Frequently Asked Questions about Ybor City Museum State Park

Question: Where are you located?
Answer: The Ybor City Museum State Park is located at 1818 East 9th Avenue in Tampa. The Museum is a former bakery building near the intersection of 9th Avenue and 19th Street and has a yellow brick front. From I-4 get off at exit 1 and turn on to 21st Street (it’s one way) heading south, turn right onto Palm Avenue, Take the second left onto 19th Street and the immediate next right onto 9th Avenue, the museum on the right. Coming from North or South of Tampa take I-275 to I-4 and follow the above directions. If you’re travelling on I-75 take it to I-4 and head West to Exit 1 and follow the above directions. 5/12/2003 9:10:53 AM

Question: What are your hours of operation?
Answer: The Museum is open 9am –5pm, seven days a week. The Museum closes only for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.

Question: What’s in the Museum?
Answer: The Museum tells the history of Ybor City from its founding in 1886 to the beginning of the decline in the 1930s. The history is focused on the cigar industry that made Tampa known as the Cigar Capital of the World. As the Museum building was formerly a bakery known as the Ferlita Bakery, part of the museum tells the building’s history with exhibits in and around the original ovens. The Museum is set up to be self-guided with exhibits, written and audio taped information and a self-started video.

Question: Can we tour a cigar factory building?
Answer: In the Ybor City area there are no cigar factories that offer a tour of the manufacturing of cigars.

Question: Do you sell bakery goods?
Answer: Although the museum building was a bakery it is not operating any longer. However there is an excellent bakery not far called La Secunda Central Bakery located on the South West corner of 15th Street and 15th Avenue whose history in the community dates back to the "Hey Day” of Ybor City.

Question: Where do we park to visit the Museum?
Answer: Parking is available on the street at the parking meters (quarters only) or at one of the metered lots located off of 8th Avenue or one of the Parking Garages. One Parking Garage is located on 9th Avenue between 13th Street and Nick Nuccio Parkway, 6 blocks West of the Museum. Another Parking Garage is located at 15th Street and 5th Avenue and is 6 blocks diagonally from the Museum. Two Hour Free Parking is available on 7th Avenue during the day but it fills up fast.

Question: Do you have camping available?
Answer: Camping is not available at the Ybor City Museum State Park. This is a .97 acre urban park dedicated to the preservation of Ybor City’s unique cultural heritage.

Question: Is there a walking tour of Ybor City?
Answer: Yes, there is a walking tour of Ybor City provided by the Ybor City Museum Society, our Citizen Support Organization. The tours are held on Saturdays at 10:30 am and the cost is $5.00 per person for everyone 6 and older, which includes Museum admission. The tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours and begins at the Museum. We suggest that participants come early to get signed up because the tour is limited to 20 persons. If you have a group and would like to arrange for a private walking tour, contact the Ybor City Museum Society at 813-247-1434.

Question: Where is the Ybor City Visitor Information Center?
Answer: The Visitor Information Center is located on the South side of 8th Avenue in the Centro Ybor area. It is run by the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce and the address is 1600 8th Avenue Suite B104. To contact the Visitor Information Center call 813-241-8838 or visit their web site at www.ybor.org