Institution

Constructed
between 1902 and 1905, the former Tampa (Florida) Federal Courthouse was
designed by James Knox Taylor, the Supervising Architect of the United States
Treasury in Washington, D.C. who designed hundreds of public buildings. A Beaux
Arts-style building reflecting the classic roots of early twentieth century
architecture, the structure was originally built to house the post office and
customs house for the growing city and port of Tampa. An addition constructed
in 1931 completely occupied all space within the property lines at the rear of
the building. In 1984 the property was converted for use as a federal
courthouse and was occupied by the courts until 1998.&nbsp;Listed in
the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, the&nbsp;building was
transferred to the City&nbsp;of Tampa through the Historic Surplus Property Program
in 2003. A developer entered into a long-term lease arrangement with the city
and rehabilitated the property using historic tax credits; it was opened as a
hotel in 2014 and has served as a major catalyst for redevelopment in Tampa’s
downtown core.

Tampa Federal Courthouse as it looks today

Tampa Bay Times Online: Old Courthouse Prepares to Open as Elegant Le Meridien 

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Constructed between 1902 and 1905, the former Tampa (Florida) Federal Courthouse was designed by James Knox Taylor. A Beaux Arts-style building reflecting the classic roots of early twentieth century architecture, the structure was originally built to house the post office and customs house for the growing city and port of Tampa. The building was transferred to the City of Tampa through the Historic Surplus Property Program in 2003. A developer entered into a long-term lease arrangement with the city and rehabilitated the property using historic tax credits; it was opened as a hotel in 2014.

Tampa Federal Courthouse

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This tour blends history, art, and architecture. Highlights include the Plant Hotel, City Hall, the Tampa Theatre, Rivergate Tower, and Kiley Gardens.

