History · Tampa

A history of Tampa,
since 1823

Postcards, papers and photographs of Tampa from public archives, woven together by decade. Neighbors fill in the gaps.

1823established
6old images & papers
79historic places
0recent photos
From Tampa’s archive · credits on each photo

The story

from WikipediaRead it all ↗

The shores of Tampa Bay have been inhabited for thousands of years. A variant of the Weeden Island culture developed in the area by about 2,000 years ago. Archeological evidence suggests that these residents relied on the sea for most of their resources, as a vast majority of inhabited sites have been found on or near the shoreline, with little evidence of farming. At the time of European contact in the early 16th century, several chiefdoms of the Safety Harbor culture dominated the area.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

built from the dates on the items below
1823Established
1837Tampa Bay on the Gulf of MexicoDocument
1880s2 items · Detroit Publishing - Tampa Inn and do…Commons
1890s3 items · Tampa CourthouseCommons
1900–1999Nothing yet. Family albums go here.
Help out

Finish Tampa’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

0 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 🔁Retake an old viewDetroit Publishing - Tampa Inn an…, 1880: stand where they stood+15 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10

Famous people from Tampa

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By decade

Tampa, decade by decade

1900s–
1990s
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
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National Register of Historic Places

79 historic places in Tampa

Tampa has 79 listings on the National Register, and they protect 4,434 historic buildings, because Hyde Park Historic Districts alone counts 1,264. 4 are National Historic Landmarks, the highest tier, which fewer than 3% of listings reach.

#2
Among Florida’s most-listed townsby listings · most towns there have none
79places listed64 buildings · 10 districts · 5 other
4National Historic LandmarksTampa Bay Hotel + 3 more
4,434historic buildings protectedcounting each building in a district
1972first listedCirculo Cubano de Tampa (Additional Documentation) · newest: Federal Office Building, 2022

Where they are

Tap a dot for a photo and link. Districts show at their center.
Tampa Bay HotelEl Centro Espanol of West TampaYbor City Historic DistrictEl Centro Espanol de TampaCirculo Cubano de Tampa (Additional Documentation)El PasajeYbor Factory BuildingUnion Railroad StationFederal Building, U.S. Courthouse, Downtown Postal StationCentro AsturianoJohnson-Wolff HouseStovall HouseLeiman HouseT. C. Taliaferro HouseTampa City HallOld School HouseHutchinson HouseTampa Theater and Office BuildingAnderson-Frank HouseKress, S.H., and Co. BuildingWest Tampa Historic DistrictHyde Park Historic DistrictsTampania HouseMasonic Temple No. 25William E. Curtis HouseLeClaire ApartmentsBay Isle Commercial BuildingHouse at 100 West Davis BoulevardHouse at 116 West Davis BoulevardHouse at 124 Baltic CircleHouse at 125 Baltic CircleHouse at 132 Baltic CircleHouse at 161 Bosporous AvenueHouse at 190 Bosporous AvenueHouse at 200 Corsica AvenueHouse at 202 Blanca AvenueHouse at 220 Blanca AvenueHouse at 301 Caspian StreetHouse at 36 Columbia DriveHouse at 418 Blanca AvenueHouse at 53 Aegean AvenueHouse at 59 Aegean AvenueHouse at 84 Adalia AvenueHouse at 97 Adriatic AvenuePalace of Florence ApartmentsPalmerin HotelSpanish ApartmentsHouse at 36 Aegean AvenueHouse at 131 West Davis BoulevardEpiscopal House of PrayerTampa Free Public Library, OldSeminole Heights Residential DistrictTampa Heights Historic DistrictFloridan HotelHampton Terrace Historic DistrictOld Tampa Children's HomeOld People's HomeUnion Depot Hotel, OldSS AMERICAN VICTORY (Victory ship)North Franklin Street Historic DistrictIsaac Sr. Gardner HouseHorace T. Robles HouseGeorge Guida Sr. HouseRoosevelt Elementary SchoolJackson Rooming HouseHillsborough County High School, OldSt. Andrews Episcopal ChurchUpper North Franklin Street Commercial DistrictCapt. William Parker Jackson HouseFort Homer W. Hesterly National Guard ArmoryMichigan Avenue BridgeOaklawn and St. Louis Cemeteries Historic DistrictLafayette Street BridgeFirst Federal Savings and Loan Association of TampaMeacham Elementary SchoolPalmetto Beach Historic DistrictPerry Harvey Sr. Park Skateboard BowlOriginal Rogers Park Golf Course SiteFederal Office Building
BuildingsDistrictsSitesStructuresBigger dot = landmark

