Tampa Bay is home to a plethora of museums for all ages and interests, and many of them offer free or discounted admission days. Whether you are looking to entertain the kids or simply want to take a break from the summer sun, below are a few great museum deals.
Heritage Village Museum
Location: 11909 125th Street N., Largo
Details: Free admission Wed-Sun, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Sun 1-4 p.m.
This 21-acre outdoor living history museum is located in the heart of Pinellas County. Explore 33 historic attractions, including a variety of historic homes, general store, railroad depot, two schools, a church and more. The museum is open Wed-Sun and is always free. Donations are welcome. They have a free app for Apple and Android users to check on their tours and an interactive map of the museum.
Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art
Location: 600 E Klosterman Rd Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Details: Museum admission is always free, but donations are welcome.
Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art is a modern and contemporary art museum with a collection of more than 6,000 works of 20th and 21st century art. The museum is located on the Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College. As a cultural and academic institution, LRMA serves students and the community at-large, and the museum provides an array of educational programs for all ages to complement a year-around exhibition schedule.
Tampa Museum of Art
Location: 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa
Details: Art on the House is held every Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and visitors enjoy pay-as-you-will admission.
This museum is a work of art in and of itself. Inside, view one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern U.S. In addition to its growing permanent collection, the museum hosts several temporary exhibits and student shows.
Henry B. Plant Museum
Location: 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
Details: Free admission on the second Saturday of each month, Jan.-Nov. They are also a part of the Blue Star Museums program which offers free admission to active military and up to five family members from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Located on the beautiful grounds of the University of Tampa, the museum is housed in the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel. The Victorian-styled railroad resort is now a National Historic Landmark. Original furnishings and artifacts and a dynamic self-guided audio tour immerse visitors in the opulence of the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel.
James Museum
Location: 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Details: Discounted admission on Tuesdays is $10 for adults 18 and up; $5 for ages 7-18; children 6 and under are free.
This gorgeous 26,000-square-foot gallery space features art depicting the peoples, landscapes, and history of the American West, and wildlife of the world. View more than 400 premiere works of art including sculpture, paintings and jewelry.
Dali Museum
Location: One Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg
Details: Enjoy discounted admission every Thursday after 5 p.m. Ages 13 and up $14.50; ages 6-12 $10; 5 and under free.
Step into the surreal world of Salvador Dali at this can’t-miss museum on the St. Pete waterfront, housing the largest collection of Dali’s work in North America. Be sure to download the museum’s app to enjoy a highly entertaining audio tour as you browse this impressive collection.
Imagine Museum
Location: 1901 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Details: Enjoy a Florida Resident discount through August 31, 2023. Tickets are just $10 with a valid ID. Imagine Museum also offers $10 admission every Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. and $5 admission every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. (Note: this museum tends to offer additional discounts throughout the year, so be sure to check their website for the latest offerings.)
Located in downtown St. Pete, Imagine Museum offers exhibitions demonstrating the history of the American Studio Glass Movement, galleries that showcase individual artists who have made their mark in the art field, and galleries that take you through various themes relating to the magical properties of glass.
Ybor City Museum State Park
Location: 1818 E. 9th Avenue Tampa, FL 33605
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Details: Admission is just $4 per person; children 5 and under can visit for free.
The Ybor City Museum State Park is situated in the heart of Ybor City and housed in what was a 1923-era Ferlita Bakery. It is dedicated to showcasing the history of those who emigrated to Ybor and the stories of the city’s development. This museum includes “a lush Mediterranean-style garden and the ‘casita,’ representative of a typical cigar worker’s family home.”
HCPL Discovery Pass
Free admission is also available to select museums using the Discovery Pass available through the Hillsborough County Public Library. Click here to learn more.
Is there a free or discounted museum deal we’re missing? Email us at editor@westchasewow.com and we’ll add it to our online guide.
