Henry B. Plant Museum

This place is beautiful. The history and the easy access to the audio tour with your own phone was great. Staff were helpful and accommodating. I wish there was more of it open to the public but a large part of it is owned and used by the university from what I understood. Still a cool and interesting place which takes you to the past with authentic Pieces and rooms. The park in front is beautiful too and affords excellent views of the building.

Overall positive experience. Its an interesting glimps into the past of Henry B. Plant's accomplishments and contributions in the Tampa bay area. I saw online that they were offering free admission the 2nd Tuesday of the month but when I got there it wasn't the case. It wasn't a big deal for me because I'm military and they are a blue star museum. I wouldn't expect to spend all day there, maybe an hour or two. They offer an audio guided tour of all the rooms they have set up and have a cute little gift shop.

This is a fascinating and gorgeous gem; not just for national history, but for local Tampa history especially. Coming here is literally stepping back into the past, at a time when one man's vision and taste for nice luxury redefined how we experienced them. Also, be sure to engage the staff who are knowledgeable and friendly.

The museum itself is absolutely beautiful—rich in history, well curated, and visually stunning. We were warmly welcomed at the entrance by a very friendly staff member, and we explored the entire museum while carrying our shopping bags and backpack without any issues. However, our visit took an unfortunate turn at the very end. As we stopped by the museum shop, the woman working there abruptly asked us to leave the shop and return our belongings to the front desk. The tone and manner of the request felt unwelcoming and unnecessary, especially after walking through the entire museum without any concern from other staff. I’ve visited museums all over the world, and this kind of treatment is disappointing. It left a sour note on what was otherwise a wonderful experience. The museum itself is worth visiting, but I hope the staff at the shop reconsiders how they interact with guests. A little courtesy goes a long way.

I just love that place. Went for Christmas last year, and had so much fun chasing hidden alligators. The staff is just AMAZING. Can't wait to go back Bonus: there's a beautiful park outside where you can relax by yourself or with friends

Loved this museum. The building is so charming and unique, with a very interesting history and the collection of items is truly amazing and so well preserved. Well worth a visit, plus at a very good price. Also, allow yourself some time to sit on the rocking chairs in the veranda at the end, ac real joy.

This visit to the Henry B. Plant Museum, was a delightful experience that truly immersed me in history! The collection of historic items was fascinating, from the vintage boxing gloves to the exquisite furniture. Each piece told a story and reflected the rich history of the era, making it a joy to explore. The museum itself is beautifully preserved, and the architecture is stunning, showcasing the grandeur of the past. I particularly enjoyed wandering through the various exhibits, each filled with intriguing artifacts that sparked my curiosity. One of the highlights of my visit was the serene pond and waterfall located just across the street. The tranquil setting, complete with koi fish swimming gracefully, was a perfect complement to the museum experience. It offered a peaceful escape and a lovely spot to relax and take in the beauty of the surroundings. I had a wonderful time at the Henry B. Plant Museum. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in history or simply looking for a charming day out. I can’t wait to return and explore more of what this remarkable place has to offer!

We had great experience here. Ticket is 12$ each person, and we paid 4.5$ for parking on street for 2 hours. Front desk lady was extremely helpful and nice. She was happily took pictures for me and my partner. Thank you!

I highly recommend the Henry B. Plant Museum to spend half a day while in Tampa. The huge, sprawling building with its tall, middle eastern turrets topped with crescents reminded me at first of a mosque and I only realized later that it was the museum (and learned later that is was a former hotel) built according the Henry Plant's, the late 1800s robber baron who brought the railroad to the west coast of Florida, whimsical, extravagant vision. The building itself really quite unique and grand in scale. The museum has preserved the style and "state of the art" luxuries of the late 1800s, including the very rudimentary, dim lighting, bathroom fixtures which offered running hot and cold water, and lavish furniture. Plant spared little expense building the hotel which even with its extravagant cost and overruns, hardly put a dent in his enormous expansive wealth. The museum gives you not only a history lesson of the growth of the city of Tampa and the area, which the hotel greatly facilitated due to its need for builders, servers and maids for the tourist, and workers, etc., but also of the United States which at the time of the late 1890s was experiencing the Spanish American War. In fact, the U.S. military sent a large contingent of soldiers (which included Teddy Roosevelt's rough riders) to Tampa (and other Southeastern coastal cities) to defend against the feared invasion of the Spanish army, including from the island of Cuba. It was also interesting to learn about the Florida summer heat and humidity the soldiers suffered thru in the their wool uniforms (decades before the arrival of air conditioning). It occurred to me that the hotel, with its whimsical style, may have inspired the castle like design of Walt Disney World in nearby Orlando. The museum is filled with period pieces and accompanying descriptions and explanations and you can really get a good feel for what it was like to live at the turn of the last century. Some of the content covered the crippling recession of the later half of the 1800s which apparently was a hardship on many Americans, while introducing new opportunities.