Architectural styles

From each listing’s National Archives record · 64 of 79 name a style
Mediterranean Revival22
Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals8
Colonial Revival7
Bungalow6
Masonry Vernacular5
Classical Revival4

When they were listed

The Register began in 1966. Tampa’s busiest decade was the 1980s.
Tampa Bay Hotel LandmarkListed 1972Tampa Bay HotelMoorishMilitaryLiteratureArchitectureEl Centro Espanol of West Tampa LandmarkListed 1974El Centro Espanol of West TampaBuildingArchitectureSocial historyYbor City Historic District LandmarkListed 1974Ybor City Historic DistrictVictorianIndustryTown planningLandscape designEl Centro Espanol de Tampa LandmarkListed 1988El Centro Espanol de TampaFrench Renaissance RevivalHispanicCirculo Cubano de Tampa (Additional Documentation)Listed 1972Circulo Cubano de Tampa (Additional Documentation)BuildingPoliticsSocial historyArchitectureEl PasajeListed 1972El PasajeRenaissanceArchitectureSocial historyYbor Factory BuildingListed 1972Ybor Factory BuildingBuildingIndustryUnion Railroad StationListed 1974Union Railroad StationItalian Renaissance · Built 1912TransportationArchitectureFederal Building, U.S. Courthouse, Downtown Postal StationListed 1974Federal Building, U.S. Courthouse, Downtown Postal StationRenaissance RevivalPoliticsArchitectureCentro AsturianoListed 1974Centro AsturianoNeoclassical RevivalPoliticsArchitectureSocial historyJohnson-Wolff HouseListed 1974Johnson-Wolff HouseBuildingArchitectureSocial historyStovall HouseListed 1974Stovall HouseNeoclassical RevivalArchitectureLeiman HouseListed 1974Leiman HousePrairie StyleArchitectureT. C. Taliaferro HouseListed 1974T. C. Taliaferro HouseClassical RevivalArchitectureTampa City HallListed 1974Tampa City HallBeaux Arts Style · Built 1915ArchitectureOld School HouseListed 1974Old School HouseBuildingEducationArchitectureHutchinson HouseListed 1977Hutchinson HouseSecond Empire StyleArchitectureTampa Theater and Office BuildingListed 1978Tampa Theater and Office BuildingItalian Renaissance RevivalArchitecturePerforming artsAnderson-Frank HouseListed 1982Anderson-Frank HouseColonial Revival · Built 1901ArchitectureKress, S.H., and Co. BuildingListed 1983Kress, S.H., and Co. BuildingRenaissance RevivalCommerceArchitectureWest Tampa Historic DistrictListed 1983West Tampa Historic DistrictFrame VernacularIndustryCommerceExploration/SettlementHyde Park Historic DistrictsListed 1985Hyde Park Historic DistrictsQueen AnneTown planningExploration/SettlementArchitectureTampania HouseListed 1985Tampania HousePrairie StyleTown planningArchitectureMasonic Temple No. 25Listed 1986Masonic Temple No. 25Mediterranean RevivalArchitectureSocial historyWilliam E. Curtis HouseListed 1987William E. Curtis HouseColonial Revival · Built 1905Town planningArchitectureLeClaire ApartmentsListed 1988LeClaire ApartmentsBungalowArchitectureBay Isle Commercial BuildingListed 1989Bay Isle Commercial BuildingMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 100 West Davis BoulevardListed 1989House at 100 West Davis BoulevardMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 116 West Davis BoulevardListed 1989House at 116 West Davis BoulevardMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 124 Baltic CircleListed 1989House at 124 Baltic CircleMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 125 Baltic CircleListed 1989House at 125 Baltic CircleItalian RenaissanceArchitectureHouse at 132 Baltic CircleListed 1989House at 132 Baltic CircleMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 161 Bosporous AvenueListed 1989House at 161 Bosporous AvenueMission StyleArchitectureHouse at 190 Bosporous AvenueListed 1989House at 190 Bosporous AvenueMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 200 Corsica AvenueListed 1989House at 200 Corsica AvenueSpanish Colonial RevivalArchitectureHouse at 202 Blanca AvenueListed 1989House at 202 Blanca AvenueMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 220 Blanca AvenueListed 1989House at 220 Blanca AvenueMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 301 Caspian StreetListed 1989House at 301 Caspian StreetMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 36 Columbia DriveListed 1989House at 36 Columbia DriveMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 418 Blanca AvenueListed 1989House at 418 Blanca AvenueSpanish Colonial RevivalArchitectureHouse at 53 Aegean AvenueListed 1989House at 53 Aegean AvenueSpanish Colonial RevivalArchitectureHouse at 59 Aegean AvenueListed 1989House at 59 Aegean AvenueMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 