Schmap Tampa Historical Background

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Tampa - Historical Background
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In 1527, Spanish explorer Panfilo de Narvaez set off with a fleet of four galleons in search of that coveted New World treasure—gold. His plans failed. A hurricane blew his ships off course to a landing on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

In the village, so the story goes, de Narvaez spotted a glittering gold ornament and thought he had found every early explorer's dream. But, that treasure turned out to be Spain's very own doubloons, salvaged by native tribes who had plucked them from shipwrecks!

More explorers came seeking treasure. The pirates Black Caesar, José Gaspar and Jean Lafitte left a legacy, literally and figuratively. They are remembered fondly—even honored—today at the region's annual Gasparilla Festival, a party that features a pirate invasion in full costume.

Fishy Business

When fishing fleets arrived to take advantage of the fish-rich waters of Tampa Bay, another industry developed. Fish remains a mainstay of the region's economy and the backbone of the area's restaurants.

As commerce grew, the addition of miles-long causeways and bridges connected the string of islands with the mainland. The Skyway Bridge, a series of connectors that stretches 14 miles across glittering Tampa Bay, is now a tourist attraction in its own right.

Beginning of the Tourism Industry

Eventually, contemporary buccaneers began promoting the Tampa region as prime real estate. During the 1920s boom years, promoters followed in the tracks of entrepreneur and railroad magnate Henry Plant. Plant brought a railroad line from cold northern climes to the sunny South and engendered a legendary rivalry with his entrepreneurial counterpart, Henry Flagler, who also built a railroad on the Florida peninsula's Atlantic coastline.

Plunking down what was then the staggering sum of $3 million dollars, Plant opened the massive Tampa Bay Hotel in 1891 at the water's edge, topping it with glittering silver minarets and trimming its verandas with Moorish woodwork. Visible for miles around, the beloved Tampa Bay Hotel remains the city's landmark. A magnificent structure, it once boasted corridors so wide the hotel's indolent wealthy could hire a rickshaw to trot them off to their rooms. To get upstairs, they rode a hand-carved, wood elevator powered by hydraulic force, the only one of its kind in the world. Here, the famous and the infamous strode the wide verandas—Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, Clara Barton, William Jennings Bryan.

Plant went on to build another hotel, the imposing Belleview Biltmore, which is still operating today. Soon these two hostelries were joined by the bubble-gum pink Don Cesar Hotel, flagship of the coastal island hotels and possessor of a notable guest list that includes F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda.

As time passed, Scots settlers moved into nearby Dunedin, which, nearly 150 years later, still toasts its Gaelic connections with an annual highland games festival that features such entertaining competitions as the log throw and a performance of the military Tattoo and Retreat ceremony.

Scots were not the only foreigners to find their way to Florida's tranquil Tampa Bay coastline. Generations ago, Greek sponge fishermen settled into Tarpon Springs; you can still buy a straight-from-the-sea sponge here, and chat with folks whose heritage has long been tied to the glittering waters of Tampa Bay. None of that heritage has been forgotten, either. Bouzoukis still strum at tavernas in Tarpon Springs, and it is said that many a platter is smashed at local pubs when the dancing goes derverish in the wee hours. At Easter, the community celebrates the Ephiphany by tossing a cross into the sea—divers plunge in after it, and the winner is guaranteed a year of good fortune.

St. Petersburg

Meanwhile, serene St. Petersburg was taking its own tack. Here, history was made in the halcyon days at the turn of the century before Prohibition and the bust in the boom. In 1885, an American Medical Association report dubbed the city a healthy place to live; dozens of green benches were scattered about town to provide respite to sun-seeking, elderly tourists. The city's newspaper, the Evening Sun, was once distributed free on any day that the sun did not shine. In 76 years, readers got their paper free just 295 times, or an average of four times a year! The city also made the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest consecutive run of sunny days—768—stretching from the February, 1967 to March, 1969.

In 1889, the Orange Belt Railway built the St. Petersburg Municipal Pier and added an ornate bathing pavilion and a toboggan slide into the sea. A horse-drawn flatcar carried passengers from the docks two miles away, and a jitney service shuttled them down the mile-long strip of concrete. Smack dab in the middle of town, that slab of concrete is today called simply The Pier, and it is no less unusual than it was in those early days—in the middle of it all is an upside-down pyramid!

Paradise for the Elderly

In ensuing years, the city has tried hard to dispel its retirement community image—St. Petersburg Beach boasts discos that rock until dawn. The city still remains popular with an older crowd; there is a softball team open only to players age 70 and up, as well as the largest shuffleboard club in the world. So beloved is shuffleboard here that the city is home to the National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame!

Today's St. Petersburg remains a lovely place, filled with serenely beautiful old homes, manicured lawns, two miles of shoreline, 2,000 acres of recreation area, and a plethora of parks so pretty you'll wonder if city gardeners measure the grass blades. The flagship of the city's hotels is the postcard-perfect Renaissance Vinoy Hotel, restored to its flapper-era splendor and, after some dark days, once again one of the most spectacular antique hotels in Florida.

Still Growing

With a regional population now topping 2.5 million, Tampa Bay opened the sleek waterfront Tampa Convention Center in 1990, the Florida Aquarium in 1995, and a 20,000-seat Ice Palace Arena a year later. Soon, a downtown development will connect Downtown Tampa to Ybor City with the 230,000-square-foot Channelside at Garrison Seaport Center, an entertainment complex of theaters, restaurants and retail shops. Meanwhile, Holland America Lines and Carnival Cruises dock and depart regularly from the nation's 11th largest docking area.