When Henry B. Plant brought the railroad to Tampa in 1884, he opened the door for many businesses to locate and flourish here. The railroad was at the center of the city's economy. From downtown, it ran to Port Tampa City where one could board a Plant Line steamship to Mobile, Jamaica, Cuba, or Bermuda.&nbsp; Investors were leery of building a hotel of the magnitude Plant envisioned, so Plant decided he would build it himself.The Tampa Bay Hotel opened in 1891 amid wide fanfare and celebration. The newspapers of the day described it as "brightly illuminated, filled with sumptuous decorations, thrilling music and graced with turrets, domes and minarets towering heavenward and glistening in the sun."&nbsp;This was "Plant's Palace." A spur of the rail line brought the train up to the west front entrance of the Hotel so guests could disembark and walk directly into the lobby.The Tampa Bay Hotel cost approximately $2,500,000 to build and $500,000 to furnish. Advertised as absolutely fireproof, due to the steel rails for reinforcement and concrete construction, it consisted of 511 rooms.&nbsp; Some accommodations were suites of three to seven rooms that provided a degree of luxury never before seen in Tampa. Most of the rooms had private baths and all had electricity and telephones.&nbsp;More on the Plant Museum/Tampa Bay Hotel by Clio author Daniel Newcomer:Back in 1880, Tampa Bay had a population of 720, whereas the entire downtown area was little more than an orange grove and the small community mostly survived on fishing and other endeavors. However, the calm and slow life of Tampa, marked by little contact with the outside world, was forever changed by the arrival of the railroad. Henry B. Plant, one of the most famous railroad men of the country, and at Tampa, Plant saw the terminus of his southern Florida railroad and the home of his line of steamships heading to Havana, Cuba.&nbsp;The first railroad arrived in Tampa in 1884, and in connection with his development of Port Tampa and his rail and steamship lines, Plant opened up trade throughout the state and into the Caribbean. In about 10 years, Tampa’s population grew from 720 to 15,000, and business and markets bloomed, especially that of the fishing industry. Nearby Ybor City also became one of the world’s leading cigar manufacturers.To encourage further tourism to the area and to accommodate the winter guests arriving in Tampa, Plant began building hotels along his rail lines. The Tampa Bay Hotel was to become his premier hotel in his chain of resorts, and even today, the building of the Tampa Bay Hotel is symbolic as the first pioneering effort into Florida’s resort business.&nbsp;Plant brought John A. Wood, a relatively unknown architect at the time from New York, to Tampa Bay to help develop the plans for his luxury resort. Built between 1888 and 1891, the Tampa Bay Hotel cost around $2 million (equivalent to about $52 million today) to construct.The completed hotel reflected Plant’s taste, and he was known for his eclectic styles. There were Crescent moon-topped, shining Byzantine minarets, circled by cantilever balconies. Each floor was graced with long, gothic windows and red woodwork. Keyhole arches and decorative verandas lined the building. The Hotel was over 900-feet long and contained over 500 rooms, most of which had their own baths, electricity, and telephones, all of which were luxury items at the time.&nbsp;While traveling Europe following the Paris Expo of 1889, Plant and his wife went on a shopping spree, spending an additional $500,000 to furnish the hotel with French furniture, cabinets from palaces in Spain, mirrors from Venice, redlined carpet from England, and so forth. Plant spared no expense in building a kingdom unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Florida’s first elevator was even featured in the lobby.&nbsp;On February 5th, 1891, the hotel officially opened with a massive party of 2,000 guests. The&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;called the hotel one of the grandest in the country, and Florida was touted by other newspapers as an exotic destination. The first season saw more than 4,000 guests, including much of America’s elite.&nbsp;<h4>The Spanish-American War</h4>Although the Tampa Bay Hotel met significant acclaim for its extravagance and beauty, it was actually the Spanish-American war that brought the Hotel into the international spotlight. Using his influence, Plant went to Washington D.C. to make Tampa, as well as the hotel, the center of operations for the war.&nbsp;Tampa soon became the official port of embarkation. At the outset of the war in 1898, Tampa was flooded with soldiers and all the necessary provisions, and the Tampa Bay Hotel was at the center of it all. Although soldiers (of which included Colonel Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders)&nbsp;camped out on the Hotel grounds as well as other parts of the city, the Tampa Bay Hotel housed army officers planning the war campaign. Also, the Hotel housed news correspondents, mercenaries, foreign military observers, and famous guests such as Clara Barton (founder of the Red Cross) and former Freedmen’s Bureau chief Oliver O. Howard.After the war, the hotel continued to prosper, but in 1899, Henry B. Plant died of a heart attack at 79 years of age. Unfortunately, Plant’s heirs had little interest in the hotel, and tourism began to wane. The Hotel sold to the city of Tampa in 1905 for a mere $125,000. However, the city embraced the hotel and Plant Park. The exposition hall at the Hotel was a social and meeting center for the city. Babe Ruth signed his first baseball contract at the Hotel, and in 1919, he hit his longest home run at nearby Plant Field.1&nbsp;

Plant Hall was formerly known as the Tampa Bay Hotel, which was a 500+ room resort hotel opened in 1891 by Henry B. Plant near the terminus of his rail line. The museum's exhibits focus on Gilded Age tourism, the elite lifestyle of the hotel's guests,and the building's use during the Spanish-American War. In 1972 it became a National Historic Landmark. 

Henry B. Plant Museum/Tampa Bay Hotel

<div>The building's value declines significantly from that original $130 million price tag, being sold for $49.5 million in 2000. After that owner defaulted on their loans in 2011, the building was acquired for only $22 million. In 2014, the building was sold for nearly $60 million, demonstrating the rebound of the real estate market.&nbsp;</div><div> </div><div>The tower features floor to ceiling windows throughout the design. The concrete band horizontally separating these windows &nbsp;makes it appear as if these large windows are actually two separate windows. The building is now sometimes referred to as the Sykes Building, as its principle tenant is now Sykes Enterprises. North Carolina National Bank was acquired by Nations Bank.&nbsp;</div>

Built from 1986 to 1988 and opening as the headquarters of the North Carolina National Bank, this 454-foot tower is one of the tallest limestone buildings in the world. Architect Harry C. Wolf intended for the building's shape to recall the design of a lighthouse. Critics believe that the building better resembled a silo or beer can. 

