TAMPA -- Fox News has picked its headquarters for the Republican National Convention in August: Tampa Bay History Center.

The network has agreed to rent portions of the 60,000-square-foot museum, which is located directly across the street from the Tampa Bay Times Forum in the Channel district, at 801 Old Water Street.

Fox  will broadcast live from the History Center during the four-day convention. The History Center will be closed to the general public from Aug. 21 through Sept. 1.

The history center, which opened in 2009, has been in negotiations with the network for several months, said marketing director Manny Leto.

Leto declined to discuss the terms of the contract.

“It’s a great opportunity to really highlight the history center as a cultural venue and the history of Tampa on a national stage,” said Leto.

 -- Jodie Tillman, Times staff writer