First Baptist Church Tampa, corner of Lafayette and Plant

First Baptist Church, Tampa, corner of Lafayette and Plant. 1928 Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System

First Baptist Church, 302 W Kennedy Blvd. 2021. © Chip Weiner

One of the constant threads in the research for this book is the presence and importance of religion in American culture from the late 1800s to the middle of the 20th century. Some laws were established, wars were fought, and cultural division was based on religious doctrine. The First Baptist Church of Tampa was founded in 1859, and this building on what was then Lafayette Street-now Kennedy Boulevard- was built in 1923.

In 1927, a new edition housing their Sunday school was erected for $115,000. Just west of downtown Tampa, the church continues its worship services and outreach today, offering child, young adult, and adult ministries.

From Burgert Brothers: Look Again, Vol.2