Who belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of the Tampa Bay area?

We asked AI bot Chat GPT to determine who should be included on Tampa Bay’s Mt. Rushmore, to see if it aligns with what our readers think.

FTW-Mt. Rushmore

Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Photo via Wiki Commons by Randy R. Potter

We all know ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence-based language model from OpenAI, has been the talk of the town in 2023.

We thought we’d revisit the bot to see if it aligns with what true Tampa Bay area residents think.

“Chat GPT, who should be on the Mt. Rushmore of the Tampa Bay area?”

  • George Gandy | Businessman and entrepreneur who constructed the Gandy Bridge, which facilitated trade, tourism, and economic growth in the region.
  • Tony Dungy | The former NFL player-turned-coach led the Bucs to their first Super Bowl win in 2003. Plus, he was the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl ring.
  • Vincente Martinez-Ybor | Pivotal in turning Tampa into the “Cigar Capital of the World,” Vincente was a manufacturer + entrepreneur during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He contributed to Tampa’s economic and cultural growth.
  • Louise Lykes Ferguson | The prominent philanthropist and civic leader in the Tampa Bay area made substantial contributions to the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Bay Hotel, and the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

Your turn, TBAY. What local leaders, philanthropists, and business owners do you think belong on our rendition of Mt. Rushmore? Take your vote — we’ll handle the Photoshop.

More from TBAYtoday
Increasing the value of your home might be easier than you think.
The budding corals will eventually be replanted within the Keys as part of Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative.
We compiled all of the feedback from our Giving Campaign to learn what readers love most and want to see more of in our newsletters. Here’s a peek at what they said.
From pop legends to chart-topping bands, there’s no shortage of concerts to see this year in the Tampa Bay area.
Here’s where to ring in 2026 in TBAY.
We rounded up six locally approved matcha picks so you can get your green fix.
We wrap up some of our favorite waterfront parks, local businesses, bakeries, and other faves across Tampa and St. Pete
Some of country music’s biggest and rising stars play the 2026 festival right on St. Pete Beach.
A grassroots effort is helping Tampa Bay region properties become part of a nationwide habitat network.
We’re digging in the Cigar City Brewing IPA’s roots, inspiration, and popularity across the United States.