Henry Plant Museum

Henry B. Plant Museum

WHO WE ARE

Since 1933, the Tampa Bay Hotel has been home to the Henry B. Plant Museum and The University of Tampa. The building, renamed Plant Hall, is a National Historic Landmark. The Henry B. Plant Museum holds the distinction of accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. Its mission is to interpret the Tampa Bay Hotel and the experiences of the diverse individuals who contributed to its success. The Museum ignites thought and transports visitors to another era through exhibits and innovative programs, so that they may be educated and inspired by the lifestyles, times and experiences of Florida’s early tourist industry. Original furnishings and artifacts and a dynamic self-guided audio tour immerse visitors in the opulence of the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel and its rich history.

See What The Henry B. Plant Museum Has to Offer

History of Buttons

Join Susan Davis for a brief tour of the Button Museum.

The Tampa Bay Hotel: Florida's First Magic Kingdom | Tampa History

Eighty years before Disney, the Tampa Bay Hotel was an opulent playground neighboring an emerging town and the untamed Florida wilderness. 



In this film you will meet Henry Plant and explore his vision for the development of Tampa and the magnificent Tampa Bay Hotel.

Archives Awareness Week with Plant Museum Curators

Plant Museum Curators Heather Brown and Susan Carter discuss fun finds, interesting facts, and new acquisitions for the Plant Museum archives - all relating to sports at the Tampa Bay Hotel! This program is part of the City of Tampa's Archives Awareness Week 2020.

Vintage Sports Footage Reel

Art Conservation is...A Look Behind the Scenes

Fine art conservator Rustin Levenson talks about the work of art conservation and some of her work for the Henry Plant Museum.

A Talk on the Exotic Architecture of the Tampa Bay Hotel

Plant Museum curators Heather Trubee Brown and Susan Carter discuss the life and work of J.A. Wood, the architect who designed the Tampa Bay Hotel.


Podcasts

In honor of Juneteenth, join host Briana Jackson of the ARTS AXIS FLORIDA Podcast along with Susan Carter and Dr. Charles McGraw Groh from the Henry B. Plant Museum to discuss their recently opened exhibit: “When the Train Comes Along”: Booker T. Washington at the Tampa Bay Casino. They explore Washington’s historical impact during the civil rights movement in Tampa, and his advocacy towards educational and economic opportunities for the African American community. 

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