Cool little museum! A lot of history in his hotel. Small and you'll be able to finish in about an hour. Someone stole the Babe Ruth ball! I really wanted to see it.

Every time I spied the outside of the HBP Museum from a distance, I felt the pull from it--the metallic shine of the domes, the celestial spires especially. I knew I couldn't leave town without making it across the water to see it. So that's exactly what I did. I took the long way, mostly by the river walk, on foot, in the heat and humidity. When I arrived, quite damp, I was truly grateful for the cool, dark interior of the museum. The information video that plays on loop is a perfect introduction to everything you're about to see. But still, every room contains something that will absolutely swiftly steal your breath away! There are so many treasures to look at, that you could visit several times and not really see it all. I'd definitely return! This is truly a hidden gem of Tampa! Go check it out immediately!

This is a beautiful hotel turned museum about Plant and the early history of Tampa tourism. The space is beautiful, and there is some street parking in the front or garage nearby. There is a short video and several rooms featuring artifacts from the Victorian era. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of signage and more scan QR audio, which is annoying if there are other people listening to their audio without headphones. It still had a lot of cool things to look at and took about an hour. The bathrooms are weirdly inaccessible (you have to leave the museum and go into the University of Tampa half of the building and we still had to get someone to let us in). The gift shop had a decent amount of good gift items, but it was roped off/on request only (must have been short staffed). Still, it was a good place to take a family and learn about Tampa's history, so the price was worth that.

We enjoyed the quiet stroll of the Christmas trees here at university of Tampa. It is a nice area if you are looking to see some of the campus and give a donation to the school.

This place is AWESOME! I love to see a place that truly cares about its history and preserving all that it can. Visiting this museum truly feels like you have taken a step back into the time of the Tampa Bay Hotel with Henry Plant and the gang. The audio guided tour is super insightful and is full of tons of information. Also they do free admission once in a while (we came on a free Saturday).

It's so historical and I love learning about what happened back then! You look around and it's just so fascinating.They have gardens and antiques everywhere !It used to be a huge famous hotel and a ton a famous people stayed in it !Definitely if you live or are visiting this place you shouldn't miss it!

If you haven't visited this museum yet, GO! This is an amazing part of Tampa history. Thank goodness the hotel was saved and is being used every day. If you have a hillsborough library card you can get a discovery pass and go for free with one guest. Available on the library website. Even if you don't, the entrance fee is very reasonable. You can use your phone to listen to recordings about some of the exhibits - without downloading another annoying app!

Decided to visit the Museum during our visit to Tampa a few weeks back. We visited on a weekday, so it wasn't crowded at all, not sure how it would be on weekends. It has entrance fee of $12 but they do offer discounts for students and children. The museum itself is incredibly small, only the 1st floor is open to visitors and the rest of the hotel blocked off. They have an audio tour which is great if you have a little more time and you want to dig deep in history. If not, they have a 14-minute film that introduces Henry Plant and his vision for the development of Tampa and the magnificent Tampa Bay Hotel. The admission price is not entirely justified. For one it is a pretty small museum. And they can do better at staging the rooms. The hallway is well decorated and so are some of the rooms, but the rest of the rooms were just stuffed with cultural artifacts rom that era or similar to that era. Felt more like a storage or attic room. 3.5 stars visit. It is worth your time if you have never been, but could use improvement as well.

We LOVED the Victorian Stroll at this museum! It was our first time, and we've lived in this area as long as it's been around. We will now make it part of our pre-Christmas routine - an annual event. That's how impressed we were with this colorful, decorative event. We were greeted by friendly volunteers when we entered the lobby. They directed us to a gaily decorated room (the first of many) that included a movie that told us the history of those who built the hotel, which became a university and now housed this museum. Before moving to the next room, we saw the bathtub, in which an opera singer bathed in champagne - but kept one bottle to drink! Volunteers were plentiful, providing insight for all the rooms. They helped us navigate those rooms. The museum is not huge, but it IS big with holiday decorations and history. We wanted to see and know about everything. By the way, we did not look for the celebrated mice, but friends told us we must look for them next year when we return. Before leaving, we were treated to hot cider and cookies. What a treat! We did not see or hear the carolers, but next year we'll look up the schedule online so we won't miss them. If you want to get into the holiday spirit, add this event to your pre-Christmas list - especially for yourself and family!

