Vicente Martinez Statue

Located in the Ybor City Historic District of Tampa, this statue commemorates a man who was known as a Titan of Industry. Born in Valencia, Spain in 1818, he was sent to Cuba at 14 years of age to avoid conscription. His wealth was based in tobacco - he founded a Cuban cigar company. He built his factory in Tampa in the late 1800s, providing housing to the workers. He passed away in 1896, but is known as the man responsible for putting Tampa on the map. (Submitted by Shirley Beauchemin Thurston)