TAMPA BAY HISTORY MUSEUMS & A BIT BEYOND
The Tampa Bay history museums are founded on the principle, “The most basic task of any museum must be the protection of works of cultural significance entrusted to its care for the edification and pleasure of future generations.”
~Martin Filler, American critic
The museums listed below serve as repositories of the cultural heritage of Tampa Bay, researching, analyzing and displaying our local history. Visit these museums and attend their events to enrich your understanding of the people, the architecture and the traditions. Learn about life as it was lived in the past, and influences the present, here in our section of Central Florida.
TAMPA BAY HISTORY MUSEUMS BY COUNTY
The Collection on Palmetto
https://collectiononpalmetto.com
“Beauty and innovation realized.”
This museum, in Clearwater, of antique automobiles and engines was created to increase the awareness and understanding of the amazing progress in automotive transportation, which occurred during the early part of the 20th century.
Pinellas County African American History Museum
http://curtismuseum.org
Headquartered in the former Curtis Elementary School, in Clearwater, the Pinellas County African American History Museum serves as a research center for the study of Black history, culture, and life in Pinellas County, Florida.
Dunedin History Museum
https://dunedinmuseum.org
“Echoes of the Junction”
Immerse yourself in Dunedin’s history as the past transcends the pages of history books, coming alive with the voices that have shaped Dunedin’s rich community legacy. Throughout 2024, celebrate with us as our train depot turns 100 years old!
Indian Rocks Historical Museum
https://www.irbmuseum.com
The Indian Rocks Beach Historical Society and Museum are dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and increasing awareness of what pioneer settler Harvey Hendrick called “the most beautiful place on God’s green footstool.”
Heritage Village
https://www.heritagevillagefl.org
This living museum in Largo, features a fascinating collection of restored homes and buildings on 21 wooded acres. The historical museum is the centerpiece of this park and features two galleries with exhibits. Spinning, weaving and other demonstrations are regularly held. It’s a wonderful place to bring children!
Largo Historical Society
https://largohistoricalsociety.org
“Preserving Largo’s Past for Future Generations”
The purpose of the Society is to provide historical education, promote & preserve historical places, documents and items, and to encourage the appreciation and understanding of Largo’s history.
Palm Harbor Museum
https://www.palmharbormuseum.com
Visit the museum, located in the Hartley House, built by Thomas Hartley, magistrate, justice of the peace, Methodist minister and businessman, in 1914, when citrus farming and saltwater fishing dominated the area. Palm Harbor Museum houses permanent displays revealing local history as well as a variety of changing exhibits.
Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
https://www.tbauto.org
“A Tribute to Creativity & Innovation In Engineering”
This hidden gem in Pinellas Park, features a unique collection of vintage cars and vehicles from the 1920’s and 1930’s that played an important part in the evolution of the automobile. Visitors experience an engaging blend of art and science in 19,000 square feet of gallery space.
Safety Harbor Museum and Cultural Center
https://seesafetyharbor.com/Museum
This history and archaeology museum features 12,000 years of history, displaying dioramas as well as displays of fossils, projectile points, shell tools, beads and pottery. Learn the story of Florida’s first people and the arrival of Spanish explorers. Photographs and memorabilia illustrate Safety Harbor at the turn of the century when visitors were first drawn to the place where healing waters flow.
Florida Holocaust Museum
https://www.thefhm.org
“Promote Positive Change”
The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The Museum is dedicated to teaching the members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life.
Closed through Spring 2025 for construction.
Gulf Beaches Historical Museum
https://gulfbeachesmuseum.org
“To collect, preserve and exhibit the history of the barrier islands.”
The museum is located on the grounds of the first church of the local barrier islands, the Pass-a-Grille Community Church, built in 1917 in St. Pete Beach. The permanent collection includes a time-line display from 1500 to present.The museum also has a gift shop featuring books, local art, vintage-style wares, and island-inspired items for visitors of all ages.
The museum is closed indefinitely due to storm damage.
