Black Tampa was here
You just weren't told the whole story.
Walk Downtown Tampa with us and discover the Black businesses, neighborhoods, people, and places that helped build this city.
What we do
Downtown Tampa looks very different than it once did.
Businesses disappeared. Neighborhoods were demolished. Streets changed. Buildings came down. And generations of Black Tampa history became harder and harder to see.
But the history is still here, and What It Was Walking Tour takes you to the places where that history happened and tells you what used to stand there and why it mattered.
We don't just tell you. We show you what it was.
Forget the history lesson where somebody stands in front of you and talks for an hour.
We're walking. We're talking.
You'll hear about Black-owned businesses. Entrepreneurs. Neighborhoods. Nightlife. Segregation. Community. Resistance. Success. Loss. And the people whose names deserve to be part of Tampa's story.
Some of it will surprise you.
Some of it might make you mad.
And some of it has been hiding in plain sight.
Why what it was?
WE FIND THE STORIES GOOGLE DOESN'T. Our research digs into historic newspapers, census records, city directories, maps, Green Books, archives, and other sources to uncover the Tampa stories that don't always make the history books.
WE TAKE HISTORY TO THE PLACE IT HAPPENED. There is something different about standing in the exact place where a story unfolded. We don't just tell you the address. We take you there.
WE DO IT AFTER DARK. It's Tampa. It's hot. So yes, many of our tours happen at night. Make us part of your night out or check the schedule for daytime options.
KIDS WALK FREE. Children and students accompanied by an adult are always free. We never want the cost of a ticket to keep a young person from learning their city's history.
WE'RE LOCAL. What It Was is a Black-owned, woman-owned Tampa small business telling Tampa's stories.
COME WALK WITH US. Whether you've lived in Tampa your whole life or landed here yesterday, there's another city underneath the one you think you know.
We'll show you.
Reviews
“Jamila is extremely knowledgeable and has created the most engaging tour! As a Tampa native, I learned so much that I never knew about the city I call home. I loved being able to hear about the history of a landmark while seeing what it has turned into today. As a bonus, the tour also included a stop at a black owned ice cream shop. Yum! I would highly recommend this tour to people of all ages if you're looking for a unique experience that you can't get anywhere else!”
-Lauren from Florida“Absolutely loved this tour!!! Jamila is truly and fanatic for history and you can tell by the excitement and energy she brings while on the tour. She tells interesting, unique, and overlooked stories of the black history of downtown Tampa's past. I highly recommend for anyone who interested in learning something new and DIFFERENT. She even made my kids enjoy the tour because of her charisma and upbeat vibe.”
— Mextra from Louisiana“From start to finish, it was informative, eye-opening, and deeply engaging. The guide shared stories and historical nuggets that you simply can't find on Google--real local history that added so much depth and richness to places I've passed by without a second thought.
What really stood out to me was how the tour honored the legacy of Black communities in Tampa and brought to light the people, places, and events that helped shape the city…. I left feeling inspired, more informed, and deeply connected to Tampa's layered history.”
— Nadine from Georgia