Historic Hyde Park Home Tour
Historic Hyde Park Home Tour
I’ve been seeking out and visiting home tours in my area since 2007, but somehow kept missing this one even though it’s in its 18th year! I just heard about it last year, but wasn’t able to make it…until now! The Historic Hyde Park neighborhood was established in the 1880’s when railroad financier Henry B. Plant built the first bridge across the Hillsborough River. The first home in the neighborhood was built in 1882. Hyde Park is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Tampa, chock full of historic homes, many bungalows. Because of its proximity to downtown Tampa, and notable inclusions like Bayshore Boulevard and Old Hyde Park Village, Hyde Park is one of Tampa’s most coveted neighborhoods.
Peeking into Bungalows
After checking in at the Community Center, and getting our maps, we were pleasantly surprised by the fact that all 8 stops on the house tour were easily walkable! So, we set out on foot along oak canopied streets in search of #1 on the list. Along the way we gazed up at the most beautiful Spanish Moss-draped Live Oak trees we’d ever seen. They almost looked as though someone had carefully placed the moss on each branch, almost as if you would place tinsel on a Christmas tree.
Character and Charm Oozed
From Spanish-style homes, to craftsman bungalows, each home was beautifully restored (in a few cases new, but designed to look old) and cozy. A few of the homes fit the model of “airplane” bungalows. This style is a craftsman bungalow characterized by a “pop up” second floor resembling an airplane cockpit. It can also refer to single story bungalows with low pitched roofs, wide sweeping open soffits that have dormers pointing out of the front of the roof resembling the cockpit of an airplane.
Each home featured special, original traits, things that provide character, history and charm. One home still had intact an early fire prevention tool called a “The Automatic Fireman on the Wall”. It was a liquid-filled bulb that hung over the bedroom door. The bulb is filled with a chemical to extinguish flames if a fire were to erupt. The owners had carefully removed the bulb and had it on display for visitors to see.
Another home, a 1924 craftsman, was painstakingly restored over a 2.5-year period, while the owner and his dog lived in the garage apartment.
A 1934 federal-style home, has been owned by the same family for its entire 86-year history! The current owner’s grandparents built the home where they lived for the majority of their life, before selling it to their granddaughter who currently owns it. The home is full of family history, from weddings held in the home, to a dining room table that dates back to the early 1800’s!
We meandered through the neighborhood going in order, from #1 through #8. A portion of the route even took us along the famous Bayshore Boulevard, a gently curving road that is sandwiched between the water and million-dollar homes with sprawling greenspace. The road also holds the record as the world’s longest sidewalk!
Tasty Treats Galore!
In my opinion (or IMO as the millennials would say), what made this house tour a bit unique was the fact that every other stop or so featured some kind of a refreshment. Much to my husband’s delight, some of the homes had hospitality areas staged in their backyards that featured some kind of refreshment from a local business. We enjoyed scratch-made Italian butter cookies and cannoli from Sorrento Sweets, some of the best pound cake I’ve ever tasted from Rosemary’s Southern Cakes, crab cakes with
Top Rated Home Tour
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I am a craftsman bungalow junkie! Their petite size just makes me want to wrap my arms around them. Their front porches and fireplaces are welcoming. Their intricate woodwork, built-ins, dormers, and exposed rafters are just gorgeous to look at. I could go on…. But all that to say, this home tour was chock full of bungalows. So, for that reason, as well as the walkability, and the delicious treats along the way, this home tour now rises to my favorite so far!
After the tour, we took the opportunity while in Tampa to meet up with some friends for some friendly competition at Topgolf (I did not win ), and then for drinks afterwards at Tampa’s notorious pirate bar Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City.
Hot for Home Tours Disclaimer
The review we just shared doesn’t fully convey the experience we had. Understandably, homeowners don’t like it when you take photos of the inside of their homes, so you really don’t get a true feel for the home tour just from this blog. The purpose of this blog is to share our experience at the tour in terms of travel, planning, content and overall experience. But our opinions should not replace your first hand experiences! We recommend you experience a home tour for yourself. Whether it would be a first for you, or you haven’t been to one in a while! Be sure to visit our Home Tour database to find a home tour in your area, or choose a home tour in an area you have always wanted to visit. Use it as a reason to travel! Happy touring!
