11 THINGS TO KNOW
ABOUT TAMPA BAY
Tampa Bay’s story stretches back farther than you might expect, and much of it is just waiting to be uncovered. Here are a few surprising things you may not know about the destination.
1. The cigar industry helped
build Tampa Bay
In the 1880s, Cuban cigar magnate Vicente Martinez Ybor moved his factory from Key West to Tampa Bay, where Henry B. Plant’s new railroad carried cigars nationwide. Immigrants from Cuba, Spain, Italy, Germany, and beyond helped the city flourish, and Tampa Bay soon earned the nickname “Cigar City,” producing 500 million cigars a year. Today, Cuban masters still hand-roll cigars in Ybor City, just as they did in 1886.
2. The Cuban sandwich was invented here
Created in the 1890s to feed Ybor City’s cigar workers, the Cuban sandwich is a true Tampa Bay original (not from Cuba or Miami). Stacked with mojo pork, ham, salami, pickles, Swiss cheese, and mustard on Cuban bread, it was once eaten cold until the press transformed it into the classic we know today. You’ll find Cuban Sandwiches across Tampa Bay, but for the closest taste to the original, visit La Segunda Bakery to step back in time.
3. FAMED R&B SINGER RAY CHARLES GOT HIS START HERE
Ray Charles, who studied at the Florida School for the Blind and Deaf in St. Augustine, launched his career in Tampa Bay clubs along Central Avenue, then the hub of the area’s African American community. The avenue also hosted legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway on the Chitlin’ Circuit. Though the businesses are gone, their legacy lives on at Perry Harvey Sr. Park in downtown Tampa.
4. Teddy Roosevelt And The Rough Riders Slept Here
Before becoming president, Teddy Roosevelt led the Rough Riders as the U.S. prepared for war with Spain in the late 1890s. From Tampa Bay, the invasion force sailed 300 miles south to Havana. Their base was the grand, Moorish-styled Tampa Bay Hotel, where silver minarets still shine on the city skyline. Now part of the University of Tampa, the former hotel is Plant Hall, where you can walk the wide verandah and visit the Henry Plant Museum, honoring the railroad baron who helped put Tampa Bay on the map.
5. "the Twist" Dance Craze Started Here
In the 1950s, Hank Ballard was inspired by teens dancing on Tampa Bay’s Central Avenue to write “The Twist.” Though released as a B-side, it became a national sensation after Chubby Checker performed it on American Bandstand, sparking a dance craze. Today, Perry Harvey Sr. Park honors that legacy with a sculpture of Ballard and “The Twist.” It’s a reminder of the music and culture that once thrived along Central Avenue.
6. Pre-fabricated Housing Started In Ybor City
Ever the efficiency expert, Vincent Martinez Ybor needed a quick way to house the throngs of cigar workers pouring into Tampa Bay. He ordered small, simple homes (casitas) that could arrive by train partially built and be assembled in about a week. Workers had the monthly mortgage deducted directly from their pay. You can still see some of the original casitas when you visit the Ybor City Museum State Park.
7. Manatees Love Tampa Bay (especially in the winter)
In winter and spring, manatees crowd Tampa Bay’s waterways, from the Hillsborough River downtown to the TECO Manatee Viewing Center, where free admission and an observation deck offer prime views. A nearby nature trail reveals rays, sharks, and other wildlife. For an up-close look, visit ZooTampa at Lowry Park, the only nonprofit in Florida licensed to treat injured manatees, where an underwater observatory brings you nose-to-nose with these gentle giants.
8. Bay Crafted: Tampa Bay Loves to make Beer
Florida’s first commercial brewery opened in Ybor City in 1897, serving cigar workers and exporting to Cuba until the 1962 embargo. Busch Gardens followed in 1959, beginning as a brewery and botanical garden before evolving into a world-class theme park. Today, Yuengling operates a brewery near Busch Gardens with free tours, while Cigar City Brewing helped spark Tampa Bay’s booming craft beer scene, now home to more than two dozen breweries.
9. You Can Visit Cuba Without A Passport
For over 50 years, José Martí Park in Ybor City was the only Cuban-owned property in the U.S., protected by international treaty and still belonging to the Cuban people. Dedicated to poet and revolutionary José Martí, who survived an assassination attempt in Tampa Bay, the park honors his ties to the city’s cigar workers, who offered vital support for Cuba’s independence.
10. The World’s Biggest Pirate Invasion Happens Here Every Year
Every January, Tampa Bay embraces its pirate spirit during Gasparilla. Led by Ye Mystic Krewe aboard the José Gasparilla, pirates “invade” downtown, demand the key to the city, and kick off the nation’s third-largest parade along Bayshore Boulevard. The celebration launches two months of parades, parties, and festivals known as Gasparilla Season.
11. Wild Chickens Roam The Streets of Ybor City
Hop off the TECO Historic Streetcar at Ybor City’s Centennial Park and you might be greeted by the crow of wild chickens. Descended from backyard flocks kept by early residents, these birds are a living link to Ybor’s past. Snap all the photos you like, but remember, they’re protected by city ordinance. Spotting them has become a quirky tradition for visitors exploring the neighborhood.