Hillsborough River Ferry
— 1846~1888 —
At the nearby junction of Jackson Street and the Hillsborough River was the east bank docking site of the Tampa Ferry, the only means of crossing the river in pioneer days. The ferry was an open deck, flat barge, hand pulled by means of a steel cable. It operated until 1888, when construction of the first bridge terminated its usefulness.
Appointed by the County Commissioners, the first ferryman was Thomas Piper, 1846; followed by Benjamin J. Hagler, 1848; Gen. Jesse Carter, 1854; Domenico Ghira, 1864; Jesse J. Hayden 1869.
Marker is on West Kennedy Boulevard (State Road 60) west of North Ashley Drive, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
