Tampa: Riverwalk, Museums and History

In Tampa, you can compare different focal points for your city break: the Tampa Riverwalk, the historic district of Ybor City, and museums covering topics from Florida’s past to Etruscan objects. These places also differ in the perspectives on history they offer—from notable Tampa figures to cultural influences and collections organized by period.

The Tampa Riverwalk along the Hillsborough River

The Tampa Riverwalk stretches 2.6 miles along the Hillsborough River through downtown Tampa. It includes a historic monument trail that tells the stories of notable figures from Tampa. The Riverwalk thus combines a clearly defined route along the river with a local perspective on people who have played an important role in the city. If you are interested in local history, the monument trail is the specific historical focus of this section.

Ybor City and its architectural heritage

Northeast of downtown lies the Ybor City Historic District, a National Historic Landmark. The architecture of Seventh Avenue reflects Ybor City’s Spanish, Cuban, and Italian heritage. Here, the focus is not on individual figures but on cultural influences and architecture. Together with the monument trail along the Riverwalk, this lets you distinguish between a historical narrative centered on notable people from the city and a neighborhood’s architectural heritage. Both themes show different facets of Tampa’s history.

Museums: from Florida to antiquity

The museums also cover different timescales. The Tampa Bay History Center features exhibits covering 12,000 years of Florida history. The Tampa Museum of Art’s permanent antiquities collection is more narrowly focused: it comprises around 70 Etruscan objects spanning a period of about 750 years, approximately from the 9th to the 1st century BC. While the History Center covers a long period of Florida’s history, the Museum of Art brings together a specialized collection of ancient objects.

The Tampa Museum of Art also offers the free TMA Digital Companion Guide. It includes audio guides, translations in 52 languages, stories about exhibitions, and visitor information. If you would like to learn about exhibitions in advance, it provides both visitor information and content about the history of the exhibitions.

Winter resort and military history

The Henry B. Plant Museum is located in the former Tampa Bay Hotel, a grand winter resort that operated from 1891 to 1932. Plant Hall is a National Historic Landmark and recalls its military role. The period from 1891 to 1932 refers to the operation of the winter resort; Plant Hall’s military role is another historical aspect associated with the building.

An exhibition for the eyes

At the Glazer Children’s Museum, the “Let’s See!” exhibition features mirrors, changing visual displays, and light-based illusions. Its subject matter thus differs from the historical periods and collections of objects at the other institutions mentioned. If you choose museums by their themes, the exhibition offers a visual contrast to the history-focused attractions.

Getting to the Tampa Museum of Art

The visitor information gives specific directions for getting to the Tampa Museum of Art: from stop number 11 on the TECO Line Street Car at the Ft. Brooke Parking Garage, it is a 15-minute walk to the museum. Since route information can change, check the visitor information before planning this route.

Discover more destinations: Seffner, Odessa, Ruskin, Lutz, Apollo Beach, Temple Terrace, Sun City Center, Brandon

View the main travel overview: Hillsborough.