Rated as a top arts and cultural destination among cities its size, St. Petersburg is home to world-renowned museums that offer a wide range of educational and cultural experiences for residents and visitors.

St. Petersburg has seven distinct arts districts that are celebrated monthly at the Second Saturday ArtWalk when local artists open their studios and galleries for the public to visit. For a list of upcoming ArtWalks visit: https://stpeteartsalliance.org/experience-arts/artwalk

St. Petersburg Museums

The Dalí Museum
Overlooking the Tampa Bay waterfront, in a building that erupts into a giant free-form geodesic glass bubble, is the Dalí Museum. The Dalí Museum celebrates the life and work of the late Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí and features works from his entire career. The collection includes over 2,400 works from every moment and in every medium of his artistic activity, including oil paintings, drawings, watercolors, book illustrations, prints, sculpture, textiles, photos, manuscripts, and an extensive archive of documents. In addition to their impressive permanent collection, the Dalí hosts rotating exhibitions, tours, events, community and student programming. The Avant Garden and Café Gala are attractions in their own right, and the Dalí’s Innovation Labs and Center for Avant-garde provide enrichment and resources to the wider community.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum

Presenting the historic voice of the African American community in St. Petersburg, the Woodson Museum hosts exhibits, events, and experiences that elevate the contributions of African Americans to the growth and development of St. Petersburg. Through arts, cultural, and historical exhibits, the Woodson seeks to promote understanding and enhance our ability as a society to act respectfully, value diversity, and foster equal rights and social justice. In addition to exhibits and events, the Museum offers community programming, partnership opportunities, their well-kept Legacy Garden, and a lending library.

Fairgrounds St. Pete
Fairgrounds St. Pete is an indoor, explorable, immersive art and technology museum in the Warehouse Arts District of St. Petersburg. The experience includes work by over 60 local and international artists providing them all a platform to showcase their work and experiment with new ideas. The museum celebrates themes of weird, wacky, wonderful Florida and new artwork is continually added. The name Fairgrounds St. Pete references traditional fairgrounds and their role as a place for exhibiting new ideas, as well as recognizing talent, creativity and innovation.

The Florida Holocaust Museum
In a three-story building in downtown St. Petersburg, the Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women, and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The Museum is home to a permanent collection of original artifacts, historical photographs, and documents that tell the story of the Holocaust with a special emphasis on the personal stories of local survivors. The Florida Holocaust Museum also hosts an array of changing exhibitions of varying size and scope and offers additional programming and educational support, events, outreach, and a lending library. The Museum 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.

Great Explorations Children’s Museum

For over 30 years, Great Explorations has been a go-to spot for Tampa Bay’s children. Offering 18,000 square feet of hand-on exhibits and workshops for kids, Great Explorations has a long history of stimulating learning through creativity, play, and exploration. They were the nation’s first children’s museum to open a licensed preschool, and they offer additional opportunities for learning through regular programming, summer camps, and special events and exhibits.

Imagine Museum of Contemporary Glass Art
In an iconic blue building in the Grand Central District, the Imagine Museum takes visitors on an immersive journey through a collection of glass masterpieces that bring intricate shapes to life and magically transforms color and light. Imagine Museum showcases major works of contemporary American and international art by founding and leading artists in the field of studio glass and art expression.

The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art
Located in the heart of downtown, the James Museum houses the personal collection of Tom and Mary James in 26,000 square feet of gallery space. Through personal relationships with artists and many travels to the American West, they have amassed a significant collection that speaks to their interests in history, storytelling and the human spirit. While often relating scenes from the past, most of the art was created in our own era and portrays subjects of American Western history, American Indian cultures, and wildlife from around the world. The James Museum hosts special exhibitions and events, offers regular programming for adults, children, and educators, and invites visitors to their on-site café and museum store.

Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement
An exciting new addition to the Tampa Bay cultural scene, MAACM is the only museum in the world dedicated to the American Arts and Crafts movement of the late 1800s – early 1900s. Founded by local philanthropist and collector Rudy Ciccarello, MAACM features stunning architectural elements such as a grand atrium, skylights, and a dramatic spiral staircase as well as incredible works of art. Discover exquisite examples of handcrafted furniture, pottery, tile, metalwork, stained glass, and fine art, plus educational programs, graphic studio classes, a store, and a café, in a 137,000-square-foot building that is a work of art itself.

Museum of Fine Arts

In an elegant Palladian-style building on Beach Drive, the Museum of Fine Arts inspires visitors with a collection covering almost 5,000 years of civilization in thousands of objects extending from antiquity to present. Boasting the only comprehensive art collection of its kind on Florida’s west coast, highlights of the collection include masterpieces from Monet, O’Keeffe, De Kooning, and Rauschenberg, a sculpture garden, a glass gallery, and one of Florida’s most respected photography collections. Additionally, the MFA hosts special exhibitions and events, offers regular programming for children and adults, has a café that overlooks the downtown waterfront, and maintains a rooftop apiary with 12 active beehives.

St. Petersburg Museum of History
Located on the approach to the St. Pete Pier, the St. Petersburg Museum of History has shared stories of the Sunshine City for nearly a century. Highlighting the history and heritage of Florida with emphasis on St. Pete and the Pinellas Peninsula, this museum offers exhibits that preserve points of interest from our more recent history, including the first commercial airline, the world’s largest collection of autographed baseballs, and a photography collection that captures St. Petersburg’s roots.
(Museum information provided by the City of St. Petersburg)

Sunken Gardens – A Category of Its Own

At over 100 years old, Sunken Gardens is the oldest living museum in St. Petersburg and home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. As you stroll through this four-acre sanctuary, you will be amazed at the variety and number of lush tropical flowers and plants…. over 50,000 from around the world. Cascading waterfalls, flowing ponds, exotic birds and curious flamingoes will capture and delight you. Located at 1825 4th Street, N., Sunken Gardens provides garden tours, horticultural programs, special events and field trips. It can be rented for weddings and private and corporate events. For more information on memberships, hours of operation, workshops, events and tours: Call 727.551.3102 or visit their website at www.sunkengardens.org

Related Articles:
The Arts and Crafts Movement in America: 1895-1920
Community Treasures: Why Museums are Important

If you are looking to buy or sell property in St. Petersburg, Estelia Mesimer at RE/MAX Metro can make it happen for you. With over twenty-five years of experience, Estelia is an expert in the St. Petersburg market and is available 24/7 to assist clients.

St. Petersburg Communities

Allendale Terrace
Bahama Shores
Bayway Isles
Coquina Key
Crescent Heights
Crescent Lake
Downtown
Greater Pinellas Point
Historic Kenwood
Historic Old Northeast
Historic Roser Park
Historic Uptown
Isla del Sol
Old Southeast
Placida Bayou
Snell Isle