We are very lucky that this magnificent structure has survived, and that this museum with so many original furnishings and pieces of art, exists. It is the norm for historical buildings, like in Newport, or the Remington mansion, to be bereft of original articles, as the heirs immediately sell them off. Furnishings usually have tags that say " similar to what would have been here." The museum is good sized, a full first floor wing, and it is absolutely stuffed full of items that were originally were there. Henry Plant was a great man who created Tampa out of nothing, and a visit to both the museum and the enormous former hotel are well worth a long drive.

Majestic! This is the best $12 you can spend Tampa Bay, if you enjoy history. The grounds are absolutely stunning from an architectural perspective. The collection is magnificent. I do recommend scheduling your visit to align with the Teddy Roosevelt presentation. It adds an immersive to the experience. Very well done. There's also an audio walking tour via QR code. I do recommend bringing headphones for this so as not to disturb the other patrons. The prices in the gift shop were some of the most reasonable I've seen. By comparison, this collection feels much grander than the Ringling house.

Love the architecture! Staff is very pleasant and helpful. I like the reading signs around the museum but didn't care to have a phone up to my ear to try and listen to the things I was looking at especially when with someone or trying to take pictures. Not a big museum but wonderfully shares history. So glad this place has withstood time!

I visited the Henry B. plant Museum for the annual Victorian Christmas Stroll. I was actually volunteering at the museum for the stroll and got to see the annual exhibit as part of volunteering. The museum is wonderful all year but the museum at Christmas is my favorite time to visit. The museum decorating each of the old hotel rooms allowing visitors a glimpse into the magic of Christmas past when the hotel was open and guests such as Thomas Edison stayed there. There are a variety of themes and displays in each exhibit room such as snow babies, tiny antique trees, a 14' tree decorated in antique ornaments and many other antique Christmas themed items. At the end of the holiday visit, they serve treats such as hot cider and cookies! I highly recommend a visit during the holidays or any time during the year.

I'm trying to make good use of the membership that I got from the Tampa Art Museum. It allows you to get into many of the museums and sites around the Tampa area for free or discount. Depending on which membership you get there are so many other options that you'll probably never get bored. I went to the Plant Museum on a Saturday. Street parking in the area was free anyway but in the event that it's not, there is free parking in the garage on North Blvd and North A St. It was a good thing for free parking since the Bacon, Beer, & Whisky festival or whatever it is called was going on, so the area was buzzing with people heading toward the Tampa Art Museum. The Plant Museum is inside one of the buildings of the University of Tampa. I didn't really know where to go when I entered the main building so I ended up taking a small walking tour of the science wing and the English and Languages floors of the building. You can really tell that this place used to be a hotel. Architecturally, the way that some of the doors open and the way the corners are cut, and the staircases are a little odd but no doubt the building has quite a bit of historical significance. When I finally got to the museum, which had been on the 1st floor the whole time, I showed my membership card and the nice lady at the front handed me an audio tour wand. This is great if you like to look around while the guide is giving you the rundown of every aspect of the room you're in or if you happen to be blind or sight-impaired. Way to make it accessible! Boy! There are so many intricate small items to look at, it's almost overwhelming. Everything is so well preserved as well. I was particularly impressed by the Gasparilla history room. I'm new to the area, so I really am trying to figure out what makes this city tick. Unbeknownst to me, it appears Gasparilla is a big deal. Give me some time, I'll figure it out. Anyway, I really enjoyed this room within the museum because it helped me learn even more about what Gasparilla means to the people of the area and why it's such a fun yearly event. This museum reminds me a bit of Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, BC, Canada. Lots of woodwork and antiques and garments all in great shape. It's like one those ISpy books because you have so much to look at on a small scale as well as the bigger picture. Going to places like the Plant Museum makes you realize how much simpler life was back then although there was a lot of hard work going on to expand and grow. I also really liked seeing the connection to the information I learned before about growth in Ybor City to the railroad system that Mr. Plant helped develop. The railroad system helped with the importation of tobacco from Cuba to help Mr. Ybor continue to grow Ybor City as well as help transport troops to fight the Spanish-American War which eventually led to Spain handing Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. Tickets are $10 for adults or less (seniors, students, kids, infants, etc)

For a few years, I been going to the Victorian Christmas Stroll at the museum because I usually get a FREE ticket. Some people do not know this but the museum used to be a hotel. Each room is decorated like it used to be back in the early 1900s or so. All the rooms has a little history lesson. Also, there is game for kids to find the mouse. After touring the rooms, there is a gift shop with some Christmas decorations. Afterwards, go on the patio to have some hot apple cider & cookies.

