Photo of the Day: Plant's Legacy

Once the crown jewel of Henry Plant's rail empire, the moorish revival style Tampa Bay Hotel was the premier travel destination on the west coast of Florida. In a day when the rail was king, both rail magnates Plant and Henry Flagler wanted to build luxury hotels along their rail lines in Florida. The Tampa Bay Hotel featured the first elevator in Florida and its 511 guest rooms were some of the first to have electric and phone lines. The hotel remained in operation from 1891-1930. Today it serves as the administration building for the University of Tampa as well as home to the Henry Plant Museum. (Photo: July 27, 2013)

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