Got Cuban bread? This question is more important than you might think as we stand before the Ybor City Museum. It is not just a museum. The Ybor City Museum is a portal into a vibrant past. This is where the story of Ybor City comes alive.
Ybor City Museum resides in the former Ferlita Bakery. It was once known as La Joven Francesca. This building at 1818 9th Avenue is in the heart of the Ybor City Historic District. The aroma of baking bread no longer fills the air. But the history is palpable.
The Ferlita Bakery was famous for its Cuban bread. The ovens are still here. They form part of the museum’s displays. These displays cover the cigar industry’s history. They also show the Latin community’s story from the 1880s through the 1930s.
But wait there is more. An ornamental garden graces the building. It is available for rental after hours. Imagine an event surrounded by history and beauty.
Rangers lead tours of the gardens. They also show the “casitas”. These are small homes of cigar company workers. Exhibits showcase period photos. A video covers Ybor City’s founding. It also explains the cigar-making industry.
Let’s step back in time. Francisco Ferlita, a Sicilian immigrant, established La Joven Francesca bakery in 1896. He had Cuban-Spanish-Italian roots. Bread cost 3 to 5 cents a loaf. The Ybor City market was its primary customer.
Disaster struck in 1922. A fire destroyed the bakery. Only the brick bread oven remained. Francisco Ferlita rebuilt. He made it larger with two ovens. It became a major bread supplier for Tampa and Ybor. The bakery became a social hub. People gathered for coffee and snacks. In 1973, the building was converted into the Ybor City Museum.
In Ybor City, bread delivery was a daily ritual. A nail next to the doorframe held the fresh loaf. La Joven closed in 1973. It was renovated into the Ybor City Museum. The original ovens are still viewable.
Today, La Segunda Bakery carries the torch. It is the major producer of Cuban bread. Juan Morè founded it. He opened La Primera Bakery in 1915.
The Ybor City Museum is more than a collection of artifacts. It is a living testament to the immigrant experience. It celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit. It also honors the cultural heritage of Ybor City. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 per person. Children 5 and under are free.
As you leave the Ybor City Museum, remember the stories. Remember the aroma of baking bread. Remember the clatter of cigar factories. You carry a piece of Ybor City’s soul.