Events tagged with "tampa bay"

Historical Events tagged with "tampa bay"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Exploration & Discovery

Hernando de Soto Lands at Tampa Bay

May 30th, 1539 485 years ago

Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer, landed at Tampa Bay with a force of 600 soldiers. His expedition aimed to discover gold and claim new territory for Spain. The arrival marked the beginning of extensive exploration in the southeastern North America and set the stage for further Spanish colonization efforts in the region. De Soto's quest for riches and power would lead him through various territories inhabited by Native American tribes.