Travel

Learn Something New When You Explore These 4 Tampa Museums

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Tampa, Florida, is a modern, vibrant city filled with a thrumming art, food, and entertainment scene. Tampa is also home to a variety of exciting museums that offer visitors a glimpse into the history of the Tampa Bay area. There are museums that have educational programs for kids and others that have beautiful art exhibits. Here are four museums worth visiting to learn something new while exploring the Tampa area.

Tampa Bay History Center

Image via Flickr by VirgoGal25

Tampa has a rich history of pirates, buccaneers, and treasure hunters. While visiting the Tampa Bay History Center, be sure to visit the popular Treasure Seekers exhibit. Learn about Florida’s history of conquistadors, pirates, and shipwrecks.

Learn about the history of the conquistadors who explored the Florida coast in search of gold and other valuables. Read about the fascinating history of the pirates who sailed in the waters of Tampa Bay. Study the display that shows the hundreds of shipwrecks that dot the waters off of Florida and Tampa. With three floors of the museum to explore, you will enjoy learning about Florida’s rich nautical history.

Tampa Museum of Art

The Tampa Museum of Art is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting important works of art, from ancient to modern and contemporary. The vision of the museum is to educate the public on these beautiful pieces and collections of art. One of the more popular permanent exhibits at the museum is the Classical Antiquities Collection. The collection features figurines, vases, and exquisitely cast bronze sculptures from the Classical Antiquity period that came from ancient Greece and Rome. In addition, you can find exhibits that feature collections from modern and contemporary artists.

Glazer Children’s Museum

If you are traveling with children while visiting Tampa, take them to the fun and interactive Glazer Children’s Museum. They can explore their artistic talent in the Artsmart exhibit, or learn how to be an architect or designer in the Design + Build yellow house exhibit where there is always need for renovation. They can learn what it is like to be a firefighter or engineer, and how to play African drums. Your kids will have fun while learning about the world around them.

Henry B. Plant Museum

Housed in the gorgeous Victorian railroad resort that was once the Tampa Bay Hotel, the Henry B. Plant Museum is dedicated to showcasing the opulent lifestyle of Florida’s Gilded Age. The design of the museum is reminiscent of a Moorish castle with spiraling towers and interesting dome-shaped tops.

If you would like to learn what life for a wealthy turn-of-the-century tourist in Tampa was like, then the Henry B. Plant Museum is perfect. To experience what the museum has to offer in-depth, book a docent-led tour. If you prefer, take the self-guided 45-minute audio tour which takes you through the individual rooms of the museum.

Visiting Tampa’s diverse museums is an educational and inspirational experience. When you decide that you want to stay for several days to explore more museums, know that there are plenty of great lodging options close by. You will be able to relax in your hotel after a day of learning something new and be refreshed for a new day exploring Tampa’s museums.

 

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