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

Orange Grove Hotel

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2010

1. Orange Grove Hotel Marker

Inscription. Erected in 1859, as a residence, by Capt. William Brinton Hooker, on the northwest corner of Madison and East Streets. A Georgia native, he moved to Florida in 1830 and signed its first Constitution in 1839. In 1843 Hooker settled in Hillsborough County and became Florida's pre-Civil War "Cattle King," owning over 10,000 head. He also commanded volunteer troops during the Seminole Indians Wars. Hooker's Point was named for him. During the Civil War, his house was used as Confederate officers' headquarters. In 1866, Hooker converted the three-story, 33-room wood frame structure into the Orange Grove Hotel, so named because of the orange trees planted on the property. From 1869 it was operated by his son-in-law, Judge Henry L. Crane. The hotel was Tampa's social center and entertained such figures as Gov. Henry L. Mitchell, Sidney Lanier, Thomas A. Edison, Gen. Wm. T. Sherman and Henry B. Plant. It boasted telephone service in 1882. Sold by Hooker's heirs in 1885, the building was later used as a hotel, railroad office, rooming house and finally as freight traffic depot for the Seaboard Railroad before its demolition in 1945.

Erected 1992 by Tampa Historical Society in Cooperation with Kyle S. Vanlandingham, a Great-Great-Great Grandson of Hooker.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these

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topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 27° 56.958′ N, 82° 27.192′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Downtown. It is on East Kennedy Boulevard (U.S. 41) near East Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post 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: John T. Lesley Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Emiliano Jose (E.J.) Salcines (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Fitzgerald Kennedy (about 500 feet away); War Memorial (about 500 feet away); Operation Iraqi Freedom Memorial I (about 700 feet away); Operation Iraqi Freedom Memorial II (about 700 feet away); 1851 † 1891 (about 700 feet away); Hillsborough Lodge (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Also see . . . Captain William Brinton Hooker, Florida Cattle King, By Kyle S. VanLandingham. For over forty years he had played a prominent role in the pioneer life of south Georgia and Florida. (Submitted on March 8, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Orange Grove Hotel Marker as seen along East Kennedy Blvd. (US 41, State Road 60) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, January 9, 2010

2. Orange Grove Hotel Marker as seen along East Kennedy Blvd. (US 41, State Road 60)

Currently the Courthouse Annex sits at the location listed

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 4,300 times since then and 132 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 8, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.