Museums Natural History
Florida

Browse Museums

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park
Tallahassee, Florida

Arboretum, Botanical Garden, Culture, History, Historic House, Natural History, Park

To provide resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources.

Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum
Fort Walton Beach, Florida

History, Natural History

The Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum is on the National Registry of Country Schools and has a mission to foster understanding of the country school experience in Northwest Florida. Actual and replica artifacts stimulate and encourage learning about the Okaloosa educational collection. Programs and historical activities are offered throughout the year. Field trips promote and sustain an interest in the history of the one-room school. The City of Fort Walton Beach is happy to provide public access to the schoolhouse on a regular basis.

City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center
Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Archaeology, History, Natural History

The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center consists of the Indian Temple Mound Museum, the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, the Garnier Post Office Museum, the Fort Walton Temple Mound and a Civil War Exhibits Building.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Naples Nature Center
Naples, Florida

Children's, General, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Science

We envision a region where our land, water and wildlife are protected, our citizens are informed and our leaders make decisions with the health, well-being and sustainability of our region’s natural environment in mind. We seek to increase and share our knowledge of the natural world through continued scientific research and promoting sound environmental policies. Through collaboration with our partners we work to protect a high quality of life for both our current residents and generations to come.

Cracker Trail Museum
Zolfo Springs, Florida

Archaeology, Culture, General, History, Library, Natural History

Since its beginning in 1967, Cracker Trail Museum has collected over 4,000 items related to pioneer-era Florida history. Each item is maintained either within glass enclosed cases or strategically placed around the floor of the museum. Many of the larger items are provided in a setting that would be reminiscent of pioneer living. The items are identified with a tag that not only gives its description, but includes the name of the person who donated it. Proper records are maintained, so at any time, a guest may inquire about a certain item donated by a family member and its location can be retrieved through its computer data base. This procedure is used many times within the course of a month to assist family members for viewing a loved one’s acquisition.

Deering Estate at Cutler
Miami, Florida

Archaeology, History, Historic House, Natural History, Nature Centers

The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-Dade County Park, is located at 16701 SW 72 Avenue in Miami. This 444-acre natural and archeological preserve and historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a center for education, culture and recreation. Historic house tours are offered daily at 10:30 am and 3:00 pm. Natural areas tours are offered daily at 12:30 pm (October – May). EcoAdventure Tours are also offered throughout the year for an additional fee. For more information on the Deering Estate's educational and cultural programs, please visit www.deeringestate.org.

Florida Agricultural Museum
Palm Coast, Florida

Anthropology, Archaeology, Culture, History, Historic House, Natural History, Science, Specialized

The Florida Agricultural Museum preserves heritage livestock breeds of Iberian descent. We own herds of Florida Cracker Horses and Cattle, both of which are among the rarest livestock breeds in existence today. The Museum offers tours of the Strawn Citrus Complex from the 1930s, the Clark Homestead and Traxler Store from the 1890s. The Black Cowboys exhibit can be visited in Espanola building. We also offer horseback riding on guided trail rides, equestrian camping, kayak tours of Pellicer Creek, an outstanding Florida waterway. Visitors are greeted by Sally the farm dog and children can collect eggs, feed the cattle, horses, pigs, and other livestock. Visitors can also tour John Hewitt's water powered sawmill archaeological site that operated from 1770 to 1813.

Florida Museum of Natural History--Administration/Collections/Research
Gainesville, Florida

Archaeology, Natural History, Science

The Florida Museum is Florida's state museum of natural history. The museum's two main facilities are located in Gainesville, FL on the University of Florida campus.

Powell Hall, the education and exhibition center, is home to the permanent and traveling exhibit programs, adult and children's classes, group tours and special events. Visitors can enjoy hundreds of butterflies, witness a South Florida Calusa Indian welcoming ceremony, experience a life-sized limestone cave and see a mammoth and mastodon from the last Ice Age. More than 200,000 people visited the museum in 2008.

Dickinson Hall houses the majority of the Museum's research activities and vast collections containing more than 40 million specimens and artifacts.

Fort Caroline National Memorial
Jacksonville, Florida

History, Natural History, Park

Fort Caroline memorializes the short-lived French presence in sixteenth century Florida. Here you will find stories of exploration, survival, religious disputes, territorial battles, and first contact between American Indians and Europeans. The museum also describes other significant cultural and natural features located within the boundaries of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.

