tampa bay history center

TravelNTed

Lots of space to wander in, with room between exhibits that borders on cavernous. An excellent history of Tampa (just as the name says), but the information is a bit thin (half the space is taken up by Spanish translations). Would i make a special trip? No. If I was nearby would I stop? Probably. Good for teens and adults.

MNAlice

Museum film presentations are outstanding and suitable for both children & adults. I think many people do not get this great an opportunity to see displays & films focusing on Florida! Price was fair & was a nice cafe to rest & have lunch. One of the best days we spent in Tampa!

V7381JJbarbaram

This is an excellent museum with interesting and entertaining exhibits. My friend and I were surprised to learn many new things about the area and its history. We had groupon tickets making it much more reasonably priced and took advantage of the free parking pass by using the blue lot.

HSTT

I am a native Floridian and I thoroughly enjoyed this place. I wish I had more been able to really take my time, but I was personally in a hurry and it was not the museum's fault. Go when you have the time to go through it slow. When you purchase your ticket, be sure and get your $5 parking token so that you do not have to pay for parking. I personally would never attempt to visit this place if there is an event going on at the Ice Palace. The cost for an adult admission was just under $13 and for a Senior It was just under $11. The Columbia Café is in the building and serves authentic Spanish food. It's not exactly like it's sister the Columbia restaurant, but on a small modified scale. There is a walking park outside along the river for kids to play and adults to rest their feet. Even a kids play fountain to get wet in. Overall a very nice attraction when you are looking for something different to do. Especially if you like Tampa and Florida history. If you do...read the book "A Land Remembered" by Patrick Smith. Awesome book!

califken

This is an excellent museum of the history of the Tampa Bay area. The exhibits are very informative and complete. There is a movie about the first Spanish settlers. Other exhibits bring you up to the present day. The Columbia restaurant in the lobby is great. The setting along the river is nice for a walk and enjoying the sun. A very good experience. And they pay for parking if you visit the museum

HalH122

gorgeous modern museum well worth a visit, interactive design and just a spectacular building,, don't miss it

MariyaG

It was nice to visit, but the information is somehow not complete. You only get a slight idea of the history of the area. It us not worth the money.

ohiobedandbreakfast

I really liked the layout of this museum ... how they displayed things and the films. One exhibit felt like I was in a Disney World attraction. The volunteers were extremely friendly and helpful in steering us toward certain things to see. On the 2nd floor I was amazed at a WWII sub and the story behind it. I never realized how close the US soil was to getting attacked by the Germans.It is located right on the river where we enjoyed walking along the harbor after touring the museum. It is very close to other dining and attractions in downtown Tampa. I would highly recommend and would definitely return since 3rd floor exhibits rotate.

KrazyKoko

Very nice museum. This a good way to spend a few hours. We had our admission tickets through Groupon and I'm glad we did, because the admission price is a bit steep for this place. There were a lot of kids here and they were very noisily bored. There is a Columbia Restaurant in the museum, but since we were there on a weekend it was packed. The museum is also right on the water, so it is a nice area to walk around. I recommend this place, but try to get tickets at a discount if you can. The gift shop was a little disappointing.

788maries

There's not much more to write that the previous reviewers haven't written. It's more comprehensive than I expected, given the size. Admission is not too bad and the people who work there are nice. In line with the recent Gasparilla, there is a temporary pirate exhibit. There is a Columbia Cafe there, so you know at the very least you can get a good cup of coffee. :)

CindyMH

This museum gives a very interesting overview of the history of the Tampa Bay area. It's easy to forget how diverse this area is and this venue is a great showcase for the community. The "Cigar City" exhibit, which traces the history and legacy of the Ybor City cigar industry, is a real standout. My only criticism is that on the day I was there, I never saw a single staff member except the man who sold me my ticket. This museum could benefit from some human interaction on the floor. I suspect that, like most museums, they suffer from limited budget for staffing.

laurendoria

My boyfriend and I are big time history buffs, I scored tickets on groupon, but they're actual prices aren't bad. They offer a senior and student discount. I think they offered a military discount but I can't remember. Anyway, the museum took us back all the way to the beginning of the Tampa Bay area's history. From the start of the Seminole Indians, to baseball and military history, through the industrial era, we learned all about "cigar city". It was just very interesting overall. There is a lot of reading required. It is located right on the water (Port of Tampa) with a cafe inside. It is within walking distance to a lot of places in downtown Tampa/Channelside.

952sifats

You learn a lot about Seminole Indians and the history of Tampa. Its near a lot of touristy stuff. Right outside the center is a nice walkway on the river for runners, but there isnt a ton of mass transit in Tampa.

LetsGoPronto

A very thoughtfully curated and interesting venue with terrific permanent exhibits and interesting special exhibits. Worth at least a few visits for a local and one for an out of tower. Tampa's early cigar trade history and memorabilia alone is worth the cost of entry.

cbo1870

Great collection of artifacts and recreations going back a couple thousand years. I learned more about spanish exploration into the new world, that I hasn't heard before . Starts with native anericans and goes through to today . They cover the Cigar business era in the 19th century with a great exhibit.