St. Petersburg Museum of History
https://spmoh.com/about
The museum shares Florida’s stories as the hub of scholarship & learning—to inspire, entertain, and promote civic engagement by connecting to our history.
The Woodson African American Museum
https://woodsonmuseum.org
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida seeks to preserve, present, interpret, celebrate and educate others regarding African American art, history, and culture throughout the state of Florida and beyond.
Heritage Museum
https://tarponarts.org/heritage-museum-tarpon-arts-ticket-office
This beautifully renovated facility in Tarpon Springs, has two separate wings. The History Wing contains exhibits about the Greek community of Tarpon Springs, as well as a display of historical and modern photographs tracing the development of Tarpon Springs, a collection of Native American archaeological artifacts from local excavations, and an exhibit detailing the history of Tarpon Springs’ Women’s Club. The Museum’s other wing includes the permanent exhibition, “The Great State of Florida” featuring the extraordinary works of internationally acclaimed artist Christopher M. Still-masterful depictions of history, culture, and the vibrant spirit of the State of Florida.
Safford House Museum
https://tarponarts.org/safford-house-museum
This restored Victorian house, in Tarpon Springs, is a fine example of late 19th century Florida vernacular architecture, filled with period furnishings and original family possessions. Get acquainted with the Safford family and experience Florida life more than 100 years ago. Anson P.K. Safford was the former territorial governor of Arizona; his wife, Soledad, was an accomplished social leader of Mexican background; and Safford’s sister Mary Jane was the town’s first doctor.
Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society, Inc.
https://tarponspringsareahistoricalsociety.org
The Tarpon Springs Historic Train Depot has been around for over 100 years. No longer a train station, it serves as a museum operated by the Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society, Inc. displaying historical exhibits of this old town, “the Sponge Capitol of the World.” For the kiddoes, they feature a fun History Hunt.
Plant City History & Photo Archives
https://www.plantcityphotoarchives.org/
Steward of over 100,000 historical photographic images and documents representing the Greater Plant City Area, East Hillsborough, and West Central Florida, providing the public with open access to their collections and research resources.
Sulphur Springs Museum
https://www.sulphurspringsmuseum.org/
The mission of Sulphur Springs Museum is to celebrate and preserve the social, cultural, and natural history of Sulphur Springs, a community that helped shape Tampa, Florida and Spring Hill, its historically African American neighbor. They offer a wonderful speaker series.
Cracker Country
https://floridastatefair.com/cracker-country/
Cracker Country is a rural Florida living history museum located on the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, set on four beautiful acres of live oak trees.
Henry B. Plant Museum
https://www.plantmuseum.com
A National Historic Landmark in Tampa, the museum displays original furnishings and artifacts from all over the world immersing you in the opulence of the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel and its rich history. During your visit, you will be educated and inspired by the lifestyles, times and experiences of Florida’s early tourist industry.
Tampa Bay History Center
https://tampabayhistorycenter.org
The three levels of exhibit galleries located near downtown Tampa, invite you on a journey through time, from the first indigenous peoples, conquistadors to cattle ranchers, Boom to Bust, displayed in a collection of 90,000 historical artifacts. It is one of the few Tampa Bay museums that can boast the status of Smithsonian Affiliate museum.
Tampa Baseball Museum
https://www.tampabaseballmuseum.org
Honor. Respect. Tradition. History.
Celebrate 135 years of baseball heritage in this historic bungalow, childhood home of hall of famer Al López, the first Tampa native to play and manage in the Major Leagues. Here, the many baseball greats that trained in the sun-soaked fields of Tampa, are honored.
Tampa Firefighters Museum
https://www.tampafirefightersmuseum.org
The Tampa Firefighters Museum preserves the heritage of Tampa’s Fire Department, telling a unique history as a former fire station with exhibits on local service history, firefighting memorabilia and vehicles.
Ybor City Museum State Park
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ybor-city-museum-state-park
Discover charming Ybor City, Tampa, and its rich cultural history as the “Cigar Capitol of the World.” The museum has self-guided exhibits with written & audio information, plus a vivid video presentation that will propel you back in time to the origin of this lively, multicultural once city, now neighborhood.
