With a past shaped by Spanish explorers, pirates, and visionaries, Florida is home to some of the most fascinating historic sites in the United States. Visitors flock here to walk through centuries-old forts in St. Augustine, explore Gilded Age estates in Miami, and experience the legacy of space travel on the Space Coast. Aside from the famous landmarks, Florida boasts a collection of world-class museums that offer insight into everything from surrealist art and marine science to literary history and American craftsmanship. Whether you’re interested in gazing at a Saturn V rocket, admiring the stained glass masterpieces of Louis Comfort Tiffany, or stepping into the home of Ernest Hemingway, the Sunshine State delivers something for every curious traveler. Here are ten must-visit museums in Florida that showcase the state’s rich heritage, artistic treasures, and groundbreaking achievements.
1. The Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg
Nestled in St. Petersburg, The Dalí Museum houses the largest collection of Salvador Dalí’s works outside Europe. The museum’s architecture is a masterpiece itself, featuring a geodesic glass dome known as the “Enigma,” which bathes the atrium in natural light.
Inside, visitors can explore over 2,400 pieces spanning Dalí’s career, including 96 oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and sculptures. Highlights include monumental works like “The Hallucinogenic Toreador” and “The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.”
Beyond the galleries, the museum offers immersive experiences such as “Dalí Alive 360°,” a multisensory journey through Dalí’s surreal landscapes within the 360-degree Dalí Dome. The Avant-garden provides a tranquil outdoor space adorned with whimsical sculptures and a meditative grotto.
2. The Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota
In Sarasota, The Ringling Museum of Art stands as a testament to the cultural aspirations of John and Mable Ringling. Established in 1927, this museum showcases an extensive collection of over 10,000 artworks, including European paintings from the 16th to 20th centuries, with notable pieces by Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velázquez, and Paolo Veronese.
The museum’s architecture features 21 galleries arranged around a central courtyard adorned with classical sculptures, creating a harmonious blend of art and environment. On top of the galleries, the 66-acre estate encompasses the Ca’ d’Zan mansion, a Venetian Gothic residence reflecting the Ringlings’ admiration for Italian design, and the Circus Museum, which delves into the rich history of the American circus.
Visitors can also explore the Bayfront Gardens, home to Mable’s Rose Garden, majestic banyan trees, and the whimsical Dwarf Garden, offering a serene complement to the artistic treasures within.
3. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami
Tucked along Biscayne Bay, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens feels like a portal to another era. Built in the early 20th century as a winter retreat for industrialist James Deering, this lavish estate blends European elegance with Miami’s tropical charm. Unlike traditional museums, Vizcaya isn’t just about what’s inside. It’s an experience shaped by its surroundings.
Stepping into the villa, visitors are met with hand-carved ceilings, Venetian chandeliers, and centuries-old artifacts collected from across Europe. Each room tells a story of old-world craftsmanship, yet the salty breeze from the bay reminds you that this is distinctly Miami.
The gardens are just as captivating. Ornate fountains and sculpted hedges weave through a landscape that rivals the grand estates of Italy and France. Wander past hidden grottos, marble statues, and mangrove shorelines, where Vizcaya’s beauty meets nature’s wild edge.
4. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Merritt Island
Located on Merritt Island, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers an immersive journey into the past, present, and future of space exploration. As NASA’s primary launch center since 1968, this iconic site has been the backdrop for pivotal moments in human spaceflight.
Visitors can embark on the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, which provides exclusive access to restricted areas, including views of launch pads and the colossal Vehicle Assembly Building. The tour culminates at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, where the impressive Saturn V rocket, the largest ever flown, is displayed, commemorating the Apollo missions that first took humanity to the Moon.
A highlight of the complex is the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit. Suspended as if in flight, Atlantis is showcased with payload bay doors open, offering a unique perspective on this storied spacecraft. The exhibit also features the Shuttle Launch Experience, a simulator that recreates the sensations of a shuttle launch.
For those intrigued by the future of space travel, the Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex® presents cutting-edge innovations and upcoming missions. Interactive displays and artifacts from contemporary space programs provide insights into humanity’s next steps beyond Earth.
The complex also offers opportunities to meet veteran astronauts, providing personal insights into the challenges and triumphs of spaceflight. Engaging exhibits like the Rocket Garden, featuring historic rockets from NASA’s early programs, and the Heroes and Legends attraction, honoring pioneers of space exploration, round out the experience.
5. The Frost Science Museum, Miami
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami offers an interactive experience where visitors engage with science in a hands-on way. The museum spans multiple levels, featuring a three-story aquarium that replicates South Florida’s marine ecosystems. Visitors can observe sharks, rays, and tropical fish while looking through a massive oculus window that provides a unique underwater perspective.
