The Wandering Disciple

As Cuban immigrants flocked to Tampa's Ybor City, they brought some of their culture from Cuba with them to the states. Bolita was a popular numbers game played by the Cubans throughout the region.  Bolita is a lottery style game in which the players bet on a number in hopes of cashing in when it's drawn. The game was illegal in Florida, however thanks to bribes from Ybor's organized crime lords the game continued out in the open of the saloons of Ybor City.  Taken: May 9, 2010 at Tampa Bay History Center (Tampa, FL)

In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, today's photo of the day comes from the newest exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center.  Opened in 2018, Treasure Seekers is a gallery dedicated to Conquistadors, Pirates and Shipwrecks.  The interactive exhibit tells the story of the seas and also lets you board the Pirate Ship No Surrender on a fated journey to seek riches.  Will you make it to port with your treasures or sink to the bottom of Davy Jones Locker, hope aboard and find out.  The exhibit is one of the permanent exhibits at the Tamp Bay History Center, a three story museum dedicated to telling the story of Tampa Bay.  (Photo: August 30, 2021)

Football is a big thing in the Tampa Bay region. There are good games to watch all weekend long from high school games on Friday night, the USF Bulls on Saturday's and the Tampa Bay Bucs on Sunday. The region has even hosted the Super Bowl five occasions including 2021 when the home team Bucs defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to become the only team to win a Super Bowl in their own city. An exhibit highlighting all of the Tampa Bay area's sporting history can be seen as part of the history exhibits at the Tampa Bay History Center in Tampa's Channelside district. (Photo: August 30, 2021)

The USF Bulls sprung into the Tampa scene in 1997 when the University of South Florida launched a college football program.  Since the inception of the program, the Bulls have put together a franchise record of 153-111.  They history of the program is on display at the Tampa Bay History Center in the Year Round Play exhibit, a look at the sports teams that call the Tampa Bay home.  (Photo: May 9, 2010)

The Cigar City exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center is a trip back in time to when the Cuban cigar industry dominated the Tampa economy.  Started by cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez-Ybor, Ybor City became the center of cigar production in region. Today, remnants of the industry as well as the cultural influences can be seen throughout the city and showcased at the Tampa Bay History Center.  (Photo: May 9, 2010)

The sporting history of Tampa is on display in the Year Round Play exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center. Tampa Bay is home to three professional sports teams and the year round warm weather attracts amateur and semi-pro sports from around the country. (Photo: May 9, 2010)

The Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center is a glimpse into the rich history of Cuban cuisine in Tampa Bay. The original Columbia Restrarunt was founded in nearby Y’bor City in 1905 by a Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez Sr. The menu features many favorites like the 1905 Salad, Cuban Sandwich, Chicken and Yellow Rice and many more specialties. It has expanded to six locations including this one in the History Center. (Photo: May 9, 2010)

Located adjacent to Channelside in downtown Tampa, the Tampa Bay History Center gives a look into Tampa’s past. From early days in agriculture and cigars to modern day sports, it can all be seen in the exhibits of one of the regions newest museums. (Photo: May 9, 2010)

Tampa’s colorful cigar history comes alive at the Tampa Bay History Center. The great cigar industry helped put Tampa on the map and you can learn about it and so much more at the museum. (Photo: May 9, 2009)

Tampa, Florida: On the edge of Channelside in downtown Tampa lies the 60,000 square foot Tampa Bay History Center. The three story museum in the heart of downtown takes its visitors on a journey through the history of the Tampa Bay region from the early native Americans through the culture of today’s society with stops at every era in between. The dream of the history center began with the Historical Museum Task Force enacted by the Hillsborough County Commission in 1986. The task force indicated the need for a museum and the planning to make it happen was underway. In 1998, the commission granted the use of the Community Investment Tax to help fund the building of the new museum building in downtown. Together with donations and partnerships from the public and private organizations, the construction began on the new facility. The new museum was the county’s first green government building. The building featured recycles materials, natural lighting and energy efficient fixtures....