Spanish Fort- In 1891 upon the completion of the Tampa Bay Hotel, Henry B. Plant recovered two Civil War cannon from across the Hillsborough River at the site of Old Fort Brooke. With his landscape architect Anton Fiehe, Mr. Plant placed the cannon over a limestone wall near here as a garden called The Spanish Fort. These 24-pounder cannon were part of a 3-gun battery in Fort Brooke during the Civil War. They and two 6-pounder rifled cannon successfully defended Tampa until May 5, 1864. On that date, federal troops, composed of elements of the 2nd U.S. Colored Regiment, the 2nd Florida Cavalry and the U.S. Navy, captured the town and fort by surprise. The 24 pounders were disabled by breaking off a trunnion and destroying their barbette carriages. The indentation on the barrel of one of the 24 pounders indicates that a 6 pounder was fired point blank at its barrel. The 6 pounders were then taken to Key West.

Text of the marker above- Originally part of a battery of three, mounted on Barbette Carriages and placed in the year 1861 near the northeast corner of the mouth of the Hillsborough River these 24 pound shot sized cannon were used to defend Tampa and Fort Brooke during the “War between the States”. On May 5, 1864 Federal Troops composed of elements of The 2nd U.S. Colored Regiment, 2nd Florida cavalry, U.S. Sailors and Florida Union (irregular troops) landing South and East of Tampa enveloped Tampa in a pincers movement and captured it by surprise. The 24 pounders were disabled and their mounts destroyed. Two smaller 6 pound shot size cannon were carried away. H.B. Plant while constructing the Tampa Bay Hotel is credited with saving these two cannon by bringing them to these grounds and including them in a “Children’s Fort” play area.

Woodlawn Cemetery- 3412 N Ola Avenue- The cemetery contains the graves of two soldiers from the Civil War that were awarded the Medal of Honor.