The property that now houses the Tampa Convention Center began to take shape in the late 1800s as the demand for land in Tampa surged. Fort Brooke, which initially occupied much of the area, was decommissioned in the 1880s, leading to a competition among homesteaders and Tampa officials for ownership of the land. Ultimately, it was annexed into Tampa in 1907 and transformed into the city’s industrial and commercial district. This area became known as the Garrison Zone, with its easternmost section referred to as the Estuary. It was roughly bounded to the north by Whiting Street, which marked the old fort's boundary. In 1925, construction began on the Platt Street Bridge, making access to this district significantly easier. Large warehouses and industrial companies were established there, allowing ocean-going ships to deliver essential supplies to the city and transport exports to larger markets. Long before the development of Tampa’s current extensive port, this location served as a gateway to the world.

In the historical photo by Burgert, the Mallory Steamship Company can be seen at the water’s edge at the end of Tampa Street, which now dead-ends into the Tampa Convention Center. The old Tampa Electric plant is visible in the background. As the larger port developed, the area fell into disrepair, and most of the buildings in the Estuary declined. In the 1980s, the Tampa Port Authority acquired a significant portion of waterfront property, and in the 1990s, they created a master plan to establish Garrison Seaport, which is now home to Sparkman Wharf. The need for more convention space led to the creation of the Tampa Convention Center, as Curtis Hixon Hall could no longer meet demand. The convention center officially opened in 1990, and the surrounding area has continued to thrive since then.  

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