Henry Plant Museum

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Henry Plant Museum

Peek behind the scenes at the Henry Plant Museum. Travel back in time via historic trivia & etiquette A visit to the Henry B.
(746)

When you’re building a railroad to nowhere, how do you make the journey worthwhile? …. If you’re railroad magnate Henry Bradley Plant, in the midst of the sand swamps that would be Tampa, you construct the most astonishingly magnificent hotel of its day, then fill it with treasures from around the world. With its splendid Moorish architecture, opulent furnishings, and spectacular tropical gardens,

Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel attracted a host of celebrated guests, from Teddy Roosevelt to Sarah Bernhardt to Babe Ruth. Plant Museum and the authentically restored rooms of the Tampa Bay Hotel will transport you back to a time of indulgent 10-course meals, waltzing on the verandah and alligator hunting by moonlight…The journey is still worthwhile.

07/30/2026

CALLING ALL MOVIE BUFFS! 🍿
Guess the movie from the blurred poster! 👀
NO CHEATING! 🛑

Comment your guess now — answer revealed TOMORROW at 7PM on our next post!

07/27/2026

🎁🎄 You don't have to wait until Christmas to find the perfect gift!🎄 🎁

It's Christmas in July at the Henry B. Plant Museum Store!
July 28 - 31, 2026

Christmas ornaments, holiday gifts, and everyday items for your friends, family, and YOU!

Members and UTampa faculty, staff, and students receive a 20% discount on select
holiday merchandise with a minimum purchase of $30!

For more information https://www.plantmuseum.com

07/24/2026

🎒📚 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE 📚🎒

Help us set students up for success! The Museum is collecting school supplies for the Tampa Bay Community.

All visitors who donate supplies from the list will receive a discounted Museum admission of $3 per person.

✏️ Items Needed:
• Wide Ruled Paper
• Graph paper
• College Ruled paper
• Disinfecting Wipes
• Dry Erase Markers
• Hand Sanitizer
• Glue Sticks
• 3 Ring Binders
• Index Cards
• Band-Aids
• Tissues
• Backpacks

📅 Donations accepted until August 1, 2026
🎁 Distribution Date: August 5, 2026 on Teacher Appreciation Day
📍 Henry B. Plant Museum Lobby

Every single gift, no mater how big or small, gives students the tools to start the new year ready to learn.

For questions, please contact Curator of Education Selena Martinez at:

📞 (813) 258-7304
📧 [email protected]

Please share this post to help us reach more families and supporters throughout the community! ❤️📚🎒

07/21/2026

We invite you to discover the earliest surviving creation by pioneering fashion designer Ann Lowe — a breathtaking 1924 beaded gown. As part of the Museum's collection, we are honored to have this historic dress currently on display in the Gaspar's Gold: Carnival and Community in a New South City exhibit. 👗

Ann Lowe is considered one of America's most significant fashion designers. She not only designed Jackie Kennedy’s wedding gown, but also the Gasparilla court gowns! 🏴‍☠️

This dress was gifted by The Henry B. Plant Museum Society, Inc. ♥️

To plan your visit or learn more about our exhibit: https://www.plantmuseum.com/exhibits/current-exhibits/gasparilla-a-tampa-tradition

Exhibit Generously Underwritten by:
Miles and Jennifer Callahan
Cogent Bank
Raymond James
The Beck Group
Frank E. Duckwall Foundation

07/18/2026

Take a step back in time and enjoy our weekly Upstairs/Downstairs theatrical series, featuring single character performances that bring turn-of-the century Tampa Bay Hotel staff members and guests to life.

Pauline Smith, Telegraph Operator, 1913
Polly hails from Georgia and presents attitudes and aspirations of a new woman- that is, a woman with a career. Polly explains the beginning of the 20th century as a world of rapid technological and social changes. She touches on the dilemmas inherent in the role of the professional woman.

