Tampa Bay Hotel
by Ben Prepelka
Title
Tampa Bay Hotel
Artist
Ben Prepelka
Medium
Photograph
Description
During the mid 1800s, Henry Bradley Plant became a successful businessman, entrepreneur, and investor with his interests chiefly involving railroads in southeastern United States. Founder of the Plant System of railroads and steamboats, Plant is best known for connecting the Tampa Bay area and southwest Florida to the nation's railroad system.
Hoping to rival Henry Flagler’s opulent Ponce de Leon Hotel on Florida's east coast in St. Augustine, Plant chose New York architect J.A. Wood to design a luxury resort hotel in Tampa, Florida. Selecting a Moorish style of architecture, the premier hotel signaled the beginning of Florida’s west coast tourist industry. With its tropical surroundings and topped in stainless steel minarets with crescent moons, the 511 room hotel joined the Gilded Age of tourism.
The hotel, a National Historic Landmark, now houses to The University of Tampa and the Henry B. Plant Museum.
Uploaded
December 19th, 2021
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Comments (11)
HH Photography of Florida
Always a favorite place to visit when in Tampa. Great capture of the minarets and nice description, Ben. L/fv
Skip Willits
Great image Ben. May you and yours have a Merry Christmas and Happy New year. God Bless.
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