Tampa's Black History Museum

05/14/2026

Through historic photographs and artifacts, "The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers" brings forward the stories of African American jockeys, trainers and caretakers whose labor, expertise and victories helped define American Thoroughbred racing.

Join Tampa’s Black History Museum on Monday, June 8, 2026, for a special presentation with Roda Ferraro, director of the Keeneland Library and curator of the exhibit, followed by discussion, Q&A and a reception sponsored by Tampa's Downtown.

Doors open at 5 p.m. RSVP: https://bit.ly/42Ue5ow

(Clemon Brooks with Nashua at Spendthrift Farm in 1964, Keeneland Library Collection.)

04/20/2026

The Black History Book Club continues its spring season with a discussion of "Race Matters" by Cornel West on April 27.

This free event begins at 5:30 p.m. at 1213 N. Central Ave., at Tampa’s Black History Museum. First published in 1993, "Race Matters" examines race, democracy and moral responsibility in American public life.

Copies of the book are available for purchase at the Tampa Bay History Center Museum Store or through your local library.

See you there!

03/24/2026

Set to open in summer 2027, the Tampa Black History Museum will preserve and interpret Tampa’s Black communities, culture, and lived experience.

In an article by 83 Degrees, Curator Fred Hearns shares where the project stands now, how artifacts are being collected, and why this museum matters for Tampa’s future as much as its past.

03/19/2026

Our book club is growing, and we’d love for you to join us.

We meet every other month to explore a book that examines Black history through stories and ideas rooted in the past, with space to reflect on how they shape the present.

The program is welcoming and accessible. No formal training in history or literature is required. What matters most is curiosity, a willingness to listen to different perspectives, and the courage to share your own.

The Black History Book Club meets at Tampa’s Black History Museum, 1213 N. Central Ave., Tampa.

03/19/2026

On the hunt for a historic tour in Tampa Bay? Experience the College Hill Black History Walking Tour, a captivating 90-minute exploration of significant historical sites in Tampa’s Black community on March 21.

The College Hill Black History Walking Tour celebrates the heritage of East Tampa’s College Hill neighborhood, hitting key landmarks along the way.

Group size is limited to just 25 guests, making this tour a more personal experience. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the outdoors as you set out to explore.

An aerial view shows a proposed public housing site in the College Hill neighborhood of Tampa on March 10, 1950. (Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library)

03/18/2026

🚶‍♀️ 🚶‍♂️ Join a Tampa Black History Walking Tour

Spend your weekend discovering a side of Tampa Bay history you may not have learned in school.

We are offering 90-minute Black History walking tours through Ybor City, College Hill and Central Ave, each beginning at 10 a.m. Learn about the communities, businesses and leaders who helped shape the city’s growth and culture.

Wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather and make it a morning of learning something new.

03/06/2026

We remember the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr., a Tampa native whose work alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. helped shape the civil rights movement and advance voting rights in America. Each year, we are proud to partner with the Tampa Bay History Center to present the Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Sankofa Award to an individual or organization dedicated to preserving Black history. The Rev. Dr. LaFayette made the trip annually to present the award named in his honor.

"Bernard LaFayette is Tampa's contribution to the quest for equal opportunity for all people in America," said Fred Hearns, curator of Black history for the Tampa Bay History Center. "The TBHC will continue to honor him and his good work."

Photo: The Rev. Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. at the Tampa Bay History Center on Feb. 23, 2024.

02/28/2026

FOX 13's Mariah Harrison meets with our curators at the Tampa Bay History Center for a look at the latest additions to the collection.

As Black History Month comes to a close, work is already well underway on a lasting tribute to the community’s legacy: the Tampa Black History Museum. 🔗⬇️

02/18/2026

A new season of the Black History Book Club begins this February at Tampa’s Black History Museum.

Join us on February 23, 2026 from 5:30 to 6:45 pm at 1213 N. Central Ave. for our first discussion of the season featuring The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

This powerful collection of essays explores colonialism, heritage, beauty standards and historical injustice while reflecting on the influence of storytelling across cultures.

The event is free and open to the public. Purchase the book at the Tampa Bay History Center Museum Store or through your preferred retailer.

See you there!

02/16/2026

On WUSF’s Florida Matters, Janine Quarles Adkins and Fred Hearns shared what’s ahead: new talks, tours, and ways to get involved as a new museum take shape.