Ybor City is a historic neighborhood in Tampa, Florida, named after Vicente Martinez-Ybor, a prominent Spanish born cigar manufacturer. It was founded by thousands of Cuban, Spanish and Italian immigrants who flocked there to work in the cigar factories. It has been designated as a National Historic Landmark District. Many of the old cigar factory buildings have been restored and rennovated as theaters, restaurants, a community college and shops. Recently several typical small wooden houses of the era were removed from along Interstate 4 and rebuilt near the Ybor City museum and along Columbus Drive. Each house has a plaque giving it's history. Old streetcars have been restored to run through the center of Ybor City.
The immigration memorial is located in Centennial Park, across the street from the Ybor City Museum. The walls surrounding this statue are inscribed with the names of hundreds of immigrant families. The statue was dedicated in 1992.
The Ybor City Museum
located in the 1923 Ferlita Bakery Building
For more information:
http://www.ybor.org/ The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce website
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ybor_City an article about the history of the Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa
http://www.tampapix.com/yborimmig.htm The Ybor City Centennial Park Immigrant Memorial Website
Copyright 2011, Heather Wilkinson Rojo
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