The Museum houses and maintains a documented collection of objects that are preserved and managed for study, exhibition, programming and education. In total, these collections are referred to as the permanent collections and include objects from the disciplines of fine art including sculpture, painting and graphic arts; decorative art including glass, silver, furniture, ceramics, and clocks; history including general Americana, Florida, French, and Cuban; ethnology including African, pre-Columbian, Cuban, Floridian and Afro-American; biology including natural history, conchology, astronomy; paleontology of Florida; and archeology.
The Museum also maintains 10 historic buildings in two national register districts and maintains two interpreted nature preserves.