Tampa Bay Sesquicentennial Commission

The Tampa Bay Sesquicentennial Commission was formed to observe the 150th anniversary of the Tampa Bay area of Florida's role in the Confederate States of America. Our members and sponsors are historical re-enactors, genealogists, and descendants of Tampa's pioneer families, as well as other civic-minded individuals and organizations to understand the importance of remembering our history.

The Commission exists to develop events in commemoration of significant events in the history of Hillsborough County during the course of the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States 1861-1865.

Each event and its commemoration is considered an ad hoc individual item in the sequence of their occurrence.  While there is an over-arching theme, each event is discrete and individual.  Some events take longer planning periods than others, and therefore the individual projects may overlap to some extent. 

The first event was the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Flag Presentation Ceremony by the ladies of Tampa Town to the Sunny South Guard which occurred on September 17th, 2011.

Additional events are planned each year of the Sesquicentennial. 

The 2012 event is a commemoration of the "Yankee Outrage" when Tampa Town was bombed by the U.S.S. Sagamore.  This event will be held, in conjunction with a walking tour of Confederate Tampa on Saturday, June 30, 2012.

All the territory encompassed by Hillsborough County at the time, including Pinellas, Manatee, Polk, and the surrounding areas are included.   Several projects are under development and this site will be updated as they are developed.  Goals include the erection of historical markers, development of maps and travel guides for tourists to sites in the greater Tampa Bay area.

The Commission welcomes participation from public and private entities in the implementation of any projects that are congruent with the Commission's goals.  These include heritage and genealogical societies, local historical societies, public non-governmental and governmental agencies, and private for-profit and not-for-profit corporations.

The Commission has developed this website to be used in the arrangements for each of the events as they arise, and this is the major on-going connecting link between events. The website will be used for publicity and recruitment of participants. As well as for education about the Sesquicentennial as a whole.

Sponsors are solicited who appreciate these goals and want to further them by support of the events as they arise. Visit our Sponsor page for more information.