- Registration is required for this event.
- Registration will open on February 23, 2026 @ 9:00am.
Program Description
Cigar City: The Story of Ybor City and West Tampa
Presented by:
- Henry Valenti, History Krewe docent, Tampa Bay History Center
A Florida History Lecture Series Winter 2026 "Made in Florida" program
Program begins promptly at 2PM
About This Lecture
By 1885, the cigar industry had transformed Tampa from a sleepy fishing village of 700 people into a booming, multicultural city. How did this industry take root, grow and eventually decline? What effects has it had on modern Tampa? Join Tampa Bay History Center Krewe member Henry Valenti, a descendant of the first cigar markers, for an exploration into this fascinating history!
About This Series
What do sunscreen, bell peppers, sugarcane, sponges, and strawberries all have in common? If you guessed that they are made or produced in Florida, you'd be right! Every day, we enjoy products that we might not realize are made in our own backyard. Join the Sarasota County History Center for the Winter 2025 Florida History Lecture Series "Made in Florida" to uncover the stories of the cultural, agricultural, and economic impact of Florida's past!