The museum’s collections date from prehistoric Gulf Coast Florida to the present. The collection covers all spheres of life, public and domestic, in a fairly complete manner. The research library contains 9,638 books, manuals, maps, documents, microfilm and family/subject papers all Florida history based. Genealogical materials and books number at 1,000 contain the southern states and the 13 colonies. The collection includes artifacts, paintings, textiles, utilitarian ceramics, postcards, documents, ephemera and furniture with a recognized need or relevance, to Florida and specifically to our regional area.
Tampa Bay History Center has an exceptional collection of over 1,000 Tampa cigar industry related items, and has received a gift of Florida Seminole objects and materials from the Charles L. Knight Family. Many veterans who were stationed at one of our county’s three air bases have generously donated relevant material to the collection. The collections are assembled to complement and strengthen the interpretation of the history of our area and state. The Discovery Center contains collection objects, in an historic timeline method, for visitors to actively engage themselves. Large galleries, in the new facility, showcase maritime heritage, Cigar City, Crackers & Cowmen, Seminole materials and our changing environment.
The education collection contains unaccessioned, duplicate, replications and expendable items and consists of some 125 objects directly related to life in Historic Hillsborough County and Florida. These items are used in gallery Discovery Boxes, History-to- Go Kits, hands-on tours, teacher workshops and programs.