Ybor City, Florida 1/8/06

In 1886 two cigar factories were completed at Tampa, signaling the founding of the industry in the area. The pioneer manufacturer was Vincente Martinez Ybor, a native of Spain, who had made cigars in Havana and Key West. Ybor's move to Tampa was prompted by better transportation and favorable terms offered by Tampa's Board of Trade. Due to the efforts of Ybor and his associates, Tampa became a world tobacco manufacturing center.

Ybor City sign.
ybor city Florida street sign
Statue of Vincente Martinez-Ybor.
ybor city Florida statue
Collage of old cigar bands and pictures.
ybor city Florida cigar bands
At the turn of the century cigar boxes were elaborately decorated and put out on shelves instead of behind the counter.
ybor city Florida cigar box
Mike with Diago who is rolling a cigar.
ybor city Florida cigar maker mike
Casitas, such as these, built around 1895, rented for $1.50 to $2.50 a week or could be purchased from $400 to $900, depending on size. By allowing workers to deduct house payments from their wages, V.M. Ybor and other cigar manufacturers contributed to the stability and security of the work force in Ybor City, and eased the hardships of immigration and acculturation.
ybor city Florida cigar worker homes
The Historic Columbia Restaurant opened it as a corner cafe in the late 1800's. As the restaurant passed from generation to generation, it grew. Now in its fourth and fifth generation of ownership and operation, it is the oldest restaurant in Florida and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world.
ybor city Florida Columbia Restaurant
The door at the Columbia Restaurant.
ybor city Florida Columbia Restaurant
Tile sign outside Columbia Restaurant.
ybor city Florida Columbia Restaurant sign
Sidewalk along the Columbia Restaurant.
ybor city Florida Columbia Restaurant front
Centro Ybor.
ybor city Florida Centro Ybor Sign
Centro Ybor.
ybor city Florida Centro Ybor
Brick Streets.
ybor city Florida Cobblestones brick street
Brick used in the street.
ybor city Florida brick street cobblestones
Just one of the streets in Ybor.
ybor city Florida
El Circulo Cuba (Cuban Club). Fire destroyed the first clubhouse in 1916 and this one was built in 1917 to replace the first one.
ybor city Florida Cuban Club
El Circulo Cuba (Cuban Club). Fire destroyed the first clubhouse in 1916 and this one was built in 1917 to replace the first one.
ybor city Florida Cuban club
Cable car.
ybor city Florida cable car street car
El Molino.
ybor city Florida El Molino
Marti Park is still owned by the Cuban government, which donated $25,000 during Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar's reign to complete the park. Today, the plot is known as the ``only free Cuban land in the world".
ybor city Florida Marti Park
Ybor Square.
ybor city Florida Ybor Square
Just a neat door that we passed.
ybor city Florida decorative door