The planetarium is one of the most advanced in the country, with a massive dome that projects high-definition visuals of space exploration, black holes, and planetary systems. The immersive experience gives visitors the feeling of traveling through the cosmos without leaving their seats.
Exhibits throughout the museum cover everything from physics and engineering to the evolution of flight. There are interactive experiments, educational displays, and real-world applications of scientific principles. The museum is designed for all ages, making it an ideal destination for families, students, and science enthusiasts.
6. St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, St. Augustine
In the heart of St. Augustine, the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum offers an immersive journey into the Golden Age of Piracy. Located at 12 South Castillo Drive, directly across from the historic Castillo de San Marcos, this museum houses the world’s largest collection of authentic pirate artifacts.
Visitors can explore over 800 artifacts, including the only known authentic pirate treasure chest, once belonging to Captain Thomas Tew, and one of only three remaining original Jolly Roger flags. Interactive exhibits allow guests to experience life aboard a pirate ship, participate in a simulated cannon firing, and delve into the stories of notorious pirates like Blackbeard. The museum’s design, featuring contributions from Disney Imagineers, ensures an engaging experience for all ages.
7. Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Key West
At 907 Whitehead Street in Key West, stands the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, a residence that offers a window into the life of one of America’s most celebrated authors. Constructed in 1851 by marine architect Asa Tift, this French Colonial-style house became Hemingway’s sanctuary from 1931 to 1939. During these years, he penned notable works such as Green Hills of Africa, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” and To Have and Have Not.
A distinctive feature of the property is its expansive swimming pool, the first in Key West, completed in 1938 at a staggering cost of $20,000, a sum that exceeded twice the home’s purchase price. In a gesture of mock exasperation over the expense, Hemingway embedded a penny into the poolside cement, quipping, “Here, take the last cent I’ve got.”
Today, the museum is as renowned for its feline inhabitants as for its literary history. Approximately 59 polydactyl (six-toed) cats, many believed to be descendants of Hemingway’s original pet, Snowball, roam the grounds. These cats, named after famous figures, a tradition initiated by Hemingway himself, have become an integral part of the home’s charm.
Visitors can explore the rooms where Hemingway lived and worked, view his personal artifacts, and stroll through the lush gardens.
8. The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), Tampa
The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa offers a hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). With over 100 interactive exhibits, MOSI encourages visitors to engage directly with scientific concepts.
One highlight is the “Mission: Moonbase” exhibit, a simulated lunar colony set in the year 2070. Visitors can experience the challenges of establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, including growing food and managing resources.
For those interested in prehistoric life, the “Dinovations Lab” provides insights into paleontology with interactive displays, including fossil examinations and animations.
MOSI also features the Saunders Planetarium, offering immersive journeys through the cosmos. The planetarium’s advanced projection system brings celestial phenomena to life, making complex astronomical concepts accessible to all ages.
Beyond exhibits, MOSI hosts educational programs, workshops, and events aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of science and innovation. Whether lying on a bed of nails to learn about pressure distribution or navigating the Sky Trail® Ropes Course to explore physics principles, visitors are encouraged to learn through experience.
9. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park
Nestled in the charming town of Winter Park, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art offers an unparalleled glimpse into the creative genius of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Established in 1942 by Jeannette Genius McKean and named in honor of her grandfather, the museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of Tiffany’s works, encompassing jewelry, pottery, paintings, and his renowned leaded-glass lamps and windows.
A centerpiece of the museum is the restored Tiffany Chapel, originally crafted for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This Byzantine-Romanesque masterpiece features intricate mosaics, vibrant stained glass, and ornate furnishings, reflecting Tiffany’s dedication to ecclesiastical art.
Beyond Tiffany, the museum’s diverse holdings include American art pottery, late 19th- and early 20th-century American paintings, graphics, and decorative art, providing a rich tapestry of American artistic expression.
10. The Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville
The Florida Museum of Natural History, located on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, is renowned for its extensive exhibits and research programs. As of March 24, 2025, the museum’s exhibits building is temporarily closed for a large-scale expansion project, with an anticipated reopening in 2026.
During this period, the museum continues to engage the community through various outreach programs and events. Information about these activities can be found on the museum’s official website.
Despite the temporary closure, the museum’s research and collections facilities remain operational, continuing their mission to understand, preserve, and interpret Florida’s biological diversity and cultural heritage. For the latest updates on the expansion project and upcoming events, visitors are encouraged to check the museum’s website or follow their social media channels.
