Important Announcement: Cigar City Magazine is now an archival site.
We want to take a moment to thank you for your support over the years. Cigar City Magazine has transitioned to an archival site. While we no longer have an active staff, we are pleased to offer you access to our previous articles, interviews, and features that celebrate the vibrant culture surrounding Tampa's history.
Legacy Content: Enjoy a rich collection of articles covering a variety of topics related to Tampa’s history.
Reader Experience: While we encourage you to explore the archives, please note that there will be no new content or updates moving forward. We hope you enjoy revisiting our past articles
and find inspiration in the stories we've shared.
Thank you for being a part of the Cigar City Magazine journey!
Legacy Content: Enjoy a rich collection of articles covering a variety of topics related to Tampa’s history.
Reader Experience: While we encourage you to explore the archives, please note that there will be no new content or updates moving forward. We hope you enjoy revisiting our past articles
and find inspiration in the stories we've shared.
Thank you for being a part of the Cigar City Magazine journey!
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Rediscover. Remember. Relive.©
They came from faraway lands to a city they knew little about. Cubans, Spaniards, Italians, Afro-Cubans, Jews, and others. With little money in their pockets and big dreams in their hearts, they set out to make a life for themselves in the Tampa Bay area. They ended up creating a history and culture that continues to thrive. Cigar City Magazine invites you to rediscover that culture, remember those people, and relive the events that continue to influence life in Tampa today. It was all made possible by two men. Vicente Martinez Ybor and Don Ignacio Haya, who in 1886 began to build factories to manufacture cigars. They also built housing nearby so that their employees could live close to work. This multicultural society prospered, and its residents built clubs, hospitals, and mutual aid societies. It was later named Ybor City and became a city within the city of Tampa. Through articles, interviews, photographs, and reader contributions, Cigar City Magazine began in 2005 to tell the many stories of life in early Tampa. It is designed for the intellectually curious and anyone who treasures history and the impact it has on the present and future. Cigar City Magazine is the only publication on Tampa's rich past. The first issue was released back in October 2005 and is the vision of Lisa M. Figueredo, publisher and founder, who feels passionately about her blended culture, history, and family. “We all have a responsibility to keep these stories alive by passing them on to our own children,” says Ms. Figueredo. By sharing the past, our children will come to know their roots and recognize the foundation of love and family they can carry with them into the future. They will become the voices of our ancestors. |
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following sponsors! Your generous contributions help keep this site alive for everyone to enjoy. Interested in joining our sponsorship family? Visit our contact page and send us an email!
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Some photos posted on our blog stories are Courtesy of the Hillsborough County Public Library, The Florida State Archives, the USF Department of Special Collections, and private individual collections.
Important Notice:
Please note that there is no staff available to assist with research or content creation on this site, and we do not offer compensation for submitted articles or photos. If you’d like to contribute your article, we would be delighted to feature it on our blog! Please remember that all submitted articles and photos must be approved before they can be added. Feel free to contact us through our contact page. Thank you for your understanding!
