Museums in Tampa Bay
30 Tampa Bay Museums
If you’re looking for a fun day out, you should visit one of Tampa’s many museums! From history to art to science, there’s something for everyone, and we’ll cover some of our favorites but provide you with a full list.
The Museum of Science and Industry is an excellent place for families, with exhibits covering everything from physics to the human body. There’s also an IMAX theater and a planetarium. If you’re into history, then the Henry B. Plant Museum is a must-visit. It features artifacts from the Gilded Age when Tampa was a central hub for trade and transportation. The Salvador Dali Museum is one of the unique museums in Tampa. It houses the most extensive collection of Dali’s work.
So, without further adieu, we’ll introduce four favorite museums in Tampa and provide you with a list of 26 more!
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Henry B. Plant Museum
The Henry B. Plant Museum, founded in 1933, is a National Historic Landmark and a unique transportive experience. It even holds accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums!
This building originally was home to the Tampa Bay Hotel, which houses plenty of unique, affluent, and diverse people. The museum retains original furnishings from the hotel curated by Mr. and Mrs. Plant. They brought back objects from all over the Orient and countries all over Europe and created a beautiful escape.
The museum still is home to the original decorations and furniture from the Tampa Bay Hotel. It feels as though you are instantly transported into a different time when you walk in. The museum gets its name from Henry B. Plant, a successful businessman, and entrepreneur. His interest focused on transportation, primarily railroads, and he became the founder of the Plant System of railroads and steamboats. His elaborate tastes translated to the thing he brought back and placed in the Tampa Bay Hotel, now for us to enjoy.
Admission: $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; $7 for children 13-17 yrs; $5 for children 4-12 yrs
Location: 401 West Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33606 (The museum is in the south wing of Plant Hall on the campus of the University of Tampa.)
Operating Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm; Sunday 12 pm-5 pm; Closed Monday
Glazer Children’s Museum
The Glazer Children’s Museum is so exciting that you’ll want to join in on the fun, too! This museum will have your kids wanting to come back the next day as it opens their minds to creativity and allows for discovery. Visitors have access to 53,000 square feet of imaginative play, including laboratories, discovery centers, and an experience your kids won’t forget.
Admission: $15 for adults; $13 for children 1-12; Members are free
Location: 110 West Gasparilla Plaza Tampa, FL 33602
Operating Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 am-5 pm; Saturday 10 am-6 pm; Sunday 1 pm-6 pm
Salvador Dali Museum
Fall in love with the artistic expression of Salvador Dali in the museum that commemorates his inspiring artwork. You can spend a whole day in the Salvador Dali Museum, which showcases the work of this bizarre, post-impressionist artist.
Start with breakfast on the premises, soak in the surrealist artwork, and then enjoy lunch at the Café Gala, wrapping up your experience with Spanish cuisine. If you’re a fan of surrealism, post-impressionist art, or just enjoy unique artwork, this is your place. And, you get the bonus of some great food, too!
Admission: $29
Location: One Dali Blvd St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Operating Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 am-5 pm; Saturday 10 am-6 pm; Sunday 1 pm-6 pm; Closed Monday
Tampa Bay History Center
The Tampa Bay History Museum is a museum that focuses on the first native inhabitants that came into Tampa Bay, the Spanish conquistadors. Go on a journey with the people who shaped the area’s history and influenced a whole culture.
This museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum, so you know it will be remarkable and informative. It has three floors of exhibits covering centuries of historical events, from Spanish conquistadors to how Cuban cigars became a part of the culture to the cattle drivers of Florida pioneers.
There’s so much to learn about Florida in an interactive exhibit that’s great for all ages.
