Downtown in Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Hillsborough River Ferry

— 1846~1888 —

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, July 10, 2023

1. Hillsborough River Ferry Marker

Inscription. At the nearby junction of Jackson Street and the Hillsborough River was the east bank docking site of the Tampa Ferry, the only means of crossing the river in pioneer days. The ferry was an open deck, flat barge, hand pulled by means of a steel cable. It operated until 1888, when construction of the first bridge terminated its usefulness.

Appointed by the County Commissioners, the first ferryman was Thomas Piper, 1846; followed by Benjamin J. Hagler, 1848; Gen. Jesse Carter, 1854; Domenico Ghira, 1864; Jesse J. Hayden 1869.

Erected 2022 by Hillsborough County Historic Commission 1977- Replacement marker erected by the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 27° 56.78′ N, 82° 27.541′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of East Jackson Street (State Road 60) and North Ashley Drive, on the right when traveling east on East Jackson Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post

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office area: Tampa FL 33602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History in the Air (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The War Years (about 400 feet away); Technology • Power • Diversity (about 400 feet away); Tampa Goes to War (about 400 feet away); MacDill: 1950 to 2000 (about 400 feet away); Today at MacDill AFB (about 400 feet away); In the Beginning... (about 400 feet away); Tampa Bay and MacDill (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Additional commentary.
1. New marker
A new marker has been erected a block away from the original location.

— Submitted April 9, 2024, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.