The original port in Tampa near downtown was established in the early 1800s to deliver supplies to the military post, Fort Brooke. While the channels were sufficient for small supply ships but not deep enough to handle larger vessels. Henry Bradley Plant brought his railroad to Tampa in the late 1800s, needing a deeper port to handle cargo for his shipping line. In 1885, he established Port Tampa City at the end of his rail line. It could handle the ships he needed for international trade with Cuba and other faraway destinations. As this part of this city began to thrive, a bank was needed, so in 1926, The First Bank of Port Tampa was built. It was short-lived.

It closed after the stock market crash of 1929. This building housed many businesses thereafter, including a grocery store and a health clinic. In 1961, Port Tampa City was annexed to the city of Tampa. In 1998, the building reopened as the Port Tampa City Library and remains a shining example of Greek architecture in the region.

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