84 Adalia AvenueListed 1989House at 84 Adalia AvenueMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 97 Adriatic AvenueListed 1989House at 97 Adriatic AvenueSpanish Colonial RevivalArchitecturePalace of Florence ApartmentsListed 1989Palace of Florence ApartmentsMediterranean RevivalArchitecturePalmerin HotelListed 1989Palmerin HotelMediterranean RevivalArchitectureSpanish ApartmentsListed 1989Spanish ApartmentsMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 36 Aegean AvenueListed 1989House at 36 Aegean AvenueMediterranean RevivalArchitectureHouse at 131 West Davis BoulevardListed 1990House at 131 West Davis BoulevardMediterranean RevivalArchitectureEpiscopal House of PrayerListed 1991Episcopal House of PrayerLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals · Built 1997ArchitectureSocial historyTampa Free Public Library, OldListed 1991Tampa Free Public Library, OldClassical Revival · Built 1915EducationArchitectureSeminole Heights Residential DistrictListed 1993Seminole Heights Residential DistrictBungalowTown planningArchitectureTampa Heights Historic DistrictListed 1995Tampa Heights Historic DistrictWood Frame VernacularTown planningArchitectureFloridan HotelListed 1996Floridan HotelLate 19th and 20th Century RevivalsArchitectureCommerceHampton Terrace Historic DistrictListed 1999Hampton Terrace Historic DistrictWood Frame VernacularTown planningArchitectureOld Tampa Children's HomeListed 1999Old Tampa Children's HomeLate 19th and 20th Century RevivalsSocial historyArchitectureOld People's HomeListed 2000Old People's HomeLate 19th and 20th Century RevivalsSocial historyMedicineArchitectureUnion Depot Hotel, OldListed 2000Union Depot Hotel, OldMasonry Vernacular · Built 1912CommerceTown planningArchitectureSS AMERICAN VICTORY (Victory ship)Listed 2002SS AMERICAN VICTORY (Victory ship)StructureMaritime HistoryMilitaryEngineeringNorth Franklin Street Historic DistrictListed 2002North Franklin Street Historic DistrictMasonry VernacularArchitectureCommerceIsaac Sr. Gardner HouseListed 2003Isaac Sr. Gardner HouseLate 19th and 20th Century RevivalsBlack historyHorace T. Robles HouseListed 2006Horace T. Robles HouseFrame VernacularArchitectureGeorge Guida Sr. HouseListed 2006George Guida Sr. HouseModern MovementArchitectureSocial historyRoosevelt Elementary SchoolListed 2006Roosevelt Elementary SchoolLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals · Built 1925ArchitectureEducationJackson Rooming HouseListed 2007Jackson Rooming HouseWood Frame VernacularBlack historyHillsborough County High School, OldListed 2007Hillsborough County High School, OldLate 19th and 20th Century RevivalsSt. Andrews Episcopal ChurchListed 2009St. Andrews Episcopal ChurchLate 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals · Built 1907ArchitectureUpper North Franklin Street Commercial DistrictListed 2010Upper North Franklin Street Commercial DistrictMasonry VernacularCommerceArchitectureCapt. William Parker Jackson HouseListed 2011Capt. William Parker Jackson HouseFolk VictorianArchitectureFort Homer W. Hesterly National Guard ArmoryListed 2013Fort Homer W. Hesterly National Guard ArmoryBuildingMilitaryArchitectureMichigan Avenue BridgeListed 2017Michigan Avenue BridgeStructureTransportationTown planningArchitectureOaklawn and St. Louis Cemeteries Historic DistrictListed 2017Oaklawn and St. Louis Cemeteries Historic DistrictDistrictExploration/SettlementArchitectureTown planningLafayette Street BridgeListed 2018Lafayette Street BridgeStructureTown planningTransportationFirst Federal Savings and Loan Association of TampaListed 2018First Federal Savings and Loan Association of TampaBuildingArchitectureListed 2005Meacham Elementary SchoolMasonry Vernacular · Built 1926EducationBlack historyListed 2012Palmetto Beach Historic DistrictDistrictTown planningArchitectureListed 2013Perry Harvey Sr. Park Skateboard BowlStructureRecreationArchitectureEngineeringListed 2014Original Rogers Park Golf Course SiteSiteRecreationSocial historyBlack historyListed 2022Federal Office BuildingBuildingArchitecturePolitics
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · styles from the National Archives catalog · photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place

Then & now

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as Detroit Publishing - Tampa Inn and docks, Tampa, Fla (1880) and it appears here side by side.

🔁 Retake this view · +15

From Wikimedia Commons (5) and the Library of Congress (1). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.

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