Tampa history

Timeline

1. 14,500+ years ago — First people. Native American presence around Tampa Bay dates back at least 14,500 years.
2. 1513 — Spanish arrival. Ponce de León first reached the Tampa Bay area; Spain focused on settling eastern Florida.
3. 1824 — Fort Brooke. Four companies of the U.S. Army built Fort Brooke to protect the harbor.
4. 1884 — Plant's railroad. Henry B. Plant's railroad reached the Hillsborough River, and he built grand hotels along the line.
5. 1886 — Ybor City. Vicente Martinez Ybor opened his cigar factory, starting the cigar industry and Ybor City.
6. Late 1880s — Phosphate boom. Phosphate was found nearby, and mining and shipping brought a boom through the 1890s.
7. 1890s — José Martí. From the steps of Ybor's factory, José Martí urged cigar workers to support Cuban independence.
8. 1898 — Spanish-American War. Tampa was the main port for outfitting and shipping U.S. troops to Cuba.
9. 1914 — First airline. The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line began the world's first scheduled commercial airline service.

Sources: City of Tampa — Tampa History · Tampa Bay History Center — Tampa Bay Timeline. Checked Oct 9, 2026.

Museums & historic sites

• Tampa Bay History Center · 801 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602 (on the Riverwalk)

  The region's history museum, including the Tampa Bay Timeline exhibit.

  Hours & admissionDirections
• Henry B. Plant Museum · 401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606 (University of Tampa)

  Inside Plant's 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel.

  Hours & admissionDirections
• Ybor City Museum State Park · 1818 E 9th Ave, Tampa (Ybor City)

  Florida State Park telling the story of Ybor City and the cigar industry.

  Hours & admissionDirections