27 useless Tampa facts everyone should know to impress out-of-towners

Lindsay Lohan’s dad once jumped off the third story balcony of the Tahitian Inn to escape the cops

Back in 2011, Lindsay Lohan’s dad, Michael, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after an incident involving his then girlfriend Kate Major. Lohan was let out on bail a few days later, but quickly violated terms of his release by visiting Major at the Tahitian Inn in South Tampa. When the police arrived, Lohan launched himself from the third floor balcony to avoid rearrest. “I’m an idiot,” he said while getting into a TPD squad car.

Photo via Google Maps

The “You know I had to do it to em” meme is originally from Tampa

One of the best meme’s of 2014 was when Twitter user LuckyLuciano17k posted a photo of himself with an incredible ankle tan and the caption “You know I had to do it to em.” The photo has since spawned many variations and jokes. But sadly, last year, Lucky was arrested on alleged drug possession charges.

Photo via LuckyLuciano17k/Twitter

Elvis played Tampa once, and that famous “tonsil” photo was shot at the show

July 31, 1955, Elvis Presley made his second-ever appearance at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory right here in Tampa. Presley’s manager, Col. Tom Parker, hired local photographer William V. “Red” Roberton to photograph the performance. One of the photos taken that night would go on to be one of the most recognizable and iconic pictures ever taken of the rock idol. Often referred to as the “tonsil” photo, the famous picture of Presley onstage singing, mouth agape and eyes shut, was used as the front cover photo for his very first, self-titled, full-length album for RCA Records in 1956.

Photo via RCA

Tampa’s “Beercan Building” is the only round tower in the city, and was built by famous architect Harry Wolf

Tampa's only round tower, the Rivergate Tower, was built in 1988 by world-renowned architect Harry Wolf, and it was designed using the Fibonacci sequence, where every number is the sum of the two preceding numbers. Each tile in the floor and each window pane get progressively bigger. None of that was changed in the remodeling.

Photo via Google Maps

It took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32 seasons to return a kickoff for a touchdown

After 32 years, it had to happen eventually, right? Well, in 2007 it did. Micheal Spurlock took one to the house for 90 yards from a kick by Falcons kicker Morten Anderson (holy throwback). The first punt return for a TD took place 13 years previously, which was taken back by Vernon Turner for 80 yards.

Photo via buccaneers.com

That giant house on the end of Harbour Island is owned by the former head of Strayer University

Ronald Bailey sold his stakes in the online college juggernaut Strayer University in 2000, and now he resides in this giant house on the southern tip of Harbour Island. If you’re unfamiliar with Bailey, he’s also authored a number of books on how climate change is a hoax. If you’re unfamiliar with Strayer University, according to a 2014 study from the Brookings Institute, the for-profit school holds $8 billion of student debt, which is the fifth largest in the country. At this point, we’re open to renaming this section of the island “Grifter's Point.”

Photo via Adobe Images

Bishop Bullwinkle, the “Hell to the Naw Naw” guy, was from Tampa

Bernard Thomas, also known as Bishop Bullwinkle, was responsible for the viral hit Hell to the Naw Naw.” and he was also born in Tampa. Unfortunately, Thomas passed away earlier this year at the age of 70 from complications with a heart attack.

Screengrab via YouTube

GG Allin performed at Harbor Club, and spent the next couple days shooting heroin in Ybor

The site of this show is debatable, but most accounts place it at the Harbor Club in Sulphur Springs, and video of the 1989 performance is textbook GG Allin, thanks to his nearly nonexistent shorts and give-no-fucks, sloppy punk performance. Some showgoers say he spent the next few days holed up in an Ybor City venue behind what’s now Crowbar shooting heroin. The anti-authority icon would die four years later from an overdose.

Screengrabvia YouTube

Surprisingly, the temperature in Tampa has never hit over 100 degrees

As unlikely as it seems, 100 degrees fahrenheit has never been reached here in the Tampa. Though it may be humid as hell, and we all are very miserable because of it, the actual temperature has never hit triple digits. Still, doesn’t mean you can’t complain about how it’s so bloody hot all the time.

