I love old drawbridges and the best kind of old drawbridge is a "lift" bridge where the roadway is…read moreliterally lifted up, as opposed to a "swing" bridge where the roadway twists out of the way or a "bascule" bridge where the span lifts like a leaf ("bascule" is French for leaf). The Hillsborough Avenue Lift Bridge is also known as the T.N. Henderson Bridge (I have no idea why) and it carries State Route 600 and US Highway 92 over the Hillsborough River. It was built in 1939 by the Cone Brothers Construction Company and designed by J.H. Dowling of the State Road Department. What is particularly unique here is that there are two separate bridges at this crossing. The vertical lift bridge serves eastbound traffic and a neighboring bascule bridge serves westbound traffic. The lift bridge was originally part of a road expansion project connecting Tampa's northern suburbs and remains one of only two operable vertical lift bridges in Florida. The much larger Main Street Bridge (aka John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge) in Jacksonville is the other. Vertical lift highway bridges are quite rare. This one features a Warren pony truss lift span with the main span hoisted by cables from machinery housed in two steel towers containing concrete counterweights. In 1999, the bridge underwent rehabilitation to maintain its functionality which is when the bascule bridge was built. There is no toll to cross in either direction. There is a small park on the east bank to the south of the bridges or you can briefly park in the grocery store on the north side. Both bridges have a pedestrian walkway next to the outside lane. There is also a walkway under the bridge on the west bank but I wouldn't recommend going there after dark. I did hang around for a bit but did not get the opportunity to see either bridge lift today. [Review 328 of 2025 - 1983 in Florida - 23890 overall]

Beautiful classic building that looks great during he day and even better at night. Great location…read morein downtown, too.

This is a major landmark in Tampa but visitors often miss it for the ten story 1914 brick and…read moregranite building is now surrounded by skyscrapers. Maybe I can imagine the big structures are protecting the two-story Hortence the clock, named after the daughter of Dr. Oppenheimer who backed the building project. Best looking 100 year old in city.

The Craig Park War Memorial is located next to Spring Bayou, on South Spring Boulevard, on the…read moreright when traveling west. The memorial is directly across from where the cross is thrown for the Epiphany Ceremony every January 6th. This granite obelisk was dedicated in 1992 and paid for by citizens from Tarpon Springs. The memorial honors the 31 Tarpon Spring residents lives who were lost in combat in World War I, World War II, Korean, and Vietnam War. Next to the obelisk there is also a flagpole dedicated to two Vietnam War soldier. It reads: "Flagpole given in memory of our brothers who did not return. 1LT Robert Renneke 75th Rangers 9th Infantry Division (LRRP) CPT Frederick H. Roever 4th Combat Engineer Bn 4th Infantry Division Vietnam" After watching WWII: On the Frontlines a new documentary on Netflix, I have a new appreciation for the sacrifices the Allied forces made in WWII as well as all of our brave soldiers who have died in combat. This monument is worth stopping by and paying your respect if you are in Craig Park.

Do you love learning about history, especially where you live or visit? I do! So much history gets…read morelost as progress continues onward. That's life! I do like these historical markers that try to preserve a bit of history, even if the original building was moved and then ultimately destroyed. Odet Philippe was one of the first European settlers in the area. He gave the "honeymoon house" to his daughter and son-in-law around 1843 and it was later moved to this spot. Believe it or not, this suburban land called Grand Central Avenue was the original center of town! Now, it's residential and Main Street is where all the businesses are located. This spot and building was the town's first post office as well as general store! There was also a large dock here while the current Safety Harbor pier and harbor is a bit south for this location. Thanks to the Safety Harbor Museum for researching this and establishing this marker!

Had an absolutely wonderful experience visiting the Gingerbread House in Safety Harbor. This place…read moreis full of charm and personality, with such a cozy and whimsical feel that makes it stand out right away. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and full of character. It really feels like stepping into something special and unique to Safety Harbor. Everything is thoughtfully decorated and has that homemade, artistic touch that makes the place feel personal and welcoming. Overall, a super memorable visit and a true gem in Safety Harbor. Easy 5 stars and definitely worth stopping by.

The original owner B. Rhett Green had this house built in 1908 in the classic Victorian style. It…read moreincludes traditional gingerbread at the peaks of the roofline and still includes its original hardwood floors! It is one of the last homes of its era and type in all of Pinellas County! In 1910, it was a popular place for neighborhood women to bring their laundry. They had a big cast iron kettle of boiling clean water. This house had the best well in town since other nearby wells were full of sulfur! Electricity, fueled by a coal burning plant located on Iron Age Avenue, was added to the house in the 1920s. Use of electricity was limited to the hours of 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Plumbing was installed in the 1930s, less than 100 years ago. The original claw foot tub fell through the floor and remains below the house to this very day! Life is good with history, hidden in plain sight!