This place has a lot of history to it. Once a fancy rich hotel back in 1891, Henry B Plant Museum (originally Tampa Bay Hotel with 511 rooms) is now a National Historic Landmark in Tampa, and is home to The University of Tampa. It's a great place to visit. It has a great park where you can relax next to the Tampa Bay Riverwalk. It's also a nice area to take nice pictures, whether it's a graduation shoot or a wedding, or simply just for the Instagram of it. You do have to pay to see the museum and its beautiful galleries, but check from time to time thier websites, they sometimes have good specials or they would have a special event that don't require admission.

As part of our small Tampa itinerary, the U.S. National Historic Landmark of Henry B. Plant Museum was a nice tour for a few hours. What stood out to me about coming here is the domes on the towers of this museum. In my opinion it kinda reminds of the onion shaped domes of Moscow's Kremlin, just narrower and smaller. It was more than just taking pictures from the outside, we decided to pay admission to do a self tour inside the museum. (Admission was $10 per person and kids under four is free). Artifacts and original furnishings are displayed throughout the rooms of the historical Tampa Bay Hotel. During the Spanish-American War high ranking U.S. generals were guest. Also, Babe Ruth and Winston Churchill were guest here as well. The museum may not be an all day tour, it's small and some parts of the museum were restricted areas. But, it was nice to take sometime to listen to its rich history going in one room after another through an audio device. The location is on the south end of Tampa University and there is a park right in front for leisure. I did like area where there's a river yards away with the view of the skyscrapers for picture taking. If you're in downtown Tampa and exploring the city, the Henry B. Plant Museum should be on your list.

Amazing, incredible. The Museum is full of amazing antiques, photographs, and history associated with the original luxury hotel from the 1890's. There are so many amazing items, I could have easily spend 4-6 hours instead of the 2 or 3 hours that I had to see it. If you are visiting Tampa and are interested in US history and the part this hotel played during the guilded age and the gay nineties, I would say it is not to be missed.

I went to Oxford exchange and decided to walk across the street and see the Henry Plant Mesuem. It's literally the first building you came across when walking onto UT campus. I paid $10 to enter the museum. They had discounts for elderly, students, museum members but not first responders. Upon paying I was told I had to wear a sticker that meant I paid to get in. The nice thing was an audio wand was included with entry some mesuems I've visited if you want an audio wand it costs more. The museum is a hallway with rooms off it. I was disappointed I couldnt explore the upstairs portion of the building. The 10 or so rooms available to view had lots of fancy vases, mirrors, beds, chairs and decorative things that were present in 1891 at the former Tampa hotel. I would reccomend visiting the Plant Mesuem if you desire viewing such items. You could probably spend an hour or so here. The optional video they show is 40 minutes long. I enjoyed learning about Tampa's history, the hotel and the different valuable items guests can see but also agree the $10 entry fee should be reduced. The mesuem isnt big enough to warrant the sticker policy either as theres one way in and one way out. Visiting the mesuem isn't a destination on it's own but if you're in the area .. The mesuem reminded of a mini Biltmore Estates.

Located in the heart of University of Tampa, this museum is a hidden historical location worth visiting. Tampa has a history museum, but the Henry Plant Museum details the origins of this city in a preserved historical setting. University of Tampa used to be a hotel owned and operated by Henry Plant, a railroad tycoon, who established his hotel as a tourist destination and thus contributed to the development of Tampa. The museum features a digital self guided tour and several original hotel rooms and antiques remain preserved. For the low cost of admission this is a good way to kill an hour and visit one of the few historical sites in Tampa.

Nice little museum in a very cool building. If you are a history or architecture buff it's worth a visit. The little museum is on the ground floor of one wing of the building and tells the story of this former hotel and includes many Victorian age pieces original to the hotel. Visit takes about an hour with the free audio tour from your cell phone.

I never visited this museum when I lived in Tampa and I am so disappointed that I waited so long. The Tampa Bay Hotel is one of the most beautiful structures you will see throughout the country and I am just referring to the outside. The minarets and Moorish domes are breathtaking. When only the domes are in view, you may think that you are coming up on a grand Mosque. The story of the hotel and Henry Plant is very interesting; the furniture and inner design is also impressive. The audio tour is included in the price and it is well worth it. This was a great place to get some important information on Tampa's history.

What a place! This museum is one floor spread out over the south wing of UT's Plant building, so it is fairly small, but definitely worth the price of admission. It wasn't crowded and all the rooms were handicap accessible, which is difficult to find while touring historical sites. You are provided with a self-guided audio tour, which expands on the hotel's history as well as background on the industrialization of Tampa. You can also just wander around and take in the beauty and elegance of the former hotel. The museum is absolutely gorgeous (it has a bit of a Downton Abbey feel) and it's a perfect place to escape the bustle of Tampa.

