Henry B. Plant Museum

The Henry B. Plant Museum is housed in the former Tampa Bay Hotel, a magnificent Moorish Revival structure built by railroad and shipping magnate Henry B. Plant that operated as an opulent winter resort from 1891 to 1932. Designated a National Historic Landmark, the building served as a military headquarters during the Spanish-American War and has been home to the museum and the University of Tampa since 1933. Unlike most historic museums, it retains the actual furnishings enjoyed by the hotel's original Gilded Age guests, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into the extravagance of late 19th-century American wealth. The museum presents permanent and rotating exhibits on Tampa's history, Florida's early tourism industry, and the legacy of Henry B. Plant's southern empire.