The Henry B. Plant Museum preserves part of Tampa’s former Tampa Bay Hotel, a lavish Moorish Revival resort Henry B. Plant built between 1888 and 1891 as the flagship of his transportation empire. Famous for its size, luxury, and modern features such as Florida’s first elevator, electric lighting, and telephones in guest rooms, the hotel became one of the state’s leading winter resorts. During the Spanish–American War it served as a U.S. military base and planning center for the Cuba campaign. After closing in 1930, part of the building was preserved as a museum within what became the University of Tampa, linking the site to Tampa’s railroad-age growth.