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Looking over the Tampa Bay skyline, one building, with its domes and Moorish style, stands out amongst the rest. This is the Tampa Bay Hotel built by Henry B. Plant in the late nineteenth-century. A railroad entreneur, Plant extended his railway line to Tampa in 1884 and built this hotel soon afterwards. At the time it cost the huge sum of $3 million. Now a national museum it gives an insight into life in Tampa at the time, particularly amongst the rich and famous. The hotel is preserved exactly as it was in its heyday with its original furniture and art treasures. A helpful hint and a way to bring the hotel to life (particularly for younger tourists) is to experience the anecdotes acted out by "characters" in the museum. They lead you through each room regaling with tales of some of the famous visitors to the hotel, including Thomas Edison, Teddy Roosevelt, and world-famous baseball player, Babe Ruth. The actors appear in the museum every Sunday from September to May. The museum is situated in close proximity to the campus of the University of Tampa, close to Kennedy Boulevard. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm and Sundays 12 pm to 4 pm. Admission is free though a donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children is recommended. |