Tampa Bay Timeline of Events

Home / Timelines / Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...

Timeline of Events

1539

5.30.1539

In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal of finding gold.

1980

5.9.1980

In Florida, Liberian freighter ''MV Summit Venture'' collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, making a 1,400-ft. section of the southbound span collapse. 35 people in six cars and a Greyhound bus fall 150 ft. into the water and die.

1989

6.1.1989

Oba Chandler murders an Ohio family on their Florida vacation by drowning them in Tampa Bay.