After a late breakfast / early lunch at Oxford Exchange, I walked across Kennedy Boulevard and onto the campus of the University of Tampa. The star attraction of this campus is the historic Tampa Bay Hotel which has been converted into the Henry B. Plant Museum. The hotel was constructed in 1891, as railroad magnate, Henry B. Plant lured visitors from the Great White North to the Tampa area with this magnificent hotel. The hotel is best known for it's Moorish palace architecture (minarets and arched doorways), opulent furnishings from the Gilded Age of America, and the tropical gardens along the banks of the Hillsborough River. It cost $2.5 million to build this hotel (in the 1890's), and another half-million to furnish. Steel rails are embedded in the poured concrete floors which made the structure virtually fireproof. The hotel offered some of the most modern amenities of it's time, including electric lighting with Edison bulbs, private baths, telephones, and elevators. That's right baby, we were living the High Life in Tampa in the 1890's The museum was founded in 1933, and continues to provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn more about the elegant lifestyle of the early Florida tourist. You're provided with a self-guided audio tour device and a map as you pass the registration desk, and from there you're on your own to view the displays, listen to the recordings, and watch the movies. The Grand Hall is just beyond the registration area, and it is filled with statuaries, artworks, furniture, and other items that were collected by Mr. and Mrs. Plant on their worldly journeys. Most of the statuaries are poured bronze casts, and you'll also spy a whole room of gorgeous art pottery and vases. Each room off of this hallway was once an original guest room in the old hotel, and at the far end of the hall is a luxury corner suite to give you a sampling of what the Florida visitors would have experienced. Another room is set up to display an elegant dining room with it's fancy place-settings. At the opposite end of the hall is the old writing and reading room, which shows the tables where people would sit and read newspapers and books, or the writing desks where they would compose hand-written letters. There is a gorgeous hand-carved wooden staircase which leads to the upper floors of the hotel, which are now used as classrooms by the University. As a history buff, I was intrigued by the exhibits on Teddy Roosevelt and his famed Rough Riders. The Tampa Bay Hotel gained international recognition in 1898 when it served as the headquarters for the United States Army during the Spanish-American War. It is fun to stroll the hallways of this grand hotel, and walk through the gardens outside while picturing the soldiers enjoying our warm tropical breezes and lush landscape, before their voyages to Cuba and beyond. Admission is $10 for Adults, $7 for students and seniors, and $5 for children 4 - 12 years. That seems like a very fair price to absorb so much history from the early years of Tampa, but if you're really a cheapskate, the hotel has certain days of the year with discounted or no-fee admission. There are seasonal exhibits throughout the year, and the Museum is best know for the decorations during the Gasparilla parties and at Christmas time. Be sure to visit during the Victorian Stroll held each December.

I found this much more interesting than I expected to at first glance. The architecture of the building is probably the most impressive, with its silver minarets right on the edge of downtown Tampa. Hopefully you'll luck out like we did and have a parking official standing there when you drive in who can go ahead and give you a free pass. There are exhibits on all facets of Plant's life as a railroad magnate and hotelier, then several exhibits on the life hotel guests would have experienced at the time. They include a sample of a dining room table, a recreation of the gentlemen's library, a corner parlor suite, a display of sporting activities of the time, garden stools from the grounds, and countless vintage photographs. It really does give you a window into the time of the grand old Florida hotel. The audio wand is nicely done--each room has a number and you can push the number to hear the basics of the exhibit, then another number if you want more detail. So you can breeze through the things that don't catch your attention and go in depth on the ones that do. It's easy to tour at your own pace here.

Don't get me wrong. I love this place. The Henry B. Plant Museum is a part of Tampa everyone needs to experience at least once. This is not only a prime example of the guilted age, but a truly magnificent work of architecture. It was ( as the guidebook says) Florida's first Magic Kingdom. This is where Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders camped out before they left for Cuba. It is now part of the University of Tampa. For such interesting pieces of history,the hotel is not presented in a very interesting way ( unless you are a history nerd like me). I would recommend visiting at night for the Victorian Stroll at Christmas time. They have Victorian carols, neat decorations, and cider on the front porch. There are re-enactments which are ok, but this is TR we are talking about- the last renaissance man in the White House. Nothing seems to be done to play up this angle. There is a neat display on the Spanish American war, but one does not get a sense of how grand the hotel was in the 1890s. There does not seem to be enough to appeal to kids and if they played up trains and Teddy Roosevelt the museum could. I would love to see a special on the Rough Riders or the Railways rather than Russian fabrige eggs in the gilded age. There is sooo much potential here, the hotel practically speaks for itself ( it is that beautiful), they could do so much more, even on a small budget. With that said, they do have a nice gift shop which under new management has some pretty cool Tampa gifts. The park in front is also a nice place to go sit and relax. I would give this place a 3.5 out of five stars. It is worth your time if you have never been, but could use improvement all the same.

