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The Tampa Bay History Center and Tampa Housing Authority announced plans for a new Black history museum in the city. It’ll be located in a formerly thriving Black business district.
City leaders including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced the new museum.
“One of the benefits of looking back at our history as well, is to remember the lessons learned, the mistakes made, so that we don’t make those mistakes again as we walk forward.”
It will be at the building of the St. James Episcopal Church. The church was founded over 100 years ago, and underwent a more than 2 million dollar restoration.
The museum will be in a historically Black area formerly known as the Scrub, northeast of downtown Tampa. It was a thriving Black district, but then declared a slum in the 1950s.
City Council member Gwen Henderson sees the new museum becoming a top destination for residents and visitors.
“Once upon a time, city council called this area a cancerous eyesore. It is no longer that.”
Tampa Bay History center officials say they are in the very early stages.
They are in the process of planning the exhibits and artifacts for the museum, and promise something for everyone.
They anticipate it will open late next year.