Admission: $5 for adults; Free for children six and under
Location: 801 Water St. Tampa, FL 33602
Operating Hours: 11 am-9 pm every day
Tampa Bay Area Museums
| Tampa Bay Museums | Address | City | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass Contemporary | 2722 S Macdill Ave | Tampa | https://www.casscontemporary.com |
| Columbia Museum | 2029 E 7th Ave | Tampa | https://www.columbiamuseum.org |
| Cracker Country Living History Museum | E Hillsborough Ave | Tampa | https://www.crackercountry.org |
| Florida Chinese Cultural Center | 13367 N 56th St | Tampa | http://floridachineseculturalcenter.org |
| Florida Museum of Photographic Arts | 400 North Ashley Drive | Tampa | https://www.weebly.com |
| Florida Railroad Museum Willow Yard | 18850 Willow Rd | Wimauma | https://www.frrm.org |
| Glazer Children's Museum | 110 W Gasparilla Plz | Tampa | https://glazermuseum.org/ |
| Henry B. Plant Museum | 401 W Kennedy Blvd | Tampa | https://www.plantmuseum.com |
| International Independent Showmen's Museum | 6938 Riverview Dr | Riverview | https://showmensmuseum.org |
| Michael Murphy Gallery | 2701 S Macdill Ave | Tampa | https://www.mmgart.com |
| Morean Arts Center | 720 Central Ave | St. Petersburg | https://moreanartscenter.org |
| Museum Of Science & Industry | 4801 E Fowler Ave | Tampa | https://mosi.org/ |
| Rear Admiral Leroy Collins Jr Veterans Museum | 3602 N US Highway 301 | Tampa | http://www.veteransparkhc.org |
| Robert W Willaford Railroad Museum | 102 N Palmer St | Plant City | https://www.willafordrailroadmuseum.com |
| Saunders Planetarium | 4801 E Fowler Ave | Tampa | https://mosi.org/exhibits/planetarium/ |
| Scarfone/Hartley Gallery | 310 N Boulevard | Tampa | https://www.ut.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-letters/department-of-art-and-design-degrees/scarfone/hartley-gallery |
| SS American Victory | 705 Channelside Dr | Tampa | https://www.americanvictory.org |
| Tampa Baseball Museum At The Al Lopez House | 2003 N 19th St | Tampa | https://www.tampabaseballmuseum.org |
| Tampa Fire Fighters Museum | 720 E Zack St | Tampa | https://www.tampafirefightersmuseum.org |
| Tampa Museum Of Art | 120 W Gasparilla Plz | Tampa | https://tampamuseum.org |
| Tampa Police Department | 411 N Franklin St | Tampa | https://www.tampa.gov/police |
| Tampa Police Museum | 411 N Franklin St | Tampa | http://tampapolicememorial.org |
| The Dali Museum | 1 Dali Blvd. | St. Petersburg | https://thedali.org |
| The Florida Aquarium | 701 Channelside Drive | Tampa | https://www.flaquarium.org |
| The Tampa Bay History Center | 801 Water St | Tampa | https://tampabayhistorycenter.org |
| Underground | 802 E Whiting St | Tampa | http://www.district3.us |
| USF Contemporary Art Museum | 3821 USF Holly Dr | Tampa | http://www.ira.usf.edu |
| Veterans Memorial Park | 3602 N US Highway 301 | Tampa | http://www.veteransparkhc.org |
| Wandering Eye Art Gallery | 1600 E 8Th Ave Suite E109 | Tampa | http://wanderingeyeartgallery.org |
| Ybor City State Museum | 1818 E 9th Ave | Tampa | https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ybor-city-museum-state-park |
Did we leave your theater off the list? Send us the info and we’ll be sure to add it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Families with younger children will appreciate the Glazer Children’s Museum with its interactive displays that kids love! But there are other family-friendly Tampa area museums. Some of the best include The Florida Aquarium, Saunders Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Florida Railroad Museum, Cracker County Living History Museum, and the Tampa Baseball Museum.
Yes. There are a variety of art museums in the Tampa-St. Pete area. Some of the venues include the USF Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa Museum of Art, Morean Arts Center, Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, The Dali Museum, and Cass Contemporary.
Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) is a three-in-one museum featuring exhibits, the Saunders Planetarium, and Sky Trail Ropes Course. With more than 100 activities like building a robot or getting comfy on a bed of nails, MOSI is a family-friendly museum that’ll appeal to all ages. The venue is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
