Hey, history buffs. Submit your unofficial historical locations around town.
Have you ever looked at a local spot and thought, “This place deserves to be commemorated?” Our city is full of legendary locations – many of which are indicated by historical markers. Historical markers reveal significant places, streets, neighborhoods, buildings, businesses, and cultural events from the past or present. Think: The University of Tampa or the Jackson House.
But not all significant areas get the attention they deserve. What about Wright’s Gourmet House where everyone gets their birthday, wedding, and just because cakes. Or the spot on the Hillsborough River where Tom Brady flipped the Lombardi Trophy to Cameron Brate — who was on another boat.
We want to put these places on the map — literally.
Rules + details
Submit your historic place for a chance to be featured nationwide on our historical marker map. Our favorite submissions will then be featured in our newsletter, where we’ll put it to a vote. Who knows? Maybe it will receive an official historical marker.
Submissions are open through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Finalists will be selected by our team and announced in our newsletter. These finalists will then go head-to-head in a vote for our readers’ favorite. The winner will be announced later in December. No promises that it will get an actual historical marker, but it will be one in our hearts.
Want to know more about official historical markers around town? Check out the Historical Marker Database.
Submit here.
The results
The votes are in for the TBAYtoday historical markers contest. Check out the finalists below, including the contest winner decided by your votes.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
It seems many of us hold fond memories of soaring above the giraffes and macaws aboard the SkyRide at this beloved Tampa spot — because this Tampa gem scored 40% of the vote. Man, do we miss field trips.
But one reader, Jon S. notes that it also belongs on the map as “where that scene in “Goodfellas” was filmed.” Yes, that infamous scene where Ray Liotta and Robert De Niro dangle a gambler over a lion’s den was filmed at our very own Lowry Park.
Hillsborough River
The spot where Tom Brady flipped the Lombardi Trophy to Cameron Brate — who was on another boat — was a close second with ~34% of the vote. Because we all remember that moment.
Check out Hotel Haya along Ybor City’s 7th Avenue.
Photo via @hotelhaya
El Goya
Not far behind was Ybor City’s El Goya with ~26% of the vote. The next time you’re grabbing lunch or hitting the town in the historic neighborhood make sure to take a second look at Hotel Haya’s old school sign.
“The Hotel Haya marquee marks where one of the most prominent gay bars was in the late 70s and early 80s. A fabulous place,” shares Stan D.
It doesn’t stop there — we got more submissions than these. Just check out our map of unofficial historical locations — both locally and across the nation.