🗓️ Sunday, July 19
⏰ 2:00 - 2:30 PM
📍 Henry B. Plant Museum

For more information https://www.plantmuseum.com/events/programs/upstairs-downstairs-at-the-tampa-bay-hotel

07/16/2026

Did you know that legendary rock musican Steven Tyler of Aerosmoth has deep family ties to the City of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Hotel?

Tyler’s Tampa heritage spans generations, from his grandfather Giovanni Tallarico conducting the Tampa Bay Hotel orchestra and his great-uncle Pasquale performing as a prominent concert pianist, to his father Victor debuting as a seven-year-old piano prodigy at local venues.

For more information on the Tampa Bay Hotel and Tampa's rich history https://www.plantmuseum.com

07/15/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the queens, princesses, and kings of the Latin American Fiesta Association for sharing your Gasparilla stories and traditions with us during the City of Tampa's Archives Awareness Week. It was truly an honor!

This event was held in conjunction with our special exhibit Gaspar's Gold: Carnival and Community in a New South City.

Exhibit Generously Underwritten by:
Miles and Jennifer Callahan
Cogent Bank
Raymond James
The Beck Group
Frank E. Duckwall Foundation

For more information https://www.plantmuseum.com/exhibits/current-exhibits/gasparilla-a-tampa-tradition

07/09/2026

Discover the carnival fashion history of Gasparilla as Museum Director Charles McGraw Groh highlights iconic costumes of celebrated parading societies, including Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, the Krewe of Venus, and the Gaucho Association, who historically escorted the queen and princesses of the Latin American Fiesta Association.

This Sunday, meet members of the Latin American Fiesta Association for opening day of Archives Awareness Week!

🎉 "The 1970 Latin American Fiesta Association Tour" 🎉

Enjoy a screening of a restored news reel followed by a conversation with past Latin American Fiesta Association queens and court members.

🗓️ Sunday, July 12
⏰ 1:00 - 2:00 PM
📍 Plant Hall, Music Room

This event is held in conjunction with our special exhibit Gaspar's Gold: Carnival and Community in a New South City.

Exhibit Generously Underwritten by:
Miles and Jennifer Callahan
Cogent Bank
Raymond James
The Beck Group
Frank E. Duckwall Foundation

Photo courtesy of Tampa Historical Society, City of Tampa Archives and Records Division

For more information https://www.plantmuseum.com

07/08/2026

Join us for opening day!
City of Tampa's Archives Awareness Week!

🎉 "The 1970 Latin American Fiesta Association Tour" 🎉

Enjoy a screening of a restored news reel followed by a conversation with past Latin American Fiesta Association queens and court members.

🗓️ Sunday, July 12
⏰ 1:00 p.m - 2:00 PM
📍 Plant Hall, Music Room

This event is held in conjunction with our special exhibit Gaspar's Gold: Carnival and Community in a New South City.

Exhibit Generously Underwritten by:
Miles and Jennifer Callahan
Cogent Bank
Raymond James
The Beck Group
Frank E. Duckwall Foundation

Photo courtesy of Tampa Historical Society, City of Tampa Archives and Records Division

07/07/2026

Please join us on Friday, July 10, for free admission and specialty tour.

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME: TELLING STORIES WITH HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

From the Gilded Age to the Great Depression, the Tampa Bay Hotel underwent dramatic changes as it evolved from a seasonal luxury resort into a military headquarters and, ultimately, into the center of Tampa’s community life. Rare archival photographs preserve each of these moments in time.

Join Curator of Education Selena Martinez for a special tour that uses photographs to tell stories from the Tampa Bay Hotel. The tour also offers a unique opportunity to learn how curators used photographs to restore the Museum’s historic Writing and Reading Room.

The tour will start promptly at 5:00 PM, limited to 18 spots. Please email [email protected] to register.

🗓️ Friday, July 10
⏰ 4:30 p.m - 7:00 p.m.
📍 Henry B. Plant Museum

For more information visit https://www.plantmuseum.com

Address

401 W Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL
33606

Telephone

+18132541891

Website

http://plantmuseum.com/

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