OLLI-USF: The History of Hillsborough County's Communities

OLLI-USF is running a three-part course on the history of Hillsborough County's communities, held at Tampa's Black History Museum on Wednesday mornings in December. The sessions run December 2, 9, and 16, from 10 AM to noon, so it's a mid-morning commitment rather than an evening one.

The course is presented by the Tampa Bay History Center, and it works its way through the distinct histories of the cities, towns, and rural communities that make up the county. It covers Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace, and it reaches beyond them into East, Northwest, and South Hillsborough County. Over the three mornings, you'll get a look at how these different areas developed and how they fit together into the county we know now.

OLLI-USF—the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of South Florida—is part of USF's Office of University Strategic Partnerships. It's run by a team of USF employees working with a community of volunteers, and it's built for adults aged 50 and over. The whole idea is no-pressure learning: you're invited to explore new ideas, connect with peers, and stay intellectually active without the stress of grades or credits. This course fits right into that, since it's a deep dive into local history rather than a formal academic requirement.

If you're interested, the sessions are free. They're held at Tampa's Black History Museum, 1213 N. Central Ave., Tampa, FL 33602, on Wednesdays, December 2, 9, and 16, from 10 AM to noon.