Henry Plant turned Tampa from a small fishing village into the start of what Tampa is today. He is credited for the Tampa port, rail and one of the world's most exotic extravagant hotels which is now the University of Tampa. The Henry B Plant museum is an audio guided tour through Tampa's first steps into the future. Photos adorn the walls giving you a glimpse into Tampa's past and exquisite paintings and furnishings from the hotel will awe you as you stroll through the muesum dedicated to Henry B Plant. If you love Tampa, you must dedicate about 2 hours to stop in. Learn about Henry B Plant, how he changed Tampa forever and his amazing Tampa Hotel.

Great experience!! Really explains the history of the Tampa hotel and university....knowledgeable staff and has a self guided tour. The furnishings were awesome to see and the architecture was beautiful...

Definitely stop by here in a first Friday 5-7 for terrific jazz, some light nosh, vino and free entry. The Henry Plant Museum is a fun trip back in time to a Victorian railroad hotel. I especially like listening to the performers who visited back in the day and learning about the history and style of the visitors in the past. They do reenactments and other events I cluding a Victorian picnic and Christmas's decorations. It's a neat Tampa asset that keeps our past alive. the nearby garden, around the UT campus, along the river and / or across to downtown are also fun. Go Spartans!!!!!

At $10 a head, it is a little pricey for the size of the museum, no doubt, and if it weren't for that we'd have a 5 star rockin' for this review. With that being said, I understand the importance of the museum, and I love that they're preserving the historical integrity of this lovely building. So many of the gilded age hotels are long gone, most recently The Belleview Biltmore in Belleair. The Ocala House, The Ft. Myers Hotel and The Punta Gorda--all gone! Thank goodness the University of Tampa set up shop here in the 30s, otherwise The Tampa Bay Hotel might have suffered the same fate. I thought I knew all I needed to know about this monster of a building, but I didn't. For example, I had no idea the elevator in the main lobby was the first elevator in Florida. I also had no idea the Plant System was so well connected, and managed so many other gilded age hotels. That Hathaway guys must've been one well-paid fella in the late 1800s. What was your favorite room? The 3 bedroom suite? The music room? The Grand Salon? Mine was the reading and writing room. Do you every hear Tampa history, and think of how different things would have been if Vicente Ybor and Henry Plant wouldn't have dies so soon after establishing empires at the turn of the century? How many more great things would they have done? Though its time in the spotlight as a hotel was short-lived, it is still every bit as iconic as the Jefferson Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, or the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. And to this day, when people see it for the first time, their jaws drop. Would I go again? Yes, but on on 1st Fridays when it's free after hours.

A hidden gem! I had no idea there was a museum on the University of Tampa campus! I happened to be biking around and saw the museum and went in. It was a gorgeous, fascinating exhibit with a free audio guided tour offered through your very own phone. Was so pleasantly surprised with it! It was also decorated beautifully for Christmas and apparently will be even more decorated prior to their Christmas Victorian Stroll event starting at the end of November. I highly recommend this wonderful piece of history!

Beautiful museum right by the water. It's not a huge museum, but full of interesting and beautiful things. Good place to take a walk and enjoy a nice day.

Very good museum. If your interested in the hotel Nasino in history of the plant empire this is pretty cool. It doesn't take that long to go through. You can listen on your phone of all the important facts if you'd like or you can just read along.

I found this place to be highly enjoyable. I learned a lot about the city of Tampa and its origins. The Tampa Bay hotel has a rich history, and I recommend anyone interested in gaining knowledge to check this museum out. I especially enjoyed that the tour is self-guided, and you're simply provided with a playback device that allows you the option to listen to additional info within each section. 9/10 would recommend.

Cool old turn of the century hotel. Came for first Friday tonight, where they offer free admission and tours. I was surprised by the crowd. I figured it would be a hot scene for Tampa's pretty young things, but it was more of a silver fox convention. The docent lead tour was a bit slow so wifey and I went exploring. The museum is well appointed and a great example of the guilded age. Only about an eighth of the building is the museum though, most is part of University of Tampa. I wish there was more museum.

If you are a history buff, then you must take a visit of the Henry Plant Museum. It is located in the old Tampa Bay Hotel which is now the main campus building at University of Tampa. I had an opportunity to visit during the Xmas stroll, and I feel that is the best time to visit. You can walk around and see all of the different artifacts as well as take an audio guide. it is quite nice and different. The artifacts are beautiful and quite detailed. During Xmas, it is quite festive especially with all of the xmas decorations. I am glad that I had visited it.

