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Offered languages
- German
- English
Step into early 20th-century Tampa, where hotel magnates, newspaper editors, and railroad promoters pulled off the ultimate marketing stunt. They invented a bloodthirsty Spanish pirate named Jose Gaspar, gave him fake diaries, and turned him into the city's patron saint. On this offbeat walking journey along the Hillsborough River, explore how a Gilded Age hotel, steel-hulled pirate ships, and the world's longest continuous sidewalk were built to serve a completely fictional character.
- A 4.6 km self-guided tour with 7 stops over 131 min
- Ideal for travelers interested in Pop Culture & Media Landscapes and History & Memory
- Immersively told in a podcast style by experts and locals
- Matching audio content, AI guide and navigation through the app
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet outside the Henry B. Plant Museum at the historic Tampa Bay Hotel on W Kennedy Blvd. From the main Tampa transit hub, take local transit toward the museum and walk the final stretch. Check current connections; there is no waiting guide.
The tour ends at the northern start of Bayshore Boulevard by its junction with W Platt St, just south of the Platt Street Bridge. Walk to the nearest transit stop for your return to the main Tampa transit hub and check current connections on the day of travel.
Itinerary
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1Henry B. Plant Museum
The historic Tampa Bay Hotel where Gilded Age tourism began and Gasparilla's first society balls took place.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Central riverfront lawn showing how private krewe rituals expanded into a massive municipal invasion.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
A historic downtown park that highlights 20th-century corporate power, demolition, and social integration battles.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Tampa Bay History Center
A waterfront history museum containing map archives and exhibits that explore and debunk the Jose Gaspar myth.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
A historic bascule bridge over the Hillsborough River, key to the annual mayoral surrender ceremony.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Tampa Convention Center
At the Convention Center waterfront dock, hear the story of the Jose Gasparilla II, a steel-hulled pirate ship built in 1954 to materialize Tampa's Gaspar myth. The ship may not be present outside events.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Bayshore Boulevard
The northern start of Bayshore Boulevard near W Platt Street: a famed continuous waterfront sidewalk and main parade route for Gasparilla.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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