Tampa 138th Birthday this July, and the city is throwing a celebration as colorful and storied as its historic roots, spotlighting its vibrant culture and unwavering community pride. During Archives Awareness Week, residents and visitors alike will step back into time, uncover forgotten voices, and celebrate Tampa’s evolution through a series of immersive events. From guided tours at iconic landmarks to dedications and exhibits steeped in nostalgia, these seven local experiences offer a rare chance to walk hand-in-hand with the city’s past.
1. Relive 1925 at the Henry B. Plant Museum
Sunday, July 13 | 1:00 p.m.
Location: Henry B. Plant Museum – 401 W. Kennedy Blvd
Step through the heavy, velvet-draped doors of the Tampa Bay Hotel, and you might just hear the echo of polished boots on marble floors. In 1925, Tampa pulsed with jazz, ambition, and sunlit promise. The Henry B. Plant Museum invites guests to explore that golden year through original employee records, highlighting those who shaped the hotel’s seasonal allure. After a revealing look at the hotel’s unsung heroes, you’ll be guided through the riveting exhibit Dressed for Success: Fashioning Manhood at the Tampa Bay Hotel. Admission is free, with light refreshments and cool drinks awaiting you in the courtyard, where shadows of the past linger in every breeze.
Official Site: plantmuseum.com
Social Media: @plantmuseum
2. Happy Birthday, Tampa!
Monday, July 14 | 3:00 p.m.
Location: City Council Chambers – 315 E. Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Floor
The heart of Tampa beats loudest when its people gather in gratitude. Inside the hushed chambers of City Hall, a tribute unfolds for Frances Henriquez, Tampa’s first female city clerk, who shattered barriers long before it was fashionable. Historian Fred Hearns paints a vivid portrait of 1925 Tampa—cobblestone roads, cigar smoke curling into the humid air, and a town on the brink of transformation. Guests will leave with a commemorative booklet, a slice of birthday cake, and a deeper reverence for the trailblazers who made Tampa, Tampa.
City Website: tampa.gov
Social Media: @cityoftampa
3. Historic Restoration at the Sanchez y Haya Building
Tuesday, July 15 | 11:00 a.m.
Location: J.C. Newman Cigar Company – 2701 N. 16th Street
In the flicker of a gas lamp, a craftsman rolls the first cigar in the 115-year-old Sanchez y Haya Building—a place where Tampa’s cigar legacy was born. Today, the scent of aged tobacco is replaced by the grit of restoration. Historian Holden Rasmussen and Drew Newman guide guests through the bones of a structure being brought back to life, a love letter to Tampa’s industrial past, and a promise for its future. This isn’t just a tour—it’s a chance to touch time.
Official Site: jcnewman.com
Social Media: @jcnewmancigars
4. Preserving Tampa’s Black History: “Boots on the Ground” Launch
Tuesday, July 15 | 6:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa’s Black History Museum – 1213 N. Central Avenue
Some stories don’t whisper—they roar. The newly announced Tampa’s Black History Museum becomes the epicenter of change as the “Boots on the Ground for Our History” campaign kicks off. Through personal artifacts, oral histories, and community effort, this initiative preserves the heritage of Black Tampa. Hear from curators and archivists about how each item, from heirloom photos to handwritten letters, becomes immortal within city records. Bring your history—and help write tomorrow’s.
Museum Site: tampabayhistorycenter.org
Social Media: @historycenter
5. 100 Years of Booker T. Washington School
Wednesday, July 16 | 5:30 p.m.
Location: Tampa’s Black History Museum – 1213 N. Central Avenue
The chalkboard may be erased, but the legacy remains. A century ago, Booker T. Washington School stood as a beacon of hope and excellence for generations of Black students in Tampa. At this commemorative event, Fred Hearns and Ashley Morrow share heartfelt reflections on the school’s impact. Photos, yearbooks, and firsthand accounts are woven together into a tapestry of perseverance, giving life to the classroom walls that once echoed with dreams.
6. Explore the Archives of America’s Favorite Airport
Thursday, July 17 | 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Location: Tampa International Airport (TPA) – Main Terminal, Level 3
Before it was a hub of modern aviation, Tampa’s skies hosted a world first—the inaugural commercial airline flight in 1914. Step into the terminal’s upper level and prepare to be transported. From vintage photographs to early concept art and forgotten blueprints, this pop-up exhibit lifts the veil on Tampa’s aviation heritage. You’ll learn how a sleepy port town became a pioneer of flight, and why TPA continues to soar in the hearts of travelers.
Official Site: tampaairport.com
Social Media: @flytpa
7. Soulwalk Dedication
Friday, July 18 | 11:00 a.m.
Location: City Center at Hanna Avenue – 2555 E. Hanna Avenue
They were laid to rest, but not forgotten. Join civic leaders and community members at the Soulwalk Dedication—a powerful unveiling of historical markers honoring Marti-Colon Cemetery, St. Joseph Aid/Montana City Cemetery, and Woodlawn Cemetery. These are more than names etched in stone—they are echoes of Tampa’s soul, resurfaced through resilient storytelling and grassroots advocacy. This moment ensures their stories endure in sunlight, not shadows.
What Lies Beyond the Birthday?
These seven events do more than mark a city’s birth—they resurrect voices, confront buried truths, and offer a living tribute to Tampa’s endurance. Whether you’re a born-and-raised local or a curious newcomer, there’s something profoundly moving about walking the historic paths of this city during its 138th year. But here’s the real question: What will you do to shape the next chapter?
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