Beautiful building - would have been amazing to see it in its prime. Stunning antiques and period pieces throughout. Cute gift shop. Some of the rooms have items just kind of crowded in them - not in any particular order - would love to see more rooms decorated how they actually would have been. Also, wish you could see more than just the main floor.

This is a fascinating building and museum. It's preserved so well that most of it isn't a museum, it's used by the University of Tampa for classrooms and the absolutely coolest professor offices in all of American Academia. The museum part is an impressive Age of Industrialization collection, that is displayed in a manner that is engaging and captivating. The almost $20 dollar admission fee is surprisingly worth it, make sure you grab one of the "narration wands," someone has gone through a lot of trouble to develop one of the best self-guided tours I've encountered. Along with the Dali Museum, the two best museums in the Tampa Bay Area.

A photographer's dream Merely approaching this building transports you to a period of manners, candlelight, and long gowns. Although the museum is only about 10 small rooms along a lavishly decorated (haunted-looking) hallway, it's stuffed with Henry Plant's treasures. The audio tour is the best way to relive the past, but the audio device is awkward to hold (a remote control thingy you put up to your ear). Decor items will stir up conversation, but children may find the artifacts boring. Plus you can't touch. The attendant was eager to share her additional knowledge especially when it came to exploring outside the museum boundaries... and do it! The rest of the building (when the students are hiding) is a photographer's dream. Long hallways with arched windows, dark wood railings, and that gorgeous outside 'patio' of columns, carvings, and tile. (think-- wedding photo walkway and background!)

This is a very neat place, if you like Tampa history and historical architecture. The museum is on the UT campus and is in a small corner of the Tampa Bay Hotel. Rooms were restored back to how they used to be as a hotel, and there are displays talking about Henry B. Plant, travel in the 1890s, and the Spanish-American War. For $10, you get your admission to this small but lovely place as well as a detailed audioguide. You can easily spend a couple hours here, lost in a different time.

I was recently in town for my stepdaughter's graduation, and her Mother recommended I take a look at the Victorian Christmas Stroll at The Plant. I was working from the hotel so decided to walk over on my lunch break. It was a perfectly pleasant place, and I especially enjoyed the little video that runs every 10 minutes or so (maybe more) that gives a history of the The Plant Museum and its origins as The Tampa Bay Hotel. When you are done with the movie you can leisurely "stroll" around the building looking at the spectacular Christmas decorations. Each room has a theme that relates back to some event or person associated with Hotel. Beautiful, historical, and informative. The gift shop was also full of cool stuff. All in all, well worth the $10 entry fee.

I have only visited during the Victorian Christmas Stroll which I highly recommend. This isn't really a kid friendly museum. My teens were not interested either. However, it is a great spot for those interested in Tampa and/or Florida history. I enjoyed the self-guided audio tour. I learned a great deal about Henry Plant and the former Tampa Bay Hotel as well as the railroad. I had no clue the range of influence Henry Plant had on Tampa. I recommended taking your self-guided tour beyond the museum and walk around the area including the University of Tampa's campus. Stop by the gift shop, too!

Note: We found it best to park in the POE garage and walk the easy (and beautiful) .6 mile along the Riverwalk and through Henry Plant Park to get to the museum. Nearby parking is sparse. That said, what a magnificent museum! Stunning to see the building and lovely furnishings. Imagining what it must have been like to enjoy an extended stay at the Tampa Bay Hotel in the late 1890s. The individual audio tour units were easy to use and provided great narratives of about 35 different focal points. Several offered additional narratives, so be sure to listen to the complete narrative as these "bonus" items are mentioned at the end. We spent about 2 hours and still didn't see everything as thoroughly as I would have liked. Fortunately, I live only an hour from Tampa and this has gone on the "what shall I do today" list of nearby adventures. It's a one of a kind place with a fantastic history.

