About Tampa, Florida

In the early 1500�s Hernando de Soto, Ponce de Leon and Panfilo de Naraez discovered the West Coast. Swamplands, insects, unfriendly natives and unbearable heat were the prizes of the area. The bays, shoals and channels proved disastrous to sailors and a haven for pirates. The talk of the town in pirate legends is the one and only Gaspirilla. You will find his name on streets, hotels, shops and trails as his legend grows.

Tampa was selected as an U.S. Army outpost because of its unique location. Tampa is tucked behind Clearwater and St. Petersburg and is bordered by Tampa Bay.

Early Tampa

Henry Plant planted the seeds of economic boom to the area as it attracted Tampa Seagull

wealthy patrons. In 1884 Henry Plant brought his railroad to Tampa. In 1891 he built the Tampa Bay hotel. The palace lured wealthy vacationers to the tropical locale and in time brought RoughRiders along with Colonel Teddy Roosevelt. Today the hotel is a historical museum.

Ybor was settled by Vicente Martinez-Ybor. It was settled by Italians, Spaniards, Cubans, Germans and Romanian Jews. That is a very important aspect of Ybor's history as it explains why the blended culture that still exists in Ybor City is so unique.

Tampa Today

A menagerie of architecture influenced by Cubans, Germans, Italians and Spanish make the city unusual and unique. The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce is located in Quiet Tampa Beach

a renovated building and they offer city maps and self-guided walking tours. Arts and crafts, shops, antiques and a nostalgia market are at Ybor Square. In the historic factory district restaurants feature authentic Cuban food which claims to be the best in the entire area. Cuban bread is baked the old way and is quite different than a plain sub roll.

Tampa is Wet, Wild, and Wonderful

Tampa is a city with skyscrapers, glass towers, neon lights, wildlife and restored buildings. Renovation continues in the downtown areas while parks preserve the old way of life. Tampa is wild, wet and wonderful.