Have you ever wondered what downtown Plant City used to look like? Who lived in the house down the street? When and where did the National Baseball League teams play in spring training?
Welcome to the Dr. Scotty & Hsiu Huang History Center at the Plant City Photo Archives, where you will find answers to many questions about the who, what, when, where, why and how. The History Center is located in the Photo Archives and is open during regular hours, Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also inside is the main gallery, which features photo exhibits, video screens with ongoing slideshows, and tables and chairs for you to get comfortable while you explore Plant City’s history. Accessible restrooms are located just off the gallery, and city-owned or curbside parking is available nearby.
When the Photo Archive was founded in 2000, it focused on collecting and preserving photographs that tell the story of Plant City and the surrounding area. We love history and the many photographs, documents, papers and paraphernalia that tell thousands of stories. We have collected over 100,000 images of photographs and documents to tell those stories.
Dr. (Shich Cheih) “Scotty” Huang was born in Taiwan in 1935, completed his medical school, residency and residency by 1964 and moved to New York. With his wife, Hsiu Yun Chen, he worked in several states and in 1972 settled with his wife and four sons as a new pediatrician in Plant City, where he worked with Dr. Hal Brewer. Dr. Scotty and Hsiu Huang served the community and enjoyed their 48 years in Plant City. During those years, the Huangs raised four sons, all of whom graduated with honors from Plant City High School. Dr. Scotty and Hsiu Huang moved to a senior living community in Tallahassee in 2020.
After retiring and preparing to move to Tallahassee, Dr. Huang, who was a regular member of the Photo Archives, decided to make a special donation to the operations of the Archives and chose to support the History Center, which would then be named after him and his wife. As a separate part of the Plant City Photo Archives, Inc., the Dr. Scotty & Hsiu Huang History Center officially opened under that name and provides additional resources for patrons interested in researching the people, places and things of Plant City.
Resources available include:
• History Center computers,
• Access to news.com,
• scanned images in the archive’s extensive collections,
• Records of obituaries, cemeteries,
• thematic dossiers on people, places and things,
• Books about the history of Plant City and the region,
• City directories from 1956 to 2000,
• Maps,
• Folder full of 8×10 photos of people, places and things.
Admission to the History Center is free and knowledgeable staff is available to assist you. Additionally, the History Center’s library room can be rented for small group meetings and features an 8-foot table and chairs for 8 to 10 people.
For information, membership or donations, contact [email protected] or call 813.754.1578.
