The Tampa Bay area’s unique and interesting history is apparent in a variety of ways. One of the most visible is the region’s architectural gems. From landmarks over a century old to new additions to the skyline, below is a sampling of some of Tampa Bay’s most historic and iconic buildings.
Plant Hall at the University of Tampa
The silver minarets of the former Tampa Bay Hotel, now Plant Hall at the University of Tampa, have become a symbol of Tampa. The hotel opened in 1891 and was marketed to wealthy tourists from the Northeast. More than a place to stay, it was a glamorous destination that reflected the opulence of the Gilded Age. Out of fashion and options, the building became home for the new University of Tampa in 1931.
Vinoy Hotel
The Vinoy Park Hotel opened on New Year’s Eve 1925, marking a new era of luxury for St. Petersburg tourists. The grand hotel and historic landmark commands a prime location on the downtown waterfront, with many rooms granting sweeping views of the city and Tampa Bay. During World War II, the hotel housed soldiers training at nearby Army camps. Postwar neglect nearly led to its demise, but an extensive renovation gave the hotel new life. More recent updates have further elevated The Vinoy, ensuring it remains one the gems of downtown St. Petersburg.
Tampa Theatre
It’s difficult to imagine downtown Tampa without the Tampa Theatre, but the building came close to demolition in the 1970s. Tampa City Council member Lee Duncan came to the rescue, and nearly 50 years and millions of dollars later, the people of Tampa have an incredible movie palace with modern comforts and technology. Tampa Theatre opened in 1926 and was the city’s only commercial building with air conditioning. The atmospheric theater was architect John Eberson’s crowning achievement and is one of only a handful of his theaters still standing.
Sacred Heart
Tampa’s first Catholic church, St. Louis Parish, was established in 1859 at Florida Avenue and Twiggs Street. The wood-frame structure served the city’s small Catholic population until growth fueled by Henry Plant’s railroad and the cigar industry in the 1880s. Ground was broken for a new church on Feb. 16, 1898 and Sacred Heart was dedicated on Jan. 15, 1905. Designed in the Romanesque style and adorned with granite and marble, the church remains largely unchanged. Its 70 stained-glass windows were made in Munich, Germany, by Franz Mayer Co. and are original to the building.
Tampa City Hall
On Aug. 28, 1915, at 8:30 p.m., Tampa Mayor Donald B. McKay threw a switch that illuminated every light in Tampa’s brand-new city hall for the first time. Thousands of people surrounded the building to celebrate both the structure and the city’s accomplishment . The design was influenced by the “City Beautiful” movement popular in American architecture at the time. The “wedding cake” design reached 161 feet from pavement to dome, making it one of Tampa’s tallest buildings. Topping the structure is Hortense the Clock, named for Hortense Oppenheimer Ford, who championed the addition of a public clock in the early 1900s.
Le Méridien
One hallmark of historic preservation is adaptive reuse, the practice of renovating a historic property for a new purpose. One of downtown Tampa’s best examples is Le Méridien. Built in 1904 as a federal courthouse, customs house and post office, the building closed in 1998. It sat vacant for nearly a decade until the Development Services Group was selected to transform it into a boutique hotel, which opened in June 2014. Le Méridien’s elegant spaces and 130 hotel rooms added a unique flare to downtown Tampa’s growing hotel market.
Hotel Flor (Floridan Hotel)
At 18 stories, The Floridan Hotel was the tallest building in Florida when it opened on Jan. 15, 1927. Located at Florida Avenue and Cass Street in downtown Tampa, it was a hallmark of luxury and modern design. Timing, however, was not on its side. Unfortunately, it opened as Florida’s land boom was ending and tourism slowed dramatically.
The hotel eventually fell into disrepair and closed in the 1980s. After years of restoration, it reopened on July 30, 2012. Now part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, it has been rebranded as Hotel Flor. Though the name has changed, the hotel’s rich history is still celebrated every day.
Historic District
Ybor City Landmark Historic District
While this list highlights individual buildings, it would be incomplete without mentioning the Ybor City Landmark Historic District. Founded by cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez Ybor in 1885, the neighborhood defines Tampa’s unique history and multicultural legacy. It’s home to historic commercial and residential structures, from mutual aid societies and restaurants to iconic cigar factories and hundreds of casitas, small shotgun-style homes. It’s the best place to see, taste and even smell Tampa’s rich history. Just watch out for the chickens.
Governor Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge
One of the Tampa Bay area’s most beautiful structures was constructed because of one of the region’s biggest disasters. The Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge opened in 1986, replacing the original 1954 span, which was struck by a freighter during a blinding thunderstorm on May 9, 1980. The new cable-stayed bridge opened on April 30, 1987 and was designed to be 50% wider and considerably taller than the original, with concrete “dolphins” protecting the support piers.
One Tampa City Center
Downtown Tampa was languishing in the late 1970s as suburban growth and shopping malls took away attention from the nation’s downtowns, and Tampa was no exception. Eager to reverse this trend, city and business leaders planned two four-block developments at opposite ends of Franklin Street. The northern end became occupied by state offices, while the southern project, known as the Quad Block, centered on Tampa City Center. Tampa’s second skyscraper, the glass-clad tower was home to GTE and is still utilized by a wide variety of other businesses, along with the University Club – which still offers some of the best views of the city.
Truist Building
Of all the buildings on this list, only one can light the skyline with a lightning bolt, a patriotic red, white and blue display or green lights for St. Patrick’s Day. Today it’s known as Truist Place, named for the bank that owns the naming rights and occupies several floors of the building. Originally called the Sun Trust Financial Centre, the 36-story tower opened in 1992 and is the fourth-tallest building in downtown Tampa.
Tampa EDITION
The newest building on this list sits within one of downtown Tampa’s newest developments, though it’s located in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. Tampa EDITION is a 26-story, five-star luxury hotel with 172 rooms and suites. Located in the Water Street neighborhood in the old Garrison section of downtown, the hotel, part of Marriott’s EDITION brand, is Tampa’s only five-star hotel and is included in the Michelin Guide hotel selection.
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