From baking to boxing, Phil Alessi was a Tampa original
Tampa bakery owner and promoter Phil Alessi Sr. died Sunday at the age of 74. His son, Phil Alessi Jr., said his father battled diabetes and had been on dialysis.
From the FOX 13 archives: Devil Rays' 1998 debut
The Tampa Bay Rays turn 20 years old on Saturday. The franchise – then known as the Devil Rays, of course – took the field for their first regular season game back on March 31, 1998.
Once home to B-17s, MacDill again welcomes 'Memphis Belle'
Over the years, there have been plenty of remarkable airplanes in the skies over MacDill Air Force Base. But it’s been years since B-17 bombers rumbled down the South Tampa runways, so it was a special treat for airmen and their families when the ‘Memphis Belle’ herself arrived Tuesday.
Tampa International Airport's flight to the future
The history of Tampa International Airport has some twists and turns. The airport could have been where USF is today, or T.I.A. could have even been built in Pinellas County, in which case it wouldn't be T.I.A.
The space shuttle's first Florida landing
Thirty-four years ago, the Sunshine State got its first wakeup call from an arriving spacecraft. The space shuttle’s signature twin sonic booms rattled Florida on February 11, 1984 as Challenger made the first-ever Kennedy Space Center landing.
Tampa's Rough Riders honor city's role in Spanish-American War
Nearly 120 years later, the War of 1898 remains a defining moment in the Bay Area's history. It's the story of the Henry Plant Museum, Teddy Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, and the war that put America on the world stage.
MacDill welcomes historic squadron back to Tampa
A storied squadron with roots all the way back to D-Day has returned to Tampa. And the squadron commander, a native of Puerto Rico, faces two challenges.
City of Tampa celebrates 130 years
The city of Tampa will turn 130 years old this Friday and the tale of Tampa has many twists, ranging from its famous cigar industry to its less well-known early healthcare system.
Thousands of old Tampa photos released to public
Historians, photographers and Florida archivists, rejoice: the city of Tampa is releasing some 30,000 photos of daily life to the public for the first time.
Slideshow: Sunshine Skyway Bridge's 1987 dedication
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge was dedicated back on February 7, 1987. Crowds of people were invited to walk the span and get an up-close look at what was billed as the longest cable-stayed bridge in the western hemisphere.
Sunshine Skyway Bridge turns 30 years old
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge has become such a landmark symbol for the Tampa Bay Area that it's hard to imagine anything other than those giant yellow cables linking the bay. But 30 years ago, engineers were trying to reassure a jittery public about a brand-new bridge that had been born out of tragedy.
Ringling Museum works to preserve circus history
The final chapter is now coming to a close for the Ringling circus.
Eight generations of circus history
For many folks, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was more than a job; it was a way of life. Now, after starring in the golden age of the greatest show on earth, they are stunned that it's ending.
Tampa mobster's personal items up for auction
A fascinating auction is coming up that includes items from one of the most notorious players in Tampa’s past - mob boss Santo Trafficante, Jr.
Historic school building gets new life in St. Pete
There are no more teachers and no more books, but this 100-year-old school building in St. Petersburg is being turned into something valuable, thanks to a local developer who is investing in the city's history.
History takes flight in new MacDill AFB exhibit
The Tampa Bay History Center is celebrating one of the area's most iconic pieces of history - MacDill Air Force Base.
Historic photos of early St. Petersburg may have been taken by Albert Whitted
A mother's scrapbook and a pilot's aerial photographs provide new insight into early St. Petersburg and one of its best known names: Albert Whitted, the namesake of downtown's airport.
Arturo Fuente cigar factory restoration
Robert Holsopple has remodeled a lot of buildings, but none quite like this one.
Photos: The view from atop Tampa history
They're one of the most iconic symbols of Tampa: The silver minarets that top Plant Hall, the historic building formerly known as Henry Plant's Tampa Bay Hotel.