Historic Virginia Key Beach Park & Museum
Miami, Florida

Children's, General, History, Historic House, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Science

Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, located off the Rickenbacker Causeway, is just minutes away from the Miami’s downtown financial centers, top tourist destinations, sport facilities, retail, dining and renowned educational institutions.

Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Fort Myers, Florida

Culture, History, Historic House, Natural History, Nature Centers, Planetarium, Science

The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a private, 501(c)(3), not for profit, environmental education organization located in Fort Myers, Florida. Our 105-acre site has a museum, three nature trails, a 44'-diameter dome theater planetarium, butterfly and bird aviaries, a gift shop and meeting and picnic areas.

Charlotte County History Services
Punta Gorda, Florida

Anthropology, Archaeology, History, Natural History

The Historical Center museum is currently closed. The Historical Center continues to offer off-site exhibits, preservation, outreach and programs for all ages, focusing on the history, culture, built environment and natural surroundings of Charlotte County.

Clewiston Museum
Clewiston, Florida

Culture, History, Natural History

To preserve the history of Clewiston and display exhibits to portray that history.

Cox Science Center And Aquarium
West Palm Beach, Florida

Anthropology, Aquarium, Archaeology, Children's, Culture, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Planetarium, Science

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium provides curious minds of all ages with an entertaining and educational journey through the latest discoveries in science and technology. Named South Florida Parenting’s 2017 & 2018 Kids Crown Winner for Best Museum, SFSCA features more than 100 interactive exhibits, an immersive fresh and saltwater aquarium, full-dome planetarium, Florida conservation-themed miniature golf course, the world’s most advanced exhibit on the human brain and much more. Experience the latest upgrade – a quarter-mile long outdoor Science Trail with 15 new exhibits including a Physics Forest, FPL SolarScape, gem panning station, splash pad, and more! Now serving over 300,000 students and visitors annually, providing a mind-opening experience for all.

Crowley Museum and Nature Center
Sarasota, Florida

Archaeology, Art, Botanical Garden, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Natural History

Facilitate enjoyment and understanding of southwest Florida nature and history; Promote Environmental awareness; and Foster Responsible Stewardship

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Homosassa, Florida

Children's, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Zoo

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park showcases some of Florida's loveliest landscape surrounding the headwaters of the Homosassa River. The 210-acre park is home to native Florida wildlife including the endangered West Indian Manatees, Red Wolves, Florida Panther, Key deer, Whooping Cranes and much more. The park is one of only a few places where you can see a West Indian manatee up close 365 daysa year. The Fish Bowl underwater observatory allows visitors to see manatees and thousands of fish in the crystal-clear freshwater spring. Three educational programs on the manatees,two Wildlife encounters and one alligator and hippopotamus program are offered daily. The Children's education center offers a variety of hands-on activities for young people.

Florida International Museum
Saint Petersburg, Florida

Art, Children's, Church, Culture, History, Natural History, Science

A Smithsonian Affiliate since 1999, FIM's mission is to provide a world class museum built on permanent collections and other traveling exhibitions. This mission allows focus on national or international exhibitions including collections from the Smithsonian.

Florida Museum of Natural History--Exhibits & Public Programs
Gainesville, Florida

Archaeology, Natural History, Science

Visitors to the Florida Museum, on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, can enjoy hundreds of exotic butterflies in a rainforest setting, witness a South Florida Calusa Indian welcoming ceremony, experience a life-size limestone cave, and see a mammoth and mastodon from the last Ice Age. Permanent exhibits include Northwest Florida: Waterways and Wildlife, South Florida People and Environments, Hall of Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life and Land, and the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, which features the screened, outdoor Butterfly Rainforest exhibit with hundreds of live butterflies.

Dickinson Hall houses the museum's other research activities and vast collections containing more than 40 million natural history specimens and artifacts.

Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Breeze, Florida

Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Military, Natural History, Nature Centers, Park, Science

The nation's largest national seashore, Gulf Islands,provides recreational opportunities and historic sites in the panhandle of Florida. Visitors can visit historic Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas, and the Advanced Redoubt and see coastal defense batteries.

Indian Temple Mound Museum
Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Archaeology, History, Natural History

Exhibits depict prehistory of the Florida Panhandle. Ceremonial Temple Mound, a National Historic Landmark, located beside museum. Educational programs, research library, gift shop. Owned by City of Fort Walton Beach.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

Wednesday, September 10 - Saturday, September 13, 2025

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hosted by: American Association for State and Local History

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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RECENT UPDATES

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Museum Associations

03/07 Public Lands Alliance

Washington, District of Columbia

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