The Society for the History of Discoveries (SHD) will hold its 54th Annual Meeting October 31 - November 3, 2013 in Tampa, Florida at the new and very impressive building of the Tampa Bay History Center (TBHC). All of Florida history forms the scope of the TBHC. Of special interest to members of SHD are the permanent exhibits on the pre-Columbian and first contact era tribes of the Tampa area and the European exploration of Florida during the sixteenth century. Furthermore, our conference coincides with the 500th anniversary of the European discovery of Florida. The TBHC will be hosting a special exhibit Charting the Land of Flowers: 500 Years of Florida Maps from September 2013 - February 2014. As the members of SHD have come to expect and to enjoy, this year’s program committee has organized an outstanding array of papers and sessions.
Central Ybor Streetcars Passing
Tampa Bay History Center
Pre-Conference Tour (Optional) Excursion (ca. 3 hours, on Thursday AFTERNOON, October 31
The Tampa Bay History Center’s curator of history, Rodney Kite-Powell, will lead an afternoon driving and walking tour of two of Tampa’s oldest neighborhoods – Hyde Park and Ybor City. Hyde Park was developed in the mid-1880s and is home to a variety of architectural styles, including stately wood-frame Victorian Homes, spacious bungalows, and Mediterranean style homes. The centerpiece of Hyde Park, and all of Tampa, is the University of Tampa, formerly the Tampa Bay Hotel and now the site of the Henry B. Plant Museum. Hyde Park is both a local and national historic district. Developed shortly after Hyde Park, Ybor City was built exclusively as a company town for the cigar industry. Today, Ybor City is a national landmark historic district as well as a local historic district. The tour will include a visit to the Ybor City State Museum. There will be a charge of $25 per person for this includes which includes the admission to the Ybor City State Museum .
Post-Conference Tour (Optional) Excursion (FULL-DAY, on Sunday, November 3)
After the SHD annual meeting, Rodney Kite-Powell will accompany delegates to two true Floridian gems– the Ringling Museum complex in Sarasota and the De Soto National Memorial. The Ringling Museum complex includes the Ringling Museum of Art, Ca ’d’Zan (John and Mabel Ringling’s estate), and the Ringling Circus Museum, plus the lush gardens and grounds surrounding the museums.
The De Soto National Memorial, at the south side of Tampa Bay and operated by the National Park Service, commemorates the 1539 landing of Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto and over 600 people, including women, soldiers, priests, and slaves. Though the exact location of De Soto’s landfall is disputed by some historians, many believe that the explorers arrived somewhere along the southern shore of Tampa Bay. The visit to the De Soto Memorial will include a guided tour of the visitor center by park service ranger as well as time to explore the grounds – and lush shoreline! – on your own. There will be a charge of $50.00 per person for this tour which includes admission to the Ringlling Museum and the estate.
Hotel
The Embassy Suites Hotel-Downtown Convention Center has a block of rooms set aside for our accommodations. Early reservations are encouraged. Room costs will be $189 for a single and $199 for a double, plus tax. Room rates include a full cooked-to-order breakfast. There is also a complimentary Managers reception from 5:30-7:30 every day. Group Name: Society for the History of Discoveries Group Code: HST Hotel Name: Embassy Suites Tampa - Downtown Convention Center
Hotel Address: 513 South Florida Avenue Tampa, Florida 33602
Phone Number: 813-769-8300
The block of rooms is reserved for October 30 – November 4, 2013. The special room rate is available until October 1, or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.
Tampa Bay Times Forum
The nearest airport is Tampa International Airport (code TPA).
Questions: Contact Mylynka Kilgore Cardona, Executive Secretary, by email:
