Our Chamber Member, the Tampa Bay History Center, has been named one of the best history museums in the country by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. And that's not all! The History Center will be the first museum in the U.S. to debut “Invisible Immigrants: Spaniards in the U.S.” after its tour in Spain. The exhibit, opening March 1st, shines a light on the stories of Spanish immigrants who helped shape America. Congratulations to the entire team at the Tampa Bay History Center, a member of the Tampa Bay Chamber since 1993.
Here's the big news, in their own words...
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay History Center has been recognized as one of the 10 best history museums in the United States, ranking in USA TODAY’s 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The announcement places the History Center among the nation’s most celebrated cultural institutions, as voted by the public.
Nominees for the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are selected by a panel of experts, with the final list determined by 10Best editors. Readers then cast votes daily to determine the top museums nationwide.
“This honor is a testament to the passion and dedication of our team, as well as the continued support from our visitors and community,” said C.J. Roberts, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay History Center. “We take great pride in preserving and sharing Florida history, and this national recognition affirms our commitment to providing an engaging and educational experience for all.”
The recognition comes at an exciting time for the History Center, which will debut its newest major exhibition, Invisible Immigrants: Spaniards in the U.S. (1868–1945), on March 1, 2025, in the Wayne Thomas Gallery. The exhibition, running through Aug. 3, 2025, sheds light on the lesser-known history of Spanish immigrants who shaped communities across the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“This is a remarkable opportunity for our community to engage with a pivotal chapter of immigration history,” Roberts said. “We’re honored to be the first museum in the country to host this exhibition, which brings to light the stories of individuals whose experiences still resonate with families here in the Tampa Bay area.”
Curated by New York University Professor James D. Fernández and journalist-filmmaker Luis Argeo, Invisible Immigrants showcases more than 300 photographs, objects, documents, and audiovisual materials. The exhibition traces the journey of thousands of Spanish workers and farmers who immigrated to the U.S. in search of better opportunities. The bilingual exhibition is structured into six chapters: Goodbye, Now Get to Work!, Living la Vida, They Got Organized, Solidarity and Strife, and Made in the USA.
The exhibit also highlights Tampa’s immigrant history. “Modern Tampa owes a great deal of its history, culture, and success to the immigrants who began arriving in the 1880s,” said Rodney Kite-Powell, director of the Touchton Map Library at the Tampa Bay History Center. “Following the cigar industry from Havana to Key West to Tampa’s Ybor City, the Spaniards, Cubans, and Sicilians who came to Tampa and West Tampa helped to create not only an important industry but a vibrant multicultural city.”
About the Tampa Bay History Center
Located on Tampa’s Water Street, the Tampa Bay History Center offers three floors of exhibits that highlight 12,000 years of Florida’s history and culture. www.tampabayhistorycenter.org.
About USA TODAY 10Best
Since its inception in 1999, 10Best has empowered readers to live well and travel smart by providing original, unbiased, and experiential content. Welcomed into the USA TODAY family in 2013 and subsequently becoming USA TODAY 10Best, the brand continues its mission.
Photo courtesy: Tampa Bay History Center