Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa

Smoke. Style. Stories. Step into Tampa’s rich industrial past with Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa, a 20-minute docent-led tour offered every Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Tampa Bay History Center.

Explore how skilled artisans crafted hand-rolled cigars in bustling factories, shaping the city’s cultural identity and earning Tampa its legendary nickname “Cigar City.” From the rise of Ybor City as a global cigar-making hub to the stories of the immigrant communities who built it, this tour brings to life one of the most defining chapters in Tampa’s history.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about the city you’re staying in, this is a fascinating glimpse into the craftsmanship and culture that made Tampa what it is today.