The RNC’s 2012 convention logo features the Tampa Bay skyline and one of the buildings apparently represented in the logo is what was formerly the Old Tampa Bay Hotel, a prominent feature of the Florida city’s skyline. What’s interesting is that the Old Tampa Bay Hotel is a product of the so-called “Moorish Revival” architectural style. And the building is graced by six minarets, the small towers built around a mosque to call worshipers to prayer. The minarets even include the spires with half crescents, a well-known symbol of Islam.
So is it one of the building’s six minarets in the RNC logo? Or is it one of the building’s four cupolas? It looks to us like the minaret. But look at the picture and judge for yourself.
The apparent minaret in the logo was first pointed out by DemConWatch. And there may be those who wonder how some of the more anti-mosque elements of the GOP might react to such an architectural inclusion.
The logo was unveiled yesterday on the Republican National Convention Host Committee’s site .
The hotel is now the Henry B. Plant Museum located on the University of Tampa’s campus, and though it has Moorish influences in its design, the part of the logo in question could actually be a cupola, which are common in Italian and eastern architecture.
It’s not at all clear what architectural homage the RNC intended with the logo — and they did not immediately return TPM’s request for comment.
Here’s the logo:
And the building:
Late Update: Belinda Cook of the hosting committee emailed this:
The logo is the logo of the Tampa Bay Host Committee…the non profit created by the City to raise funds for the Convention infrastructure. It is nit the RNC Convention logo.
What you are referring to in the logo is the University of Tampa…built in early 1920’s…was the former Tampa hotel.
