TampaScene
Bay Area Museums
The Tampa Bay area is one of most the most culturally diverse and integrated areas in the US. On all sides of the Bay, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, there are engaging opportunities to explore its diverse history and culture through its museums. Many are world renowned for their art collections and antiquities from around the world.
Henry B. Plant Museum Tampa
This museum is located in what was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel, an extravagant resort that drew such guests as Teddy Roosevelt and Babe Ruth. Built in 1891 by Henry B. Plant, a railroad magnate who was a friend and competitor of Henry Flagler, who also built a similarly extravagant hotel in St Augistine, FL. Now home to the University of Tampa, its amazing to think this amazing piece of architecture was built in an era, where it was surrounded by swamp land.
401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 254-1891
Ybor City State Park Ybor City, Tampa
This museum highlights Tampa's colorful historic district, Ybor City, also known as the "Cigar Capital of the World." The museum hosts temporary and permanent exhibits highlighting Ybor's golden age. Outside is a peaceful 19th-century-style garden and you can tour a typical cigar worker's home, called a "casita,", in the late 1800s. There is an optional walking tour of Ybor on Saturdays, a city that is still vibrant, youthful and lively, with a vibrancy reminiscent of Bourbon Street, in New Orleans, or Duval Street in Key West.
1818 E. 9th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 247-6323
Museum of Science & Industry Tampa
The Museum of Science and Industry covers all disciplines of science, including biology, anatomy, physics, and meteorology. Located across the street from the University of South Florida, features an IMAX dome theater, where films are shown on a massive curved screen that envelops the audience. There are science-related exhibits for kids, as well as other amusements.
4801 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 987-6000
Cracker Country Florida State Fairgrounds
Located on the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa's only living history museum recreates life in rural 1890s. Florida "Crackers", after which the museum is named, were cow herding 19th century pioneers. There are 13 authentic buildings that were relocated from their original locations and restored on-site, dating from 1870 to 1912. Various trades are depicted including blacksmithing, spinning, storytelling and soap making.
Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US-301, Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 627-4225
American Victory Ship Mariners Museum Tampa
One of only four WWII ships that are fully-functioning, the American Victory Ship is not well advertized but well worth a visit. It is located close to Channelside, a short walk from the Riverwalk. Almost all areas of the Ship are open to the public, including the bridge, weaponry, galley and mess halls, crew cabins and Captain's quarters, radio and gyro rooms. It's a unique oppotunity to experience the living and working conditions of sailors.
705 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 228 8766
Salvador Dali Museum St. Petersburg
The Salvador Dali Museum is dedicated to the work of Salvador Dali and houses the largest collection of Dali's works outside of Europe. It is located downtown St. Petersburg by the waterfront. The museum is home to 7 of the 18 "masterwork" paintings by Dali, the most of any museum in the world. To be considered a masterwork these paintings must measure at least 5ft in any direction, and have been worked on for over a year.
1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 823-3767
Florida Holocaust Museum St. Petersburg
One of the largest Holocaust museums in the country, The Florida Holocaust Museum is the result of a St. Petersburg businessman Walter P. Loebenberg who escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 and served in the United States Army during World War II. The Museum honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust and is dedicated to teaching the members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides.
55 5th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 820-0100
Leepa-Rattner Museum Tarpon Springs
A small museum, located on the campus of the St Petersburg College in Tarpon Springs, opened to the public in 2002. The museum is a modern and contemporary art museum with a collection of more than 6,000 works of 20th and 21st century art. It is small but very interesting and can be covered in a couple of hours. They have a well-varied permanent collection, and their special exhibits are usually well organized and presented. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction held by only 6 percent of all U.S. museums.
St Petersburg College, 600 E Klosterman Rd, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
727-712-5762
Museum of Photographic Arts Tampa
This museum is one of only a few museums in the US dedicated solely to photography. The exhibits cover both historic and contemporary photography with works works of well known photographers from around the world. The museum also offers classes for all ages, gallery talks and happy hour events.
400 N Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 221-2222
Tampa Museum of Art Tampa
The Tampa Museum of Art is located on Tampa's Riverwalk and hosts permanent collections of Greek and Roman antiquities and 20th-century sculpture, along with six temporary exhibits. Its location on the waterfront provides easy access to the riverwalk.
120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 274-8130
Glazer Children's Museum Tampa
Designed for kids, there are many hands-on exhibits designed for exploration, such as a kid-sized grocery store, airplane, and cruise ship. It is a world of fun created to stimulate the imagination, a world of make believe using everyday tools. It located in downtown Tampa, next to the Tampa Museum of Art and Curtis Hixon Park, alongside the Tampa Riverwalk. It is part of the Waterfront Arts District.
110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 443-3861
Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg
The Museum of Fine Arts, is a landmark of the city St. Petersburg, located in the downtown waterfront area. It opened to the public in 1965 and was the first art museum in St. Petersburg. It has a vast and comprehensive collection including masterpieces from Monet, O’Keeffe, De Koonig, Rauschenberg, Whistler and others, a sculpture garden, a Steuben glass gallery and one of Florida’s most respected photography collections.
255 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 896-2667
Great Explorations Children's Museum St. Petersburg
Great Explorations is a non-profit children's museum, for ages 3 to 12, filled with adventures, mostly related to life. Exhibits include a Fire House, with a ccustom built fire truck and pole for sliding; Publix grocery store with products and check-out stations; a pizza station; Animal Clinic; T.V. Station; Health Center and much more.
1925 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704
(727) 821-8992
JC Newman Cigar Company Museum Ybor City, Tampa
America's oldest family-owned premium cigar makers, and also the last operating cigar factory in Cigar Cityin Ybor City. Founded in Cleveland, Ohio Hungarian immigrant, Julius Caeser Newman, the business was relocated to Ybor City in 1954.The comapny operates small, private cigar museum on the first floor of its historic factory.
2701 N 16th St, Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 248-2124
Tampa Bay History Museum Tampa
The Tampa Bay History Center, a massive 60,000-square-foot museum, located on the Tampa Riverwalk presents 12,000 years of Tampa Bay history. Interactive exhibits a vast array of Seminole artifacts, the Spanish conquistadors, the roaring 1920s-era and Tampa's role as the Cigar Catpital of the nation and many other.
801 Old Water St, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 228-0097
Tampa Firefighters Museum Tampa
Located in downtown the Tampa Firefighter's Museum is located in a building that was built in 1911 and served as the Fire Department Headquarters until 1974. A museum is designed to preserve the history of the fire department and to promote fire safety and prevention throughout the community. There are several historical and educational displays including a piece of metal recovered from the World Trade Towers on 9/11.
720 E Zack St, Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 964-6862
Tampa Bay Automobile Museum Pinellas Park
The Tampa Bay Automobile Museum, located in Pinellas Park, is dedicated to the engineering innovations of the 1920's and 1930's. The Museum features more than fifty automobiles from around the world. It is also the home to a reproduction of the world's first self-propelled vehicle, the Fardier de Cugnot.
3301 Gateway Centre Blvd, Pinellas Park, FL 33782
(727) 579-8226