Tampa is rolling out the red carpet for Florida’s own movie story. Cinema in the Sunshine State, a new original exhibition at the Tampa Bay History Center, explores more than 120 years of filmmaking in Florida with more than 50 artifacts gathered from institutions across the state. The exhibition is on view in the Wayne Thomas Gallery from September 19, 2026, through March 21, 2027.
Researched and curated by Michelle Hearn, the History Center’s director of curatorial affairs, the show brings together original movie posters, rare film ephemera, 1920s theater projectors, Edison-period cameras and even marquee letters on loan from the beloved Tampa Theatre, which is celebrating its centennial this year. Together, the objects show how filmmakers promoted their work, captured audiences’ attention and helped shape Florida’s cinematic identity.
The story starts surprisingly early. Motion picture cameras arrived in Florida as early as 1898, when Edison Manufacturing Co. cameraman William Paley traveled to Tampa to film American troops preparing to depart for Cuba. In the early 20th century, Jacksonville became a major center of film production — while Hollywood was still ranchland and orange groves — and Florida’s warm climate and striking landscapes kept drawing filmmakers for decades, from jungle adventures to films generations of Floridians still remember.
The Tampa Bay History Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate at 801 Water Street on Tampa’s waterfront, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is a joyful, big-screen way to rediscover the Sunshine State — no ticket stub required, just curiosity.
Photo: Tampa Bay History Center
