Tampa Self-Guided Podcast Tour: Pirate Empire

Tampa’s pirate legend began not with a real buccaneer, but with an audacious marketing stunt. On this self-guided podcast tour, follow the story of Jose Gaspar, the fictional Spanish pirate whose invented diaries and dramatic exploits helped make him a local icon.

Walk 4.6 km along the Hillsborough River, stopping at 7 locations over approximately 131 minutes. Discover how a Gilded Age hotel, steel-hulled pirate ships, and the world’s longest continuous sidewalk became part of a story built around a character who never existed. Podcast-style audio from experts and locals brings the history to life, while in-app navigation guides you between stops and an interactive guide lets you ask questions about the story and your surroundings.

Begin outside the Henry B. Plant Museum at the historic Tampa Bay Hotel and explore at your own pace. Set out on the Tampa Self-Guided Podcast Tour to see the city’s history through the curious tale it created for itself.