City Center
In the heart of downtown is a bustling business hub known as much for its power lunches as for its picturesque appeal. It may appear all business with high-rise office towers and upscale hotels dominating the landscape, but peel away the business side to the City Center and you will uncover some of the best places downtown has to offer, with shops, restaurants and all other downtown amenities just minutes away.
General boundaries
Hillsborough River, Madison Street, Florida Avenue, Jackson Street, Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway
District Gems
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA): A museum dedicated to exhibiting important photographic art as central to contemporary life and culture, FMoPA collects, preserves and exhibits historic and contemporary works by nationally and internationally known photographic artists. FMoPA also enriches the community by operating outreach programs to educate children and adults.
Lykes Gaslight Square: Once a vacant block of land, Lykes Gaslight Square was transformed by the Tampa Downtown Partnership into one of the most utilized public green spaces in the entire downtown area. It is home to a host of special events that take place year round. Its tree-lined sidewalks make for an excellent refuge from the Florida sun on the way to a meeting or a relaxing location for people watching. At night, the gas lamps illuminate a tranquil glow throughout the park.
Old Tampa Book Company: This site is one for the books. Antiquarian, out-of-print and used books may be rare at other stores, but here they are the main event. Pore over the written word here with more than 40,000 books available on all subjects for some intellectual inspiration.
Tampa Downtown Market: Local produce meets local pride in this great gathering. The Market is a place where local farms, producers and artisans offer fresh agricultural and related products, generating economic development in downtown Tampa, growing the popularity of the city and its community. You’ll find nature’s best here, as well as good-natured people to share the experience with.
Rampello Downtown Partnership School: Founded by the Tampa Downtown Partnership in partnership with the School District of Hillsborough County and the State of Florida, this K-8 school serves the downtown workforce population. A public “choice” school, Rampello Downtown Partnership School takes full advantage of its location near cultural and educational venues. The school offers creative instructional programs and teaches foreign language and music as a regular course. While many schools have to scale back on field trips, this downtown school can make a trip to a downtown museum or historic site by foot.
Tampa Police Museum: Dedicated to honoring Tampa police officers killed in the line of duty, and to preserve historically important records, books and police equipment, the Tampa Police Museum is an exciting place to tour. The museum urges the teaching of police science and work by offering educational programs to the public. It also promotes the enthusiasm for a police career, and urges visitors to find out more.
District Fun Facts
- Several office towers and hotels feature beautiful public art displays, making the downtown area one of the best free public “art galleries” in the city.
- Some call it graffiti. In downtown, it’s considered art. Northern universities use the Hillsborough River for crew team practice in the winter months. The seawall on the Hillsborough River from the Kennedy Bridge to the Platt Street Bridge shows the enthusiastic and artistic side of these athletes.