It’s August and that means we’re supporting a new charity. This month, we are supporting the preservation of Tampa Bay’s rich cultural heritage by raising funds for the Tampa Bay History Center who tells the stories of the people, places and events that make Tampa Bay such a special place.

Founded in 1989 by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, the History Center opened its new, 60,000 square-foot facility on Tampa’s Riverwalk in 2009. Accredited in 2015 by the American Alliance of Museums and a Smithsonian Affiliate museum since 2012, the History Center includes three floors of permanent and temporary exhibition galleries focusing on 12,000 years of Florida’s history.

The History Center is also home to the Touchton Map Library/Florida Center for Cartographic Education. The only cartographic research center of its kind in the state, the TML/FCCE is houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Florida cartography in the world, with holdings spanning five centuries.

The TML/FCCE features a regular schedule of changing exhibitions, and is open by appointment to researchers and students.
Visitors to the History Center can dine in the Columbia Cafe, a branch of the world-famous Columbia Restaurant, featuring signature Spanish-Cuban cuisine, a staple of Tampa’s iconic immigrant community of Ybor City. The History Center also includes a Museum Store, classrooms, temporary exhibition galleries and event rental spaces.

We support the education programs and exhibitions and donations allows the Tampa Bay History Center to conserve and grow our collection of more than 100,000 artifacts and documents. Purchase the below $5 bracelets sold in the Rock Shop and Hard Rock Cafe store to show your support as 100% of proceeds benefit the charity.