Soaring above the trees, as you drive through downtown Tampa, you might be a bit confused as to your whereabouts. You may think you suddenly took a carpet ride to the Middle East or some other part of the world, as you see the blindingly shiny, silver minarets and domes glistening in the sun. In the early 90's, all were restored to their original stainless steel state. Since it is on the campus of the University of Tampa, you might dismiss it as perhaps being part of the university's whimsical architectural design and leave it at that, but in addition to being part of the university, it actually operates as a museum, believe it or not, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not stopping by and checking it out. There is plenty to see at this stunning, unique National Historic Landmark! While now a museum, it used to be the Tampa Bay Hotel, just like Flagler College in St. Augustine used to be the Ponce de Leon Hotel. Ironically, both men behind these splendorous buildings share more than just a vision for luxurious hotels and hospitality: they were both railroad pioneers, except Henry B. Plant focused on the West Coast, and Henry Flagler focused on the East Coast. When Henry B. Plant brought the railroad to Tampa in 1884, he opened the door for many businesses to flourish. He also saw opportunity, in the form of opening a large, palatial hotel, but not everyone could get on board with his vision. As a result, he was forced to fork out the approximately $2,500,000 to build it, and $500,000 to furnish it. The hotel was considered unique not only in its looks, which blends Victorian trimming, as well as Moorish Revival architecture, but it was also completely fireproof, made from concrete and steel railing, as well as brick. It consisted of 511 rooms, and a degree of luxury never before seen in Tampa. Most of the rooms had private baths and all had electricity and telephones, something taken for granted these days, but considered opulent back then. Speaking of opulence, there was also a freight elevator. If you take a tour of the Henry B. Plant Museum, you will see one of the elevators, which still works, and was the first elevator ever installed in Florida. It is also one of the oldest continually operational elevators in the nation! You will also see the stunningly beautiful porcelain decorations, vases, Venetian mirrors and sculptures, all handpicked by Mr. and Mrs. Plant, while traveling through Europe. All the furnishings you will see are original to the hotel, save for some replicas of the original pieces. Open from December to April throughout the 1890s, the Hotel was a lively place. It also contained a golf course, tennis courts, billiards, a racetrack, a music room, and a casino -- even a zoo. It hosted celebrities such as Sarah Bernhardt, Clara Barton, Stephen Crane, the Prince of Wales, Winston Churchill, Ignacy Paderewski. Babe Ruth was also a guest of the hotel during its latter days, and signed his first baseball contract in the Grand Dining Room. In 1919, Ruth hit his longest home run (and possibly the longest ever hit in official competition) during a spring training game at Plant Field, adjacent to the hotel. Unfortunately, the Great Depression severely affected tourism, and the hotel became a casualty, finally having to close in 1930. It was considered outdated and out of place in its appearance by then as well, and there were cheaper options that also offered the symmetrical, clean lines reflected by the newer style of Art Deco architecture. The hotel remained empty and unused for three years. Today, besides serving as offices and classrooms for the University of Tampa, the entire south wing of the building is dedicated to preserving the glory days of the old Tampa Bay Hotel. The solarium/lobby section as you enter is somewhat off-limits, though you can get through if you are patient and creative in finding a way in. It is in a severe state of disrepair, which is sad to see. Other than that, the gilded furniture elsewhere is in very good condition, and you will find the original 1916 bathroom fascinating. While most of the furniture has been moved around from its original placement, the writing & reading room is considered to be the most authentic space remaining. The dark woods and rich leather are beautiful and masculine, and the original ochre wall color from 1891 has been restored. My favorite part of the self-guided tour was the huge parlor suite, with the stunningly beautiful Victorian bed made from carved wood. Since the bed was under a minaret, it not only provided some nice breezes, but also a beautiful finish in the form of an arched ceiling above the bed. Notice the keyhole-shaped, carved wood doors in every room. No detail was spared! If you close your eyes, perhaps you can imagine yourself at the hotel in Victorian garb, holding a parasol, and rubbing elbows with the educated, well-traveled elite, while enjoying a live classical music concert.

The museum is housed in a hotel that had a lobby, a grand staircase with a knight on the finial, and an antique Otis elevator.

This is unlike other university-owned museum, but is filled with tons of valuable and beautiful collections all over the space. (See the pic) The building of the University of Tampa originally served a luxurious hotel from 1881-1891, known as the Tampa Bay Hotel. So, the museum's collection came from that period. The exterior look of the building is still intact today with these unique Islamic minarets. There are some beautiful decors remaining inside the building as well. It's worth to take a look.

One look at Plant Hall and I knew I wanted to attend The University of Tampa! After falling in love with Tampa and Plant Hall I visited the Henry B. Plant Museum to learn more about the History of Plant Hall. When you enter the Grand Hall you can tell how extravagant the hotel was. There is a collection of art and furniture from the Victorian period decorated in the hall and busts and life-sized statues line the corridors. The romantic staircase leads up to the former hotel rooms, now classrooms. The Writing & Reading Room has been preserved to appear exactly like it did in 1898. The museum holds special exhibitions throughout the year. My two favorite exhibitions are the Gasparilla exhibit and the Christmas display. Check out the Victorian Stroll that is held every December! If you want to learn more about Tampa and Plant Hall check out the Henry B. Plant Museum!

Stunning historic building with many of the original furnishings and statues on display with a handset guided tour so you can go at your own pace. Only a portion is museum, the rest is Tampa University. Totally worth the time and money. Got a discount on Groupon.