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There is a large mosque-looking building in Tampa that you can’t miss, especially if you are at the Tampa Riverwalk. Candy remembers when she first saw it from across the river and asked, “What is that?”

The structure is huge, but what makes it stand out is its elaborate Moorish minarets, domes, and cupolas. When we learned that it was the University of Tampa, we figured we would have to be a student or require a guest pass to wander onto campus.

Luckily, that wasn’t the case since a section of the campus (Plant Hall) is a public museum that tells the extraordinary history of this once-thriving hotel that is referred to as “Florida’s First Magic Kingdom”.

A Brief History

Before becoming the University of Tampa, it was known as the Tampa Bay Hotel. The hotel was built between 1888 and 1891 and cost a whopping $3 million to construct. Plant had no investors and all of it was funded himself. What’s fascinating about this hotel was that it was more than just a hotel.

It was a resort that offered a variety of activities to entertain guests. Hunting, fishing, golf courses, tennis, horse racetracks, dancing, boating, swimming, and even a casino. At the time, there was nothing like this sort of resort and it attracted a lot of new tourists to visit Tampa.

Now do you see why people call it “Florida’s First Magic Kingdom”? We were also amazed at how fast everything was built.

Gorgeous pathways at the University of Tampa

And the guy that made all this happen is Henry Bradley Plant, hence the name of the museum. He was essentially the “King of Florida” and was the founder of the Plant System of railroads, steamships, and hotels which created new passageways into Florida.

It was definitely an upscale hotel and super modern for its day. The rooms were equipped with electric lighting, private baths, telephones, and elevators. Affluent and adventurous travelers from across the nation stayed here as it was THE place to vacation. Some notable names include Babe Ruth, Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, the Queen of England, and Booker T. Washington.

The resort operated for forty years and the museum itself was founded in 1933. It provides a glimpse into the elegant lifestyle of the tourists that stayed here.

Museum

The museum is fairly small, but we easily spent over an hour exploring the different rooms. Each room tells a story where you step back in time and imagine yourself as a guest at the grand Tampa Bay Hotel.

Tampa Bay Hotel National Historic Landmark

We recommend beginning your self-guided tour with the 15-minute historical video which introduces Henry Plant and his massive transportation system. The information was very enlightening and a great way to start the tour.

After you watch the video, take a look at the guest bathroom located to the left. We almost missed it since the door was closed. The private bathroom from the late 1890s actually looked nicer than some of the hotels we’ve stayed at in modern times.

The clawfoot bath had a rack with an attached mirror (I want one of those!) and the white hexagon floor tiles are a popular pattern we still see today.

As you go into each room you’ll learn more about the elegant lifestyle of the Florida tourists. There are several exhibits and below are some of the exhibits that left a lasting impression on us.

Reading and Writing Room

The Reading and Writing Room is the most authentic exhibit that remains in the museum, so definitely take your time here. This room looked just as it did in 1898 and it’s where the guests wrote postcards and read the latest newspapers. I wish hotels today had a writing and reading room like this.

Parlor Suite

The Parlor Suite was one of Candy’s favorite exhibits. We just couldn't get over how glamorous the guests’ lifestyles were. It’s a three-room suite with a hallway and a private exit to the gardens.

We initially thought they were simply different rooms within the hotel and not one big suite. The gorgeous Victorian bed, library room, and fireplace were just some of the things that stood out to us. If we stayed in a suite like this, we probably would never leave it.

Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington stopped in Tampa during his speaking tour and gave his speech at the hotel’s casino. This exhibit showcases the history of racism, inequality, and the impact Washington made during his address in Tampa.

Live Theater

On most Sundays, the museum offers a live single-character performance from 2:00-2:30PM. The characters range from famous hotel guests to hotel staff members.

On the day we visited, we watched Edith Roosevelt’s (Theodore Roosevelt’s wife) performance where she discussed her challenging life with Theodore. The show was held towards the back of the museum in the hallway with about 20 seats. None of the chairs were left empty and there were several laughs throughout the play.

It’s a great way to learn a little more about what it was like in Tampa during this time.

Elevator

The Tampa Bay Hotel had the first elevator to be installed in Florida and supposedly it is one of the oldest operational elevators in the nation today.

We went inside the elevator but were a bit spooked at first since it’s eerily dark inside. We kept thinking it was going to fall for some reason since it’s so old. The woodwork inside is exquisite and it was also very roomy. It’s probably one of the fanciest elevators we’ve ever stepped foot in.

Final Thoughts

We went to the museum knowing very little about Henry B. Plant and left having a great appreciation for his contributions to Tampa, Florida. This hotel played such a significant role in Tampa’s history that we can now understand why it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972.

Some Tips

Backpacks are allowed but they have to be carried or worn in the front, so we suggest wearing a crossbody bag.
Food and drinks are not allowed.
If you have a nice camera, bring it! It’s dark inside the museum, but the grounds outside are fantastic for photography enthusiasts.
There is a dedicated parking lot at the back of the building, but you can park in the front (very limited spots) on the weekends.
The Plant Hall is known to be one of the most haunted destinations in the city. The Plant Hall is where the old elevator is located.