Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa

What do pirates, Cuban cigars, and cowboys have in common? Find out at the Tampa Bay History Center. Three floors of history exhibits take you on a tour of Florida's past. Beginning with Florida's First People and evolving with European explorers like Ponce de Leon, the museum covers the state's often turbulent past.

Many museum exhibits focus on local history, from the events that sparked development around Tampa Bay to the various people who settled there. Exhibits will introduce you to Florida cowmen, "crackers," and pioneers. Learn the forgotten history of the Florida Seminole Wars, some of the most protracted military conflicts in US history. You'll also discover the history of nearby Ybor City, home to immigrant cigar rollers from Cuba.

There are also exhibits on pirates and shipwrecks found in the area. Additionally, the History Center hosts many changing exhibits and events. No trip to the museum would be complete without grabbing a genuine Cuban sandwich and cafecito at the neighboring waterfront Columbia Cafe, Florida's oldest restaurant chain that has been family-owned since 1905.