Rivergate Tower

This open plaza occupies the roof of a parking garage and creates a public green space adjacent to Rivergate Tower. The plaza was designed by landscape architect Dan Kiley, who designed the courtroom where the Nuremberg Trials were held. Kiley is one of two landscape architects in the United State to have been honored with the National Medal of Arts. Kiley used mathematical formulas tow create a checkerboard of grass and concrete that comes as close as possible to mirroring the size and proportion of the window patterns of Rivergate Tower- a 33-foot tall cylindrical tower.  

Kiley Gardens

Curtis Hixon Hall was located in downtown Tampa. During its twenty-eight&nbsp;years of operating, it held indoor sporting events, concerts, gathering place for those located in the city of Tampa. It was named after mayor Curtis Hixon, who was in office from 1943 until his passing in 1956.&nbsp;The first concert, the 1950s Rock and Roll&nbsp;Revival, was held in 1970s. The hall could hold up to 7,600 people for each of its events. Following the completion of newer facilities in this area in the 1980s, fewer events were held at Curtis Hixon Hall. This park where the convention center once stood is now part of the Tampa Riverwalk which included Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa Museum of Art, and Curtis Hixon’s Waterfront Park. Although the Curtis Hixon Hall no longer exists its location still serves its original purpose: to bring the people of the city of Tampa together. Many events (both large city events and small personal events) are held on the property.&nbsp;

Curtis Hixon Hall served as a sports arena, convention center, concert venue, and events center in downtown Tampa, Florida from 1965 to 1993. It was used to bring the people of Tampa together prior to the completion of newer facilities that led to the demolition of Curtis Nixon Hall. The park where the convention center was located was redesigned in 2010 and is now home to what is called The Tampa Riverwalk.

Curtis Hixon Hall (1965 to 1993)

The Tampa Museum of art was created in 1979 by the Tampa Museum Federation. &nbsp;The museum first opened beside the&nbsp;convention center at the convergence of the Hillsborough River and the Garrison Channel. &nbsp;In&nbsp;2008 the original building was torn down&nbsp;to make way for the current facility to be constructed in 2010. &nbsp;The 66,000 square-foot structure with its aluminum siding was designed by&nbsp;Stanley Saitowitz, the&nbsp;Principal of Natoma Architects Inc. in San Francisco. &nbsp;The building itself is a work of art with a display of LED lights along the outer walls of the building, an exhibit that is called Sky (Tampa). The museum has an enormous collection of ancient and modern art. &nbsp;Paintings and sculptures dating from the Ancient Roman world and the art studios of today fill the interior of the&nbsp;museum, along with&nbsp;a strong collection of photography from the 1980s. &nbsp;Other than art collections, the museum also has a rental facility, a cafe, and gift shop.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Founded in the 1970s, the Tampa Museum of Art, located in downtown Tampa Bay, features primarily ancient Greco-Roman, modern, and contemporary art.  It hosts traveling exhibitions and offers changing exhibits of its permanent collection, and also offers educational programs throughout the year for people of all ages. The museum has been accredited by the American Association of Museums and is also designated as a Major Cultural Institution by Florida.  