Photo via Adobe Images

Rapper Shock G is from Tampa and he studied music theory at HCC

The man behind Tupac’s “I Get Around” and “The Humpty Dance,” which is arguably the popular wedding reception song of all time is actually a Tampa native, and he studied music theory at Hillsborough Community College.

Photo via @humptyfunk/Twitter

Tampa put a parking garage on a literal Native American burial site

Parking in Tampa is gonna be the death of us, and death was found in 1980 when construction workers accidentally dug up the remains from soldiers and Native Americans while building the Fort Brooke Parking Garage. It has since been developed into a museum exhibit at Tampa Bay History Center.

Photo via Google Maps

Babe Ruth hit his longest homerun ever in Tampa

Babe Ruth’s longest dinger took place in 1919 at a spring training game at Plant Field in Tampa (located at what is now the University of Tampa’s business school), and there’s even a marker for where the home run landed. It was (supposedly) 587 feet, which is pretty ridiculous for a guy whose diet comprised of hot dogs and beer.

Photo via Florida State Archives

Bayshore is the “world’s longest continuous sidewalk”

Bayshore is known for being where all the rich people live, but it’s also the world’s longest continuous sidewalk. So if you’re looking for a good way to get exercise without crossing streets, just walk up and down Bayshore.

Photo via Adobe Images

Tampa sold more illegal booze than anywhere else in the country during prohibition

People have been getting drunk and doing stupid shit in Tampa for quite some time, and we were doing it more than anywhere else in America during prohibition. In fact, at one local restaurant, El Pasajé (which is now a historical site and hotel), they even stashed alcohol in the walls to hide from the police. So be proud the next time you get blackout drunk in Ybor, you’re continuing the tradition. Glad the city’s known for such great deeds.

Photo via Florida State Archives

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge spans three counties

While not necessarily a “useless fact,” most people aren’t aware that the area’s most famous bridge actually touches three counties: Pinellas, Manatee, and Hillsborough. How is this even possible? Well, Hillsborough County is responsible for the massive shipping channel directly under the middle of the bridge. What’s wild is that Egmont Key, which is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, is also in Hillsborough County.

Photo via Adobe Images

The world’s first scheduled passenger flight flew from St. Pete to Tampa in 1914

Tired of driving across the Howard Franklin and the Gandy? Yeah, we are too. But in 1914 the world’s first scheduled passenger flight made the trip, flown by Tony Jannus. Tickets were only $5, too. So you can think about that when you’re sitting on I-275 during rush hour.

Photo via Florida State Archives

Tampa ships more fertilizer than anything else

It may sound like a load of crap (sorry, obligatory manure joke), but fertilizer is Tampa Bay’s biggest export. There’s something to be proud of as a citizen of Tampa, in case you’re running low on ideas. It’s also the state’s largest port.

Photo via Adobe Images

Jose Marti Park in Ybor City actually belongs to Cuba

The tiny square in Ybor was given to Cuba in 1956 (three years before Cuba became a communist state for those counting), and even survived the Cold War and all that crazy stuff to remain a part of Cuba, right here in Tampa.

Photo via Google Maps

The former “Labor Temple” in Ybor, where unions used to meet, is now a goth nightclub

Yeah, that Goth nightclub, The Castle, used to be a pretty important structure in Ybor City lore. Before Bauhaus-filled nights, the Labor Temple was actually a meeting place for the area’s local cigar and waiter unions.

Photo via USF

Magic Mike was filmed in the Tampa Bay area

If you ever get the chance to stop looking at Channing Tatum’s pecks during Magic Mike, check out the locations in the movie, because they’re local spots. The Bricks of Ybor, Fred Howard Park, and Caddy’s on the Beach are just some of the locations featured in the movie. Tatum is also a Tampa native and Tampa Catholic grad.

Photo via Warner Brothers