed at the aquarium. Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) is a science and technology center containing more than 210,00 square feet of exhibits and hands-on displays.  Features include a hurricane simulator, a planetarium, and an IMAX Dome theater. MOSI is a not-for-profit, community-based institution and educational resource that is dedicated to advancing public interest, knowledge, and understanding of science, industry, and technology. MOSI's core ideology is to make a difference in people's lives by making science real for people of all ages and backgrounds.