The story
Cuban immigrants began forming recreational societies in 1899, and in 1902 Cuban workers founded El Circulo Cubano, a mutual aid society meant to bind Cuban residents of Tampa into a fraternal group. A two-story red brick clubhouse finished in 1908 burned in 1916, when the club had about 2,600 members.
The current building opened in 1917 on the same site, designed by Tampa architect M. Leo Elliott. It had a two-story theater, a pharmacy, a library, a ballroom and a cantina, and at one point a gym, a pool and two bowling lanes. Imported tile, stained glass and sgraffito decorated it, and the ballroom ceiling carried murals. The courtyard hosted boxing matches, Benny More, Celia Cruz, Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey.
The building faced foreclosure in 1992, and the Cuban Club Foundation kept it going with donations and a 1994 state grant. In January 1996 part of the ballroom ceiling collapsed, damaging a 70-year-old mural by Juan Aciego.
What's There Now
The Cuban Club still operates from the building, and its top-floor Grand Ballroom hosts weddings and dances.
Everything that was here
- 1917–present · still open
Circulo Cubano de Tampa (Cuban Club)Other
After a 1916 fire destroyed the first clubhouse, Cuban cigar workers built a four-story one with a theater, ballroom and bowling lanes.
See the map in 1918 →
Did you know?
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