Pioneer Florida Museum and Village
https://www.pioneerfloridamuseum.org
“Travel Through Florida’s History”
Voted in 2023 as one of the top places to take kids in the Tampa Bay area, displaying tools of the Florida Pioneer Man, showing how he built his house, made his furniture, plowed his fields, harvested his crops, and did his leather-work and blacksmithing. There are many wonderful historic buildings including the Trilby Train Depot, a one-room schoolhouse, the Methodist Church built in built in 1878 by local residents and replaced in 1903, a two-story 1860s restored house, complete with furnishings and tools which reflect the Florida Pioneer Woman’s everyday experiences, a general store, and more, in Dade City.
Rao Musunuru, M.D. Museum & Library
https://westpascomuseum.org
West Pasco Historical Society preserves the history of the local community to further the historic knowledge of its citizens. The Rao Musunuru, M.D. Museum is housed in a building which originally served as the Seven Springs school house. It was purchased then donated to the historical society. The interior of the building was extensively remodeled in 2010-11. At the grand re-opening ceremony on Sept. 10, 2011, the museum was re-named the Rao Musunuru, M. D., Museum and Library, in honor of a significant donor for the museum renovation.
Polk County Historical Museum
https://www.polkcountyhistory.org/museum/
The Polk County History Center located in the Old Polk County Courthouse and houses the Historical Museum and the Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library.
The museum collection includes natural and cultural objects related to Polk and the greater Central Florida area that represent the history of Polk County from its pre-Columbian beginnings, to present day eras. The artifacts on display at the museum represent individuals, cultural groups and events significant to the region. They vary from fossils to hand-made personal objects such as clothing and art, as well as tools and equipment designed for agriculture, military, communications, household and science use.
The library includes books, microfilm and periodicals containing information about the history and genealogy of the eastern United States. A selection of materials related specifically to the history of Polk County includes newspapers, aerial photographs, maps, city directories, property tax rolls, cemetery records and more.
Manatee Village Historical Park
https://www.manateevillage.org
The Park is made up of seven historical and five replica buildings or structures, along with Old Cabbage Head, our 1913 Locomotive. They also offer several permanent exhibitions designed to present how Manatee County residents worked and lived between 1840 and 1918.
Manatee County Agricultural Museum
https://www.manateecountyagmuseum.com
Agriculture has always been a stable force and a major contributor to the County’s economy. The Museum, in Palmetto, exhibits focus on the County’s primary commodities including livestock, vegetables, citrus, horticulture, and commercial fishing. See displays of tools, equipment, photographs and exhibits that reflect the area’s rich heritage.
The Ringling
https://www.ringling.org/
“One Location. Endless Wonder.”
The Museum of Art, representing a vast range of cultures, mediums, techniques, and stories; the Circus Museum, displaying the newest exhibit, The Greatest Show On Earth®; Ca’ d’Zan, the Ringlings’ opulent winter home built in 1926 and filled with their beautiful collection from all parts of the globe; Bayfront Gardens, featuring Mable Ringling’s 27,000-square-foot Rose Garden, completed in 1913. Lectures, films, performances, and more. Located in the City of Sarasota.
Visit, Join and Support the Tampa Bay history museums!
Tampa Bay has been a melting pot of cultures from the earliest times. From the first indigenous peoples, hunter-gatherers building dugout canoes for fishing in the area’s many waterways, to the conquistadors declaring the territory for Spain, to the swashbuckling pirates who roamed Florida’s coasts, to the furious battles waged as Grey met Blue on the fields of the Civil War, to the intrepid settlers who cleared the pine forests to build their homes and farms, to the wheeler-dealers of the real estate booms and busts, each has left their mark. You and your family can meet them all at the Tampa Bay museums- heroes and scoundrels, criminals and lawful, they have all played a part in our rich heritage.
Visit and follow Tampa Bay Time Machine
https://www.facebook.com/Tampa Bay Time Machine to get an overview of the current happenings, the events, the exhibits, the activities at all the Tampa Bay history museums.