Tampa Museum of Art

The Floridian Palace would reign as Tampa's tallest building for 40 years until Franklin Exchange building was completed in 1966. During WW2, the hotel's bar became the prime stop for airmen encamped in the nearby old Florida State Fairgrounds racetrack. Not only did airmen frequent the bar, but their B-17s daily flew over the hotel during take off/landing from Drew Field. Due to the rowdiness of the airmen, the bar was nicknamed, "The Surefire." Elvis Presley was guest in 1955 during his concert at the&nbsp;Fort Homer Hesterly Armory. Around the time the Franklin Exchange building was completed, the hotel began to decline as tourists sought more "modern" hotels. Soon it was closed down to all but long term renters. By the 1980s the only "residents" of the hotel transients. By 1989 another attempt was to reopen the hotel, yet the new mangers could not keep up with fire code standards, so the hotel was closed again.&nbsp; Until 2005 ownership of the hotel changed hands repeatedly, one being a Japanese company,&nbsp; Akio Ogawa and Sity International Inc. This company spent a lot of time and money to restore it, such efforts leading the hotel to be added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.&nbsp;Antonios Markopoulos bought the hotel for $6 million in 2005 and for the next 7 years restored the hotel and reopened in 2012.&nbsp; The current hotel maintains many original features of the hotel. The hotel had 400 small rooms during the 1940s. The rooms were expanded during the renovations into 213 larger rooms including 15 suites and 3 penthouse suites.The famous Crystal Dining Room has been restored and expanded across the west side of the lobby, connecting into the lobby bar, which was originally a ladies' lounge. The Dining Room, in addition to featuring traditional continental cuisine, also includes a wide selection of Mediterranean dishes, in homage to the hotel's Greek owner.The Sapphire Lounge on the first floor has likewise been restored, and a ballroom, housed in the former post office immediately adjacent to the Floridan, has been added, with plans to add a pool and spa in the future.

Originally called the "Hotel Floridian" and the "Floridian Hotel," this 1927 hotel was made by the collective genius of Tampa's own G.A. Miller and Francis J. Kennard, whose work can be seen all over Tampa today. With 19 floors, 316 rooms and elegant bar, this hotel cost $1.9 million to construct. Over the years, the hotel has changed hands and recently went through an extensive renovation. It reopened in 2012. It's famous sign was restored to its rightful place.  

Floridan Palace Hotel

Kress was on operation until the 1960s when the Genesco Inc. corporation bought out Kress and slowly liquidated Kress stores. This one in particular closed in 1981. In 1983 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places list. However, that designation has not saved the building from many plans that included demolishing it or renovating it as another store. By 1996 it was altogether abandoned and left to deteriorate. In 2006 until now, efforts were relaunched to figure out what to do with it. Since about 2010 though, it was been restored to most of its original state and rented out for many functions, including the 2012 Republican Convention. As of last year the buildings owner has out it on the market.&nbsp; Despite its uncertain future, the building still draws people over as it did almost a hundred years ago with its architecture and and colorful designs and eye catching roofline.&nbsp;

This S. H. Kress and Co. Building was one of a handful constructed in the state of Florida. This "five and dime" store was completed in 1929, but located elsewhere, as well as being the third building to serve the Kress empire. The first building was constructed in 1900 and located on Franklin Street. In 1927, Kress had a second store constructed in 1927 located on Florida Avenue. In 1929, that building was demolished and third and final building was completed that same year in the location it sits at today on another section of Franklin street. Abandoned by 1996, plans were made to demolish the building and its neighbors for condominiums, but was canceled. It is now back on the market for sale.  

S. H. Kress and Co. Building (Tampa, Florida)

The theatre was built in 1926 and was designed&nbsp;by John Eberson, a famed theater architect. &nbsp;It was financed by Paramount Studios, which was a very common thing for movie studios to do at that time, due to the monopoly that the studios held on movie production. &nbsp;The theatre's biggest selling points&nbsp;when it opened, along with its fabulous and magical design, were the Wurlitzer pipe organ that was played on stage, and that&nbsp;movie goers could come and see a show&nbsp;for twenty-five cents.In the 1950s, the invention&nbsp;of the television dealt a hard blow to the theatre, as audiences could now get film entertainment within their own homes. &nbsp;The mass movement of people to Tampa's suburbs in the 1960s also harmed many city businesses, including the theatre, and in 1973 it closed its the doors. &nbsp;The theatre&nbsp;faced the possibility of being demolished, but the people of Tampa rallied and convinced the city to buy it, therefore saving the old building. &nbsp;The theatre reopened in 1977 and has been entertaining the citizens&nbsp;of Tampa ever since.The theater now hosts regular showings of popular new movies, as well as various film festivals showcasing modern and classic films. &nbsp;Performances by musicians and bands from a wide variety of genres also grace the theatre's stage. &nbsp;The theatre offers a 90-minute&nbsp;tour, known as the Balcony-To-Backstage Tour,&nbsp;of its facility&nbsp;on various dates&nbsp;throughout the year. &nbsp;The tour covers much of the theatre's&nbsp;history, as well as information on the architecture, pipe organ, and resident ghost stories. &nbsp;Bands and individuals that have performed at the theatre include, but not limited to: Glam Metal Band, Sleeze Beez, Arlo Guthrie and Old Crow Medicine Show.

