Why Do They Call It That? Frostproof & Rattlesnake Florida

Tampa Bay History Center Digs into Native Plants

Florida’s First people lived on the shores of Tampa Bay more that 12,000 years ago. To survive, they crafted tools, pottery, weapons and clothing from objects they found in nature. A shell became a hammer, shark’s teeth became drills, palm fibers became fishing nets.

You can learn about Florida's native plants and the people who used them this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. when the Tampa Bay History Center hosts Dr. Robin C. Brown, author of Florida's First People and The Crafts of Florida's First People. Brown’s lecture, “Florida's Native Plants” will detail how Florida’s early flora and fauna and how native peoples used them.

Dr. Brown’s lecture is part of Obscured by Time: The Magic of Florida, featuring the art of Hermann Trappman, currently on exhibit at the History Center through September 26th. Obscured by Time details the natural history of Florida through Trappman’s compelling paintings, artifact replicas, fossils, and examples of the resources utilized by ancient Native Americans.

Dr. Brown’s lecture is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Tampa Bay History Center at (813) 228-0097 or visit our website.

Tampa Sports History, 7/25/80

On July 25, 1980, the Nottingham Forest Reds, a club whose origins date back to 1865, came to Tampa for an exhibition against the Rowdies as part of a three-game North American tour. The Reds had just come off back-to-back European Cup championships and were considered one of the finest teams in the world. Would the Rowdies be up for the challenge?

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the July 23 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.

Why Do They Call It That? North Tampa, Lake Placid

Tampa Bay History Center Launches Facebook Site for Living Historians

The History Center is reaching out to Tampa Bay’s living history community. If you’re a living historian or, if you enjoy attending and participating in historical re-enactments, Tampa Bay History Center Living History Programs page on Facebook is designed just for you.
This new page is a quick and easy way to find out about upcoming programs and opportunities for re-enactors at the History Center.
Several events are already on the horizon, including a memorial service for the 175th anniversary of the Second Seminole War scheduled for December and multiple programs in conjunction with the upcoming exhibit on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, opening in January.

Whether you’re a re-enactor or have an interest in living history, you are invited to join the discussion. If you have any questions or comments regarding the Facebook page or living history programs, please contact Ross Lamoreaux.

Tampa Sports History, Interview with Tom Foley

Tom Foley, the third base coach for the Tampa Bay Rays since 2002, is one of the longest-tenured members of the organization. He came aboard in 1996 and served as a field coordinator for the first mini-camp in team history. His roots in Tampa go even deeper, however, having spent a season as a member of the Class-A Tampa Tarpons in 1979. A shortstop by trade, though adept throughout the infield, Foley played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, and Pittsburgh Pirates during a 13-year career. Foley recently took some time to talk about his playing career and years spent as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.   

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the July 16 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.

Why Do They Call It That? George Steinbrenner Field

Tampa Sports History, Interview with Perry Van Der Beck: Part 2

Perry Van Der Beck made history with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1978 as the first high school soccer player ever drafted by a North American Soccer League team. The talented midfielder stood out as an amateur by winning two high school state championships and representing the United States in international competition at every level, including the Olympic team. Van Der Beck enjoyed a 19-year playing career, nine of which came as a member of the Rowdies. Today, Van Der Beck serves as the Technical Directory and Director of Player Development for the Rowdies in the USSF Division 2 soccer league. Van Der Beck recently took time out to chat about everything and anything related to his life’s passion: soccer. The following is the conclusion of a two-part interview with Van Der Beck.

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the July 9 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.

Obscured by Time: The Magic of Florida, Featuring the Art of Hermann Trappman

At an early age, Hermann Trappman became fascinated with the origins of Florida and its early inhabitants. Eventually, he turned to art to express his findings about the distant past. As he acquired more scientific information, his illustrations became increasingly accurate. Suddenly, his sketches of the Florida he once knew exploded into shifting plates, becoming part of a dynamically changing Earth. Entire environments developed then disappeared. Humans arrived; struggling with Florida’s challenging landscape, until they finally constructed complex civilizations.

Many of these insights will come to life when the Tampa Bay History Center presents the exhibition Obscured by Time: The Magic of Florida, featuring the art of Hermann Trappman, opening Saturday, July 10th. The exhibition will detail the natural history of Florida through Trappman’s compelling paintings, artifact replicas, fossils, and examples of the resources utilized by ancient Native Americans.

Obscured by Time offers a glimpse of early Florida, its native peoples and geography prior to European contact in the 1500s. A self-taught artist, Trappman’s work explores the life of Florida’s early peoples and is based on artifacts, fossils and other archeological evidence found along the shores of Florida.
This exhibition will be in the History Center’s Third Floor Gallery through September 26th. A variety of programs and workshops are also planned. For more information, visit our website.

Tampa Sports History, Interview with Perry Van Der Beck: Part 1

Perry Van Der Beck made history with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1978 as the first high school soccer player ever drafted by a North American Soccer League team. The talented midfielder stood out as an amateur by winning two high school state championships and representing the United States in international competition at every level, including the Olympic team. Van Der Beck enjoyed a 19-year playing career, nine of which came as a member of the Rowdies. Today, Van Der Beck serves as the Technical Directory and Director of Player Development for the Rowdies in the USSF Division 2 soccer league. Van Der Beck recently took time out to chat about everything and anything related to his life’s passion: soccer.

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the July 2 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.

Tampa Bay History Center is Free for the 4th

For the second year in a row, we're celebrating Independence Day by offering free admission and extended hours on the 4th of July.


Made possible by Bank of America, everyone can enjoy free admission to the History Center's exhibit galleries. With extended hours until 8:30 p.m., visitors can view the Channelside fireworks from our Terrace or the air-conditioned Lykes Atrium.
The Columbia Cafe also offers prime fireworks viewing with extended hours until 10:00 p.m.
 
Parking will be available throughout the Channel District, at the St. Pete Times Forum East Lot, Channelside Parking Garage or the Channelside Surface Lot. Or, consider parking in Ybor City and riding the streetcar.

New Course Highlights Zora Neale Hurston

Novelist, anthropologist, collector of folklore. These are just a few of the achievements of Florida's proud daughter, Zora Neale Hurston. A new four-week course offered by the Tampa Bay History Center and USF’s Osher Lifelong Learning Center will explore Hurston’s life and work.

Beginning Wednesday, July 14th at 10:00 a.m., the class will view Jump at the Sun, a new documentary written and produced by St. Petersburg resident Kristy Andersen, and explore Hurston’s work as a novelist, WPA field worker in 1930s-Florida and her role in the Harlem Renaissance, of which she was a key figure.

Andersen and various guest speakers will lead the class through an illuminating look at the uncompromising life of Zora Neale Hurston. Class members will also receive a copy of the film.

Jump at the Sun: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston is a four-week course offered each Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. beginning July 14th. Cost is $40.00. Pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, visit http://www.usfseniors.org/.

In addition, the History Center will also host a special evening screening of Jump at the Sun on August 5th at 7:00 p.m. The screening will be open to the public and include a talk-back session with the filmmaker and Dr. Lois Gaston, Hurston’s great-niece and former president of Hillsborough Community College’s Ybor City campus. Cost is $10.00. Registration in the OLLI course is not required to attend the evening screening.

For more information on the August 5th screening, contact the Tampa Bay History Center.