Tampa Bay History Center

The Tampa Bay History Center is a 60,000-square-foot museum and event venue situated on Tampa's Riverwalk at 801 Water Street, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. Opened in 2009, the center explores 12,000 years of Florida history across three levels of galleries — from indigenous peoples through the Cigar City era and into contemporary times — and houses the Touchton Map Library, home to one of the largest collections of Florida maps in the world. For private events, the center offers three distinct rental spaces: the Lykes Atrium, a 2,538-square-foot central hall accommodating up to 250 guests; TECO Hall, the largest indoor space at 2,697 square feet with a 14-foot ceiling height and capacity for 300 guests; and the Upper Terrace, an outdoor terrace with waterfront views of Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park suited for gatherings of up to 75. All rentals include customizable seating and table configurations, in-house audiovisual capabilities, trusted vendor partnerships, and dedicated event management. On-site catering is provided by the Columbia Cafe team, whose Spanish and Cuban-inspired menus span breakfast through dinner and reception service, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available.