If you’ve always thought of Tampa Bay as a fully modern city, learning about its history may surprise you. Why not take a trip down to the Tampa Bay History Center to learn more about its colorful heritage? The building itself is a sleek, urban structure made of concrete and glass, but the interior is brimming with 12,000 years’ worth of Florida’s story. Instead of just looking at antiques behind a glass screen, you’ll be immersed in an interactive world that brings the past to life. Start at the Treasure Seekers’ Gallery where you’ll move through shipwrecks and discover the first Spanish conquistadors who came to conquer Florida, and meet the infamous pirate Jack Rackham. Explore a life-size replica of a 1920s-era cigar store, during which time the links between Florida and Cuba were particularly strong. It’s a story about immigration, politics, and the culture that gets brought along with the trade. Finally, visit Your Tampa Bay, an interactive map of the region that allows you to visit all your favorite landmarks in a virtual reality space. With photographs of the past and interesting titbits of information, you’ll see these places with new eyes. Overall, an afternoon spent here will definitely allow you to walk away much more enlightened and knowledgeable about Tampa Bay.