Tampa Theatre is an opulent landmark of the movie palace area.  Built in the 1920s, the theatre was designed in the "atmospheric" style.  The outside looks as nondescript as any department store, save for the glowing marquee sign out front, but the interior is elegant and enchanting.  Surrounding the screen is a facade which, with its statues, balconies, and stucco roofing, was made to resemble an Italian courtyard, and the ceiling above the seating area is done to look like a starry blue sky.  The theatre is now on the National Register of Historic Places and offers conducted tours of the balcony and stage.

Tampa Theatre

Tampa has a long Catholic history that started when the Spanish arrived in the Tampa Bay area, but the first Catholic parish was set up in Hillsborough County in the 19th century. &nbsp;In 1859, a small church, named St, Louis Parish after King Louis IX of France, was built in the spot that the Sacred Heart Church stands today. &nbsp;The little church's early days were quite rough. &nbsp;A yellow fever epidemic in the late 1880s killed three pastors in one year, along with a good portion of the population of Tampa. &nbsp;After that the Jesuits, the group that had first brought Catholicism to Florida's shore as missionaries in the 16th century, took over the running of the&nbsp;church. &nbsp;In 1905, due to the economic boom that Tampa was experiencing, the little St. Louis Parish church was demolished to make way for the much larger, granite and marble structure known as the Sacred Heart Church. The Sacred Heart Church is now under the care of the Franciscan Order, who took over the church in 2005. &nbsp;The Romanesque-style&nbsp;architecture of the&nbsp;church's exterior is exquisite in and of itself, but the granite arches, oak pews, and seventy beautiful stained glass windows of the interior turn it into a marvel, blending religion with art. &nbsp;The church continues to serve the religious needs of the community as it did when it was built in the 1900s. &nbsp;Mass is still done within its walls, as well baptisms, the eucharist, and other sacraments. &nbsp;They also youth and adult groups, and a choir. &nbsp;There is also a gift shop inside the church, and historical tours are led by period&nbsp;costumed&nbsp;volunteer docents during the holiday season.&nbsp;

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church is a huge, Romanesque wonder in the middle of downtown Tampa.  Surrounded by glass and concrete office buildings, it has been standing in the same spot since the early 20th century, serving the Catholic religious needs of the Tampa area.  Historical tours of the city of Tampa often go to the Sacred Heart Church.  

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church was completed in 1907 and replaced the congregation's wood frame church which had stood at this location since 1883. The design of this church incorporated some of the features of the previous church, as local architects Michael J. Miller and Francis J. Kennard found ways to blend the original church's stained glass windows and interior features with the Mediterranean Revival style of architecture they used in building this structure. 

Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Prior to the construction of the building, this was the location of a home that dated back to the early 1840s. The owner of the home was able to use the proceeds of the property sale to move the home, which has been preserved and remains the oldest home in the city at&nbsp;3210 8th Ave.

Constructed in 1915 and expanded to include an annex in 1916, this ten-story building features a central tower composed of seven stories that extends from the three-story base. The structure features a variety of architectural styles. The entrance is flanked by Doric columnns, while the poured concrete structure is covered by masonry, stone, and terra cotta exterior features. The clock in the central tower was not part of the original design. Funding for the clock was made possible by a donation drive led by some of the city's leading women.

Downtown Tampa

Tampa Federal Courthouse

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information