I spent the last few weeks traveling around Florida and I was excited to find so many cool places, from stunning historic buildings to white sandy beaches. By far one of my favorite spots in Tampa was Bayshore Boulevard. Located in south Tampa on the water, the boulevard features a linear park with a beautiful historic balustrade along the seawall.
The idea of the park began with the development of a suburb and trolly car system in 1891-1893, 3 miles south of what was then Tampa. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) is responsible for many upgrades between 1934 and 1939, including the construction of the long white balustrade, now emblematic of the park.
The balustrade is an eye-catching piece of the park and was recently redone (catch a glimpse of it pre-renovation here). Not only is Bayshore Boulevard an enjoyable walk in its own right, but the Hyde Park neighborhood is full of beautiful old houses, included many listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I visited following a heavy rainstorm, and despite the giant puddles and setting sun, I kept walking further. The changing views and colorful sunset were a dreamy scene.
Sources and further reading:
City of Tampa, Bayshore Linear Park Trail
The Cultural Landscape Foundation on Bayshore Boulevard (includes a brief history and a photo of the balustrade pre-renovation).
Curious about the neighborhood? I visited the area a few times during my stay and posted pictures of some of the houses on my Instagram. This one was my favorite!
I only went to Tampa once, and loved it. I took the streetcar out to Ybor City.
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That sounds cool! I would like to go back, didn’t get to see Ybor City and definitely want to visit St. Pete’s.
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Haven’t been to Tampa since 1993 or 1994. Sure is a lot to see there. I didn’t make it to Bayshore Boulevard though! Regret it now; this is lovely.
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There is definitely a lot to see–I had no idea! And, the Boulevard is a great spot.
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[…] If you’re visiting, check out the Henry B. Plant Museum. Then complete your visit with a trip through the Hyde Park neighborhood and to Bayshore Boulevard (which I wrote about previously here). […]
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[…] The WPA did some amazing projects throughout the Unites States, including the Bayshore Boulevard ballustrade in Tampa, Florida, which I recently wrote about here. […]
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The pictures look beautiful. Would love to visit Tampa sometime .
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Thank you! I had no idea what to expect, but ended up loving South Tampa.
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The photos bring back memories of Singapore’s East Coast park (ECP) along the waterside. i used to love walking , cycling or just gazing at the sunrise from the jetty there.
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Interesting, I will have to look it up! And yes, I could spend so much time here. The view never gets old.
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[…] Historic preservation has taught me that history and stories are everywhere, if you look close enough. Historic preservation isn’t limited to buildings! It is sometimes the other features that intrigue the most. The beautiful balustrade on Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard, for example. It’s much more than just a pretty railing. (Read more: Tampa’s Historic Bayshore Boulevard.) […]
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[…] 3. I was lucky to visit Florida this February! Favorite spots in Tampa? The Tampa Hotel and the Bayshore Boulevard. […]
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