Tampa Bay has long been a welcome sight for explorers, promoters and sun-seekers, a water-locked land blessed in abundance with sunlight and sand.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa

Premier Beach Resort

3400 Gulf Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33706
United States
+1 727 360 1881 / Toll free: +1 800 282 1116
http://www.doncesar.com/

Built in 1928 by a land-boom millionaire, this resort and spa is the epitome of casual Florida comfort teamed with elegant surroundings. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Located directly on the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico and known for its famous pink paint job, dubbed Don CeSar Rouge, this beautiful hotel is awash in crystal chandeliers, Spanish furnishings and antique light fixtures from Mexico. No two rooms are alike in size or decor. Relax by one of two heated pools or on the beach.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa photo by John Myers

Photo: John Myers

Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa photo by Deval Joshi

Photo: Deval Joshi

Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa photo by Kevin Borland

Photo: Kevin Borland

Downtown Tampa

Tampa
United States
Tampa's Hillsborough River winds its way through the Busch Gardens/University of South Florida section of the city and through downtown Tampa, bisecting the city as it makes its way to the sea. On the east side of the river, you will find a number of attractive Hôtels in the city's downtown core. Points of interest in this part of town include the Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Performing Arts Center and the main office of the Tampa Hillsborough Visitor Information Center, as well as stores, banks and government offices.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Florida Aquarium

Down Under 701 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
United States
+1 813 273 4000
http://www.flaquarium.net/ The Florida Aquarium gives visitors an all-access pass to the mysteries of the deep. Observe seahorses, lobsters, colorful fish, moray eels, gators, river otters, Australian sea dragons and many more. If you're feeling truly adventurous, take advantage of the "Swim with the Fishes" or "Dive with the Sharks" programs (advance reservations required). Kids will love the wide range of colorful and fun-filled interactive displays. The aquarium also sponsors ecotours aboard a 64-foot catamaran, affording patrons an opportunity to get even more up-close-and-personal with the sea. Admission prices are USD17.95 for adults; USD14.95 for seniors; USD12.95 for children 3-11; children 2 and younger are free. See website for complete list of attractions, calendar of events and more.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Gasparilla Pirate Festival & Parade

Pirates, parades, floats & fun Bayshore Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33618
United States
+1 813 251 4500
http://www.gasparillapiratefes... Since 1904, Gasparilla has been the event of the year in Tampa, a festival of parades, floats, art shows and concerts. The festival, named for pirate José Gaspar, begins when a mock pirate ship sails into Tampa Bay. Pirates-for-a-day leap off the ship and take over the city for a weekend of festivities that includes a Gasparilla Day Parade. Later in the month, events include the Festival of Lights, Gasparilla Run and Gasparilla Art Show. Admission to all events, except to participants in the Art Show and marathon, is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Henry B. Plant Museum

Place of the Past 401 West Kennedy Blvd
Tampa Bay Hotel
Tampa, FL 33606
United States
+1 813 254 1891
http://www.plantmuseum.com/ Walk the corridors of the Tampa Bay Hotel, now a museum and a National Historic Landmark, and experience a stroll through time when exquisite art, elegant furnishings and opulent grandeur conveyed the image of the Gilded Age. Built in 1891, the hotel, with its Moorish architecture and spiraling minarets, was created as a resort for the rich and affluent. Reservations needed for groups of 10 or more. Admission is $5 adults; $2 children under 12. Parking is free in front of the building and in a nearby parking garage.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Pier

Museums, aquariums, dining and much more 800 Second Avenue Northeast
St. Petersburg
Tampa, FL 33701
United States
+1 727 821 6443
http://www.stpete-pier.com Extending a mile out into the silvery waters of Tampa Bay, this five-story upside-down pyramid at the end of the city's famed Pier shimmers in the sun. Here, you will find a variety of stores, restaurants, evening entertainment spots and the city's aquarium plus a hands-on museum. You can sail off on a sightseeing cruise or a pirate adventure. On the ground floor is a replica of the HMS Bounty with galleries and boutiques. Top floors have an aquarium, Hands-On exhibits from the Great Explorations Children's Museum, and an observation area.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Stephen Sizemore

St. Petersburg Beach

Tampa
United States
St. Petersburg Beach is the official beach for the St. Petersburg region. Packed with restaurants, motels, Hôtels, shops and souvenir sellers, the beach is always busy. The Don Cesar Hôtel has been luring guests for generations-F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda stayed here, among many other notables.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Tampa Convention Center

Tampa's major meeting hall 333 South Franklin St
Tampa, FL 33602
United States
+1 813 274 8511
http://www.tampagov.net/dept%5... Many major functions, from business meetings to musical events, take place in Tampa's big convention center. This center offers 600,000 square feet of meeting space. Located in the city's harbor section, the facility is an open and airy place with 2,000 feet of waterfront view, a 250-seat lounge, a 120-seat cafe and a 12,500-square-foot kitchen. A 72,000-square-foot pre-function space is joined by 63,000 square feet of meeting level space, a 36,000-square-foot ballroom and an exhibit hall. An information booth stocks everything from aspirin to paper and pens for weary conventioneers.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Ybor City

Tampa
United States
On the southern edge of downtown Tampa lies tiny Ybor City, the center of the cigar industry; cigarmakers moved here after a fire destroyed the industry in Key West. Only 10 streets across in either direction, the area carries a wealth of history. Solid brick warehouses that once served as cigar factories-some still do-now house offices and shops. Thanks to a strong restoration effort, Ybor City is the liveliest spot in town on weekends. Bistros, dance clubs, cigar stores and specialty shops line Ybor City's narrow streets; exhibits in the Ybor City Museum chronicle the city's colorful history.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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