This browser does not support the Video element.
TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - Tampa's rich cultural history is a passion for one lifelong resident. His hometown story is what's right with Tampa Bay.
John Bais gets quite a workout walking through Tampa's history. He's become an amateur historian of sorts, pointing out the sites of cultural significance.
"I got involved in history pretty much through my mother giving me all kinds of different textbooks as a kid. Letting me learn about all types of areas and regions," Bais explained.
He began researching his beloved city of Tampa in 2002. He started an Instagram page called Real Tampa to share what he discovers.
"I get a high from showing people what Tampa was and how great we were. We're not just a small city we pretty much one of the first areas codes," he said.
Much of his research is done at the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa.
"I love history. I love learning about you know. What was there before, before me," Bais said.
He believes it is important to know your city's past so people can understand it's roots, heritage, and it's significance for urban planning.
"You can learn from your history. You can learn how to be a better human. That's what I grasp from it," he said.
It's civic pride we can all learn from.