Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Centro Español de Tampa
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 28, 2008
1. Centro Español de Tampa Marker
Inscription.
Centro Español de Tampa. . Chartered on September 7, 1891, El Centro Español was the first Latin club organized in Ybor City. As a mutual aid society, it provided early Spanish immigrants with a framework by which they maintained their identity and culture while supplying social privileges and death and injury benefits. Financed by stock pledges of $10 each by the original 186 Charter Members, the society opened the first club building in June 1892 on land purchased by Ignacio Haya at 16th Street and 7th Avenue. The membership soon outgrew the original building. By 1909 club officers embarked on a building campaign to build two new clubhouses - one in Ybor City and one to accommodate members in West Tampa. Completed in 1912, El Centro Español de Tampa sits on the site of the original structure on 7th Avenue. The long, two-story rectangular building houses a cantina and ballroom at its south end separated by a foyer and stairhall from the theater at its north end. The parapet of the stagehouse steps above the roof line of the main building at the north end of the site. The red brick edifice reflects the French Renaissance Revival style with Moorish and Spanish influence. In 1988 the Department of the Interior designated El Centro Español de Tampa a National Historic Landmark.
Chartered on September 7, 1891, El Centro Español was the first Latin club organized in Ybor City. As a mutual aid society, it provided early Spanish immigrants with a framework by which they maintained their identity and culture while supplying social privileges and death and injury benefits. Financed by stock pledges of $10 each by the original 186 Charter Members, the society opened the first club building in June 1892 on land purchased by Ignacio Haya at 16th Street and 7th Avenue. The membership soon outgrew the original building. By 1909 club officers embarked on a building campaign to build two new clubhouses - one in Ybor City and one to accommodate members in West Tampa. Completed in 1912, El Centro Español de Tampa sits on the site of the original structure on 7th Avenue. The long, two-story rectangular building houses a cantina and ballroom at its south end separated by a foyer and stairhall from the theater at its north end. The parapet of the stagehouse steps above the roof line of the main building at the north end of the site. The red brick edifice reflects the French Renaissance Revival style with Moorish and Spanish influence. In 1988 the Department of the Interior designated El Centro Español de Tampa a National Historic Landmark.
Erected 1998 by City of
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Tampa,The Ybor City Development Corporation and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-383.)
Location. 27° 57.617′ N, 82° 26.503′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is at the intersection of East 7th Avenue/Broadway Avenue (State Road 45/574) and North16th Street on East 7th Avenue/Broadway Avenue. Located in Ybor City Historic District of Tampa. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tampa FL 33605, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The building's south facade along La Séptima (7th Avenue) features a cast-iron canopy framing the original main entrance (left). The historical marker can be seen in the foreground of the building's east facade, to the left of the palm tree.
To the left of the Centro Español marker another historical marker is mounted on the building itself. The marker corresponds to the statue of Roland M. Manteiga, both of which appear in the shadows near the building's corner.
Photographed By AGS Media, April 26, 2009
4. Centro Español de Tampa Marker
Reverse view, looking south toward the corner of East 7th Avenue(La Séptima) and North 16th Street.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 28, 2008
5. Centro Ybor Muvico 20 Theatres,
Built in the 1990's as part of the Centro Ybor commercial and entertainment complex.
Photographed By AGS Media, June 4, 2010
6. El Centro Español de Tampa
Rear of building seen along East 8th Street from the 2nd story overlook near the Muvico cinema box office.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 3,071 times since then and 30 times this year. Last updated on June 9, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 2, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 3. submitted on May 16, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 4. submitted on June 9, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 5. submitted on July 2, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6. submitted on June 9, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.