Ok, so last post we talked about the story of Henry Plant and the Plant Hotel. Now, it's time to look around the outside. Above is the exstensive ornate back porch of the main Hotel building, which now serves as the main entrance to the administrative hall of the University of Tampa, as well as the Plant museum. Below is a view of the former Hotel from the "back".
These bronze hunting dogs above were an invitation for guests to use the Hotel's dogs for local hunting. Originally, they faced the other way, looking at a bronze squirrel in a tree. The squirrel dissapeared, and the dogs were turned around. Below is a marker for the hotel.
This walk of Cabbage palms used to be much longer, and led from the Hotel to the Hydriotic Esplanade, docks, and boat slips. The Canon below are from Fort Brooke, built during the Seminole Wars, that became the first settlements of Tampa. The Hotel's casino, power plant, and conservatory all used to be behind these canon, but several of the original buildings are now gone.
Ok, so last post we talked about the story of Henry Plant and the Plant Hotel. Now, it's time to look around the outside. Above is the exstensive ornate back porch of the main Hotel building, which now serves as the main entrance to the administrative hall of the University of Tampa, as well as the Plant museum. Below is a view of the former Hotel from the "back".
These bronze hunting dogs above were an invitation for guests to use the Hotel's dogs for local hunting. Originally, they faced the other way, looking at a bronze squirrel in a tree. The squirrel dissapeared, and the dogs were turned around. Below is a marker for the hotel.
This walk of Cabbage palms used to be much longer, and led from the Hotel to the Hydriotic Esplanade, docks, and boat slips. The Canon below are from Fort Brooke, built during the Seminole Wars, that became the first settlements of Tampa. The Hotel's casino, power plant, and conservatory all used to be behind these canon, but several of the original buildings are now gone.
Two more views of the main building.
This schoolhouse actually predates the Hotel, as it was built in 1855 by General Jesse Carter. Plant bought the property and used as the Hotel Apothecary Shop.
Inside and outside of the schoolhouse
Above, a marker for Babe Ruth's longest homer, occuring on the Plant Field. Below, the entrance to the main Hotel building that faced the railroad cars, and was thus considered the front entrance.
This gun was originally posted at Fort Dade (on Egmont Key, see post for Fort DeSoto) but was moved here as a monument to defenders of Tampa in the Spanish American War. Below is the original gatehouse for the Hotel.
Above, another view of the main building, below a marker saying this is where Spanish explorer DeSoto Parleyed with the Indians (see post labeled DeSoto NHS)
Markers for Roosevelt's Rough Riders (above) and the University of Tampa (below)
2 comments:
Can you tell me more about the hydriotic esplanade and how you came about this information?
As I recall, most of the information in this post came from a guidebook I bought at the Plant Museum. I don't have it on me right now to verify, but I'm fairly certain.
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