Museums in:

Tampa, Florida

Children's, General, Science

The Glazer Children's Museum is a educational and cultural institution dedicated to hands-on learning. Our mission is to create learning environments where children play, discover and connect to the world around them to develop as lifelong learners and leaders. We have over 29,000 square feet of permanent and traveling exhibit spaces designed for children up to 10 years of age. The Museum features 17 distinct exhibit galleries with a multi-disciplinary approach to learning.

Henry B. Plant Museum

Tampa, Florida

History

Science

Get hands-on in Tampa’s newly renovated science center, where curious young minds can explore space science, weather, engineering, physics, the human body and more. Become and aspiring astronaut in Mission Moonbase or let your creativity run wild in Idea Zone, where anyone can design and engineer hands-on STEAM projects. Immerse your senses on the Virtual Reality Simulator ride, discover the night sky in The Saunders Planetarium or head outside to experience an adrenaline rush like no other on the Sky Trail Ropes Course. Learn about the Jurassic Period and see our 30-foot-tall Diplodocus in the brand new Dinovations Lab.

General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

Today, Tampa Historical Society focuses on its Historic Landmark headquarters: the c. 1890 Peter O. Knight House. The House, located in the larger context of Historic Hyde Park, is a perfect tool for interpreting Tampa’s middle class in the era and district where it first grew and stabilized. Through its Collection, its publications, its educational programs, and its events, Tampa Historical Society/The Peter O. Knight House continues a long and successful relationship with Tampa, linking past, present, and future.

The Florida Aquarium

Tampa, Florida

Aquarium, Science

Discover over 10,000 aquatic plants & animals from Florida and the entire globe! Encounter sharks, rays, gators, river otters, rare sea dragons, a giant green sea turtle & more. See the new outdoor, watery-fun exhibit, Explore A Shore!

Botanical Garden

The mission of the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens is to foster appreciation, understanding and stewardship of our natural and botanical heritage through living plant collections, displays, education and research. The USF Botanical Gardens serves the education and research needs of the University community and provides education and recreation opportunities for the Tampa Bay area community. Collections include: orchids, bromeliads, begonias, carnivorous plants, palms and native plants.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Tampa, Florida

Aquarium, Botanical Garden, Children's, Culture, Nature Centers, Park, Science, Zoo

Recognized as the #1 Zoo in the U.S. by Parents magazine (2009) and Child magazine (2004), Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo features 1,000 animals on nearly 56 acres of natural habitats. Guests will find many interactive exhibits and opportunities to get closer to wildlife -- feed a giraffe, walk with wallabies, hold a lorikeet, touch a stingray and more. The Zoo's Manatee and Aquatic Center expands the traditional boundaries of a zoo, focusing efforts on critical care for injured, sick and orphaned wild manatees. Also at the Zoo: splash ground water play areas, wild rides, educational shows and restaurants.

Art

The University of Tampa, Scarfone/Hartley Gallery exhibits significant original works of art created by contemporary national