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Tampa Bay History Center Plans January Opening

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By PHILIP MORGAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 14, 2008

Updated: 10/14/2008 03:38 pm

TAMPA - Santa Fest, a couple of hockey games and a few other events may interfere with a time travel excursion in December, so the Tampa Bay History Center has postponed its grand opening to Jan. 17.

The $52 million nonprofit center should be mostly ready by the target date of Dec. 1. But so will other big community events, plus, the staff could use the extra time to tweak the show, said C.J. Roberts, the center's president.

Visitors will see and hear the history of the Tampa Bay area, including the arrival of Spanish explorers, the role of Fort Brooke and the influence of the Seminole Indian Wars. Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders get space, as does the cigar industry.

Roberts, who managed the planning and construction of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, said organizers had anticipated 100,000 visitors a year. He couldn't speculate on how much the nation's poor economy might set back that projection.

Admission will be $12 for adults; $10 for ages 13 to 17 and people 65 and older; $7 for children 4 to 12; and free for children 3 and younger.

Reporter Philip Morgan can be reached at (813) 259-7609 or pmorgan@tampatrib.com.

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