Ybor City has a rich culture and history all its own — from the first Cuban cigar rollers to the famed Columbia Restaurant. These photos, from the State Archives of Florida, depict Ybor City through the years, starting in the 1880s and reaching into the next century.
Ybor City street scene sometime in 1885.Residences in Ybor City. 1885.Review of troops – Ybor City, Florida. 1889Bird’s eye view overlooking Spanish-American War camp at Ybor City. 1898.Camp of the 3rd Ohio Volunteers at Ybor City. 1898.View of 7th Avenue in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1908.Max and Sender Argintar behind the counter at Max’s store. 1908.Streetcar and buildings in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. Sometime in the early 1900s.Isidor Kaunitz and Max Argintar outside El Sombrero Blanco on 7th Avenue, between 1903 and 1908.View down a street in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1910.A parade in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. Sometime in the 1910s.General CollectionHavana-American Cigar factory. 1910s.Centro Espanol in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1914.People stand on the intersection of 14th Street and 9th Avenue in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. Date unknown.Interior view of a cigar factory – Tampa, Florida. Date unknown.Burgert’s Studio – Tampa, Florida. 1919.7th Avenue, Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. Sometime in the 1920s.Tampa Forge & Ornamental Iron Works. The founder of the company Joseph G. Christ is in the center. 1920s.Tampa Forge & Ornamental Iron Works, located at 2nd Avenue and 19th Street. Ybor City, Florida. 1925.Interior view of the P.A. Spoto hardware store – Tampa, Florida. 1925.Ybor City scene, including Las Novedades Restaurant – Tampa, Florida. 1926.Caligiuri’s Machine Shop – Ybor City, Florida. 1932.Ybor City adult education class – Tampa, Florida. 1935.Max and Sammy Argintar in Max’s men’s furnishings store. 1937. Credit: Photo via Florida MemoryThe Famous Garcia’s Place, 7th Ave. and 16th St. – Ybor City. Date unknown.Advertisement for Las Novedades cafe – Ybor City, Florida. 1940s.Centro Asturiano in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1947Las Novedades Spanish restaurant in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1947.Souvenir of Columbia, the gem of Spanish restaurants – Ybor City, publish date unknown.Tampa Forge & Ornamental Iron Works – Ybor City, Florida. 1950s.Members of the Southern Governors Conference dining at the Columbia Restaurant – Ybor City, Florida. 1956.Young women in Spanish costume pose on a balcony in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1957A family takes pictures in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1966.Playing cards at an Ybor City social club – Tampa, Florida. 1966.People in costume at Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1965.Ybor City street scene – Tampa. 1965.Ybor City street scene – Tampa, Florida. 1965.Large crowd gathered in Ybor City for the Gasparilla Carnival, circa 1966 Credit: https://www.floridamemory.com/Gasparilla festival in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1966.Columbia Restaurant entertainment – Ybor City, Florida. 1968.Front of “Julio El Mexicano” in Ybor City. Not before 1969. Credit: Photo via Florida MemoryGiant paella at Fiesta Day in Ybor City. Not before 1969.Interior view of dining area in Ybor Square. Not before 1969.Shoppers viewing furniture for sale at the Ybor Square market. Not before 1969.Interior view of dining area in Ybor Square. Not before 1969.The photograph was taken during the Bean Soup Festival in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida. 1972.Three children dressed in Spanish costume during the Bean Soup Festival in Ybor City. 1972.Cigar company in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1972.Ybor City street scene – Tampa, Florida. 1972.View of restaurant across intersection in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1972Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1973.Steak and Brew restaurant in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1973.Ybor Factory Building – Tampa, Florida. 1974.Cuban cigar makers at work – Ybor City, Florida. 1974.Ybor Factory Building – Tampa, Florida. 1974.Ybor City street scene – Tampa, Florida. 1974.Ybor City building – Tampa, Florida. 1974.Ybor City street scene – Tampa, Florida. 1974Nostalgia market area in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1975.Ybor City street scene – Tampa, Florida. 1975.Nostalgia market area in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1975.Ybor City street scene – Tampa, Florida. 1976.Ybor Square – Tampa, Florida. 1977.Ybor Square – Tampa, Florida. 1977.Rough Riders Restaurant in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1979.Couple taking photographs in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. 1979.Restaurant in Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. Date unknown.Ybor City street scene – Tampa, Florida. 1986.Shops along Ybor City – Tampa, Florida. Date unknown. Credit: Photo via Florida Memory
