TAMPA, Fla. — As the nation celebrates Black Music Month, one of Tampa’s most significant pieces of Black history is moving closer to a long-awaited revival.
The historic Jackson House — a former rooming house that welcomed legendary Black entertainers during segregation — is entering a new chapter after more than a decade of uncertainty.
Built in 1901, the Jackson House once served as one of the only places in downtown Tampa where Black travelers could find lodging during the Jim Crow era. Icons like Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Nat King Cole are among the many artists who stayed there while performing along Central Avenue, once known as the heart of Tampa’s Black cultural scene.
In 2013, the building was deemed too damaged to restore and faced possible demolition. But after 12 years of advocacy, community leaders say the tide has turned.
New architectural renderings now offer the clearest vision yet of how the landmark could be brought back to life while preserving its historic designation on the National Register of Historic Places.
The process is complex. Because of its historic status, the building cannot simply be torn down and rebuilt. Instead, it must be carefully deconstructed and reconstructed in phases, with as many original materials preserved and reused as possible.
Leaders behind the project say the effort is about more than saving a structure — it’s about preserving a legacy.
Dr. Carolyn Collins, chair of the Jackson House Foundation, said the story goes far beyond music.
“I don’t want us to just know that it was for music,” Collins said. “This is such a critical, important month in June for Black Music Month, but can you imagine what came out of those musicians and how they themselves tried to manage professionally, how they tried to survive? Look at what happened with the Jackson and Robinson family on the entrepreneurship that they created.”
Organizers say that broader story — one rooted in resilience, entrepreneurship and survival — will also be told in new ways.
As part of Juneteenth celebrations, Stageworks Theatre will debut a preview of a new play titled “Live at the Jackson House.” The June 18 event will give audiences a chance to provide feedback and help shape the full production expected next year.
Meanwhile, a deal with a new contractor is being finalized. If all goes as planned, the Jackson House could reopen as a museum within the next two years, allowing a new generation to experience the history built within its walls.
The Jackson House Foundation will also host its annual fundraiser, “A Night to Remember,” on June 18.