Soldiers Seminoles and Slavery at the Tampa Bay History Center

One hundred and seventy five years ago – in 1835 – soldiers stationed at Tampa’s Fort Brooke marched north to Ocala, planning to reinforce units stationed at Fort King. They never made it. On December 28th, they met a force of more than 200 Seminole Indians near present-day Bushnell. Dozens of Seminoles and 120 U.S. Soldiers died in what is now known as the Dade Battle, the first confrontation of the Second Seminole War.


To mark the occasion, the Tampa Bay History Center welcomes preeminent Seminole War historian and author Frank Laumer as part of the Florida Conversations Lecture Series on Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Laumer’s talk, entitled Soldiers, Seminoles and Slavery: Florida and the Second Seminole War, will explore the key events, players and legacy of the seven-year confrontation between the U.S. government and Florida’s Seminoles.

Frank Laumer is the author of two histories of the Second Seminole War, Massacre! and Dade’s Last Command. Laumer’s most recent book, Nobody’s Hero, is a fictionalized account of Pvt. Ransom Clark, the only American to survive the Dade Battle.

Laumer was the first recipient of the D. B. McKay award of the Tampa Historical Society “For Distinguished Service in the Cause of Florida History.” He is a past president of both the Seminole Wars Historic Foundation and the Dade Battlefield Society.

Co-sponsored by the USF Libraries Florida Studies Center and supported by WUSF Public Media, Florida Conversations features authors and presenters covering a variety of Florida topics, from politics to fiction, history to environmental issues.

Florida Conversations is free and open to the public. Public parking is available at the Channelside garage, the St. Pete Times Forum East Lot and other city-owned lots. For more information, contact the Tampa Bay History Center at 228-0097 or online at www.tampabayhistorycenter.org.

History Center Volunteer a 'Hometown Hero'

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History Center Director Elected to International Museum Board

The International Council of Museums Committee for the Collections and Activities of Museums of Cities has elected the Tampa Bay History Center’s President and CEO, C.J. Roberts, to a three year term to serve as a member of the committee’s executive board.

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is a non-governmental organization of museums and museum professionals, numbering approximately 30,000 members from 137 countries and territories, whose purpose is to respond to the challenges facing museums world-wide. Based in Paris, the organization has formal relations with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and carries out part of UNESCO’s program for museums.

“I’m honored to be selected,” said Roberts of his appointment. “It’s an opportunity for the Tampa Bay History Center to be part of an international conversation on the role of museums in their comminities.”

CAMOC brings museum professionals and scholars together from around the world to explore these opportunities and learn from each other’s experiences. The 12 member board is comprised of museum professionals and scholars from Turkey, China, Brazil, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Russia, Greece, the United States, and France.

Special Holiday Hours at the History Center



Tampa Snow Show, 1958. Photo courtesy THCPL

The History Center will be closed on Christmas Day and will close at 3:00 p.m. on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

We will re-open for regular business hours, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on New Years Day.

The staff and Board of Trustees of the History Center wish you a happy holiday and a prosperous new year.

Tampa Sports History, 12/2/1980

This month 30 years ago, the Sun Dome opened with much fanfare on the University of South Florida campus. After several years of planning, construction, and numerous delays, the Bulls took to the hardwood against national powerhouse Duke in the "dedication game" televised nationally on ESPN.

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the December 10 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper.  

Children Celebrate ‘Pioneer Holiday’ at History Center

Children can celebrate the holidays on the Florida frontier when the Tampa Bay History Center continues its preschoolers’ program, A Little History, on Wednesday, December 8th from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with A Pioneer Holiday.

Kids will make old timey decorations, don pioneer clothing, decorate our Florida Cracker cabin for the season and even make butter the old fashioned way!

A Little History is open to children ages 3 to 5 with an adult companion. Cost is $10 per child and $6 per adult. Members of the History Center receive a $2 discount for both children and adults. Gallery admission is included. One adult must accompany every two children. Space is limited, pre-registration is required.
For more information contact the History Center’s Assistant Curator of Education, Jennifer Tyson, at (813) 675-8960 or visit our website.

Tampa Sports History, 12/4/70

This week 40 years ago, the University of South Florida Brahmans played the first official men's basketball game in school history. After a decade-long struggle to bring intercollegiate sports to the university, South Florida students rejoiced at the opportunity to cheer for their school in a meaningful game.

To read more, check out the Tampa Sports History blog, or the December 3 print edition of La Gaceta newspaper. 

Historic Old Northeast Residents Receive Discount at History Center

 Residents of St. Petersburg’s Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood will receive buy-one-get-one-free admission to the Tampa Bay History Center throughout the month of December.

The special admission rate marks the opening of a new exhibition at the History Center celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Old Northeast Neighborhood, which was founded in 1911.

The exhibit, part of the Wachovia Foundation Community Case, focuses on the history of Old Northeast and the achievements of the Old Northeast Neighborhood Association in preserving the architecture of the historic St. Petersburg neighborhood.

The discounted rate is part of the History Center’s Community Appreciation Program, which will target neighborhoods throughout the Tampa Bay area throughout 2011.

Anyone residing in either the 33701 or 33704 zip codes can take advantage of the discount, which is valid through December 31^st. ID or other proof of residency is required. Discount is applied to admission of equal or lesser value and cannot be combined with other specials or coupons or redeemed for cash value. For more information, contact the Tampa Bay History Center at (813) 228-0097 ext 0.