A bust of Jose Marti and a memorial of an attempt on his life in 1893. Jose Marti was a symbol for…read moreCuba's bid for independence against Spain in the 19th century, and is referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban Independence." The marker reads "In a small, isolated cottage located in this vicinity, an attempt to poison Jose Marti, the leader of the Cuban Insurrection of 1895, was made by two Spanish agents. Marti's intuition saved his life. The traitors repented and Marti forgave them. Two years later, the plotters distinguished themselves as patriots in the battle-field as Marti had predicted. Jose Marti lost his life during a skirmish at Dos Rios May 19, 1895. Erected by the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, 1962"

This is a place to commemorate one part of the Cuba's history in Ibor City. In that place there is…read morea small portion of land of each one of the 7 provinces according to the political administrative division of those times. The man in statue is José Martí, well-known as The Apostol due to his significant work as a journalist. He stood out from an early age through his brilliant work against slavery, racism and the oppression of Spanish colonialism. In addition he dedicated extensive work on the democracy, the poetry and the love of the mother country. He also elaborated the Constitution of 40 known as the most advanced of all political times of Cuba.

In 1907 a railroad was built connecting Tampa to Brooksville and beyond. The engines that powered…read morethese trains were wood-burning so they had to make frequent stops to reload. One of these stops was a station just north of Stemper that was managed by William P. Lutz and his brother Charles. The two brothers named the station after themselves, Lutz. The Lutz Train Depot was in service from 1907 until 1965. It fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1966. Around the turn of the century a replica of the old train depot was built to commemorate the original. Today, that replica features a wooden building with a couple of railroad signs in the window, two wooden benches at the back of it, a replica wagon and a small plaque on each side denoting the names of people who were instrumental in bringing the depot back to life. My overall impression of the Lutz Train Depot is that it has the potential to be more. For starters, what is the story behind the depot. Why did it disappear? Why was it brought back? What did it look like during its heyday? None of this is apparent from the site. Everything I know about it, I learned via the library or the internet. I'd really like the replica depot to answer some of these questions and fill in the gaps of my knowledge base, to become more of an educational site. I love the fact that it was rebuilt, enjoy that it has the names of the people who helped make it a reality carved right into the wood (artistically carved) and that it even features an old piece of equipment for kids (and adults) to climb on. I just want it to go that one step further. The depot sits in a large grassy area known as Bullard Park. The park exists in the "y" between where the trains turned around. It has been around for years. Bullard Park used to be much bigger but some of the land was taken to build the Lutz Branch library. If you temper expectations, this place can fulfill many desires. It would be great for a picnic or as a field to play football or soccer. You could sit and watch the traffic on US 41 for a bit or just enjoy some shade on a hot day. Take some minutes at the depot and park to enjoy the present. Try not to inquire too much about the past because you'll be left with more questions than answers.

Great centerpiece to downtown Lutz. Acts as a stage for community concerts and of course the Fourth…read moreof July celebration which Lutz is known for. You'll find it right in front of the public library off of Luke's Lake Fern Road. Also great place to take family photos

This historical marker sits just across from Lyles Gaslight Square Park and right beside the Tampa…read morePolice Department building, and it quietly anchors a corner of downtown where Hillsborough County's early civic life once unfolded. The marker explains that for 104 years this single block served as the center of both executive and judicial government for the county, a place where each generation built, rebuilt, and reimagined its courthouse as Tampa grew from a frontier settlement into a modern city. It reads, "For 104 years this block was the official site of executive and judicial government for Hillsborough County, Florida. The first courthouse, a log building burned by Seminole Indians in 1836, possibly stood here. Subsequent ones were built on this square in 1848, 1855 and 1891. The latter a unique red brick, silver domed building, designed by J.A. Wood, architect of H.B. Plant's famed Tampa Bay Hotel, was demolished in 1952." There is no number of the marker. It was erected in 1972 by Tampa Historical Society in cooperation with Marine Bank and Trust Co. Today the county's judicial functions have long since moved a few blocks away to the George E Edgecomb Courthouse at Jefferson Street and Twiggs Street, a modern facility completed in 2004 that now serves as the primary courthouse for Hillsborough County. The contrast between the sleek contemporary building and the quiet little marker makes the history feel especially tangible, as if the old square is still whispering the story of the county's earliest public life. [Review 131 of 2026 - 2242 in Florida - 25321 overall]