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America at the Crossroads
See the Guitars
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krewe.
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The Sport of Kings and Queens: Florida’s History of
Horse Racing
New Exhibit
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new horizons.
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What’s happening at the museum
right now.
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May 16
Celebrating Florida Emancipation Day
On May 20, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was announced in Tallahassee, Florida. The Tampa Bay History Center in partnership with Florida...
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FAMU Annual Farm Fest
Special Events
May 21
*Updated book selection*
Mark your calendar for the Tampa Bay History Center’s Book Club on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
This free gathering takes place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the History Center, with...
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Book Club: "The Proving Ground" by Michael Connelly
Online
June 18
Mark your calendar for the Tampa Bay History Center’s Book Club on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
This free gathering takes place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the History Center, with a Zoom option available....
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Book Club: "The Final Episode: A Thriller" by Lori Roy
Online
Blog
History Adventure Camp in Tampa Bay for Ages 7-11
When school is out, the Tampa Bay History Center becomes a place where children spend their days moving through galleries, working with artifacts, and learning alongside the people who preserve
…
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About the
Tampa Bay History Center
Our mission
The Tampa Bay History Center’s mission is to discover, preserve and learn from our region’s past to inform our common future. Located on
Tampa’s Riverwalk,
the museum is nationally accredited by the
American Alliance of Museums
and affiliated with the
Smithsonian Institution.
It also has earned national recognition through
USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards
and
Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice.
Explore the Collection
More than a museum
The History Center is a hub for community life. Visitors can dine at the
Columbia Cafe,
attend talks, special events, book clubs and programs in TECO Hall or
host private events
in one of the museum’s rental spaces. Together, those experiences make the History Center not only a museum, but also a gathering place for conversation, celebration and connection within civic life.
Plan your visit
Dig through
our
archives.
Touchton Map Library
Navigate more than 8,000 maps, charts and logs from the early exploration of Europe and North America.
Chart your course
Witt Research Center
View nearly 10,000 books, manuals, maps, documents, microfilm, and family/subject papers spanning prehistoric to present-day Florida.
About the Collection
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.
Browse the Menu
Built by Big Sea
Tickets
Experience
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Locations
Chinsegut Hill
Columbia Cafe
History Center
Tampa’s Black History Museum
Touchton Map Library
Visit
Dining
Private Events
Group Reservations
FAQs
Events
Event Calendar
Walking Tours
Special Events
Talks
Help the good ol’ days live on.
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Exhibits
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Current Exhibits
America at the Crossroads: The GUITAR and a Changing Nation
The Sport of Kings and Queens
Mapping the American Sea
Upcoming
More to Explore
Gallery Map
Touchton Map Library
Treasure Seekers
Travails & Triumphs
Florida Front and Center
All Past Exhibits
Experience historic Florida.
Buy Tickets
Learning
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Pre-K to 12
“Florida Front and Center” Educator Resources
SHIP-SHAPE
Museum at Home
Field Trips
History-to-Go Kits
Teen Council
Summer Camps
Adult Education
Book Club
OLLI-USF Courses
Outreach Programs
Research
About the Collection
Touchton Map Library
Bring the adventure home.
Museum at Home
Blog
About
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History Center
Our History
Stewardship: Plans, Policies, and Financial Documents
Contact us
People
Staff
Trustees
Foundation
Careers
News
Press Releases
Start a career in history.
Current Job Openings
Support
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Ways to Give
Membership
Exhibit Sponsor
Annual Fund
Memorials & Tributes
Corporate Sponsorship
Annual Gala
Planned Giving
Get Involved
Volunteer
Teen Council
Become a member.
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