Central – Section 2.4: Immigrant Contributions & Industrial Booms
A boat loaded with natural sponges and flying the Greek flag pays tribute to Tarpon Springs’ rich sponge-diving legacy and its enduring Greek heritage. Photo courtesy of the City of Tarpon Springs.
North of St. Petersburg, fishermen from another industry, and another part of the world, helped put Tarpon Springs on the map. With sponges growing in the waters of the Gulf, enterprising Greek sponge divers came over and for 30 years, Tarpon Springs was known as the “Sponge Capital of the World.” All aspects of the sponge industry are still on view here, from sponge harvesting at the working docks to browsing the Sponge Exchange, once an area for sponge auctions but now a collection of shops.
An unforgettable sunset illuminates the causeway leading to Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs—a peaceful prelude to this historic coastal town’s rich maritime traditions. Photo courtesy of the City of Tarpon Springs.
For visitors who want to get on the water, a ride on the St. Nicholas VII—which was established in 1924 by Captain Michael J. Billiris and is still operated by the Billiris family—takes passengers on an excursion through history, including an old-timey re-creation of a sponge diving expedition.
A nod to Ybor City’s cigar-rolling legacy—this historic Tampa neighborhood earned its nickname “Cigar City” during Florida’s 1920s cigar boom. Credit: VISIT FLORIDA.
Other treasures offered by Florida drew the treasure seekers to the peninsula, and the Tampa Bay History Center focuses on the explorers who landed here over the centuries, including conquistadors, pirates and wreckers—the opportunists who pillaged shipwrecks in order to sell the spoils. Also highlighted is the 1920s Florida Land Boom, which drew thousands to the Sunshine State between 1920 and 1930. Tampa is also known for its 1920s cigar boom, which forever turned Ybor City into Cigar City. Find out more at Ybor City Museum State Park, housed in a former bakery and featuring displays on the city’s founders, the cigar industry and a cigar workstation.
Colorful street art in Ybor City pays tribute to the neighborhood’s rich cultural history, from its cigar-rolling legacy to its vibrant Puerto Rican and Cuban roots.
East of Tampa, Lakeland’s downtown Munn Park Historic District is known for its antique shops and vintage architecture, with outdoor art and murals and a lakefront botanical garden available for strolling.