National Register of Historic Places

Tampa Free Public Library, Old

Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida
Listed
May 15, 1991
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
91000618

About this property

The Old Tampa Free Public Library (also known as the Exceptional Children Education Center) is a historic building in the Tampa Heights neighborhood of Tampa, Florida. Located at 102 E. 7th Avenue, it was one of 10 Florida Carnegie libraries to receive grants awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1901 to 1917. It was designed by Tampa architect Fred J. James and constructed from 1915 to 1917. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie provided funding for more than 3,000 Carnegie libraries in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The library was built using a $50,000 grant from Carnegie. The library's first director was Helen V. Stelle. It was Tampa's main library until 1968. It includes a T-plan, masonry, brown and yellow brick atop a rusticated granite basement, and is topped by a barrel tile roof. The building was rehabilitated in 1999 by the City of Tampa for public offices. It has been occupied by the administrative staff of the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System since November 2016 and also houses the Hillsborough Literacy Council, which is affiliated with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library system.

Location

102 E. Seventh Ave.
Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida
27.96067, -82.46048

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Tampa Free Public Library, Old

This page lists Tampa Free Public Library, Old. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Tampa Free Public Library, Old report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Upper North Franklin Street Commercial District
Listed
0.1 mi
Gardner, Isaac Sr., House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Perry Harvey Sr. Park Skateboard Bowl
Industrial
0.4 mi
North Franklin Street Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Tampa Heights Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Tampa Bay (FL)
1863Civil War
0.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Tampa Free Public Library, Old listed on the National Register?

Tampa Free Public Library, Old was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 15, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Tampa Free Public Library, Old?

Tampa Free Public Library, Old is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Tampa Free Public Library, Old?

The period of significance for Tampa Free Public Library, Old is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Tampa Free Public Library, Old?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Tampa Free Public Library, Old will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Hillsborough County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Hillsborough County.

Explore HillsboroughCounty ›

More historic places in Florida

Browse all historic places in Florida.

View Floridahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Florida history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Floridahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Tampa Free Public Library, Old will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report