Tampa Bay History Center, History museum in Tampa, United States
The Tampa Bay History Center is a waterfront museum building that presents the history of Florida's Gulf Coast region across multiple gallery levels. The exhibition spaces feature artifacts, documents, and displays that trace how the area developed from early exploration through modern times.
The institution started in 1989 as the History Museum of Tampa-Hillsborough County before taking its current name in 1993. It relocated to the waterfront in 2009 and has since become a major resource for understanding how the region evolved.
The name reflects the area's blend of Spanish colonial heritage, Cuban immigration, and other communities that shaped this waterfront city. You can observe how these different cultural threads remain visible in the architecture and daily life of the neighborhoods around the museum.
The building sits right on the waterfront with easy access and parking available nearby. Plan to spend a few hours exploring the different floors, especially if you want to browse specific collections or special exhibits.
The museum houses a branch of the Columbia Restaurant where visitors can taste traditional Spanish and Cuban dishes while gazing out at the waterfront. This combination lets you experience the flavors of the region as you learn about its past.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
