TAMPA, Fla. — A historical landmark in downtown Tampa is getting a huge financial boost from the owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Jeff Vinik is donating $1 million to the restoration of the Jackson House. 

The Jackson Rooming House was built more than a century ago. It gave African-Americans a place to stay on their visit through Tampa. Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. and singer James Brown were just a couple of prominent black figures who once visited.

Over time, the star-studded Jackson House, a two-story structure at 851 East Zack Street, turned into a cherished eyesore. The scope of the damage and historic significance was recently scanned into digital archives by the University of South Florida.

Supporters of the restoration said the donation will go a long way toward preservation of the home, which was built in 1901 and expanded to become a boarding house in 1912.

"Can we restore the Jackson House? We’re getting into the possibility of never being able to restore what we see is happening to it, been beaten up by the weather." said Carolyn Collins, the Jackson House Foundation Chair. "But we are going to be able to take a look at maybe some rebuild plans."  

The Jackson House Foundation has already applied for additional funding from the state legislature and it put in a request for federal funding.  

Supporters are hoping crews can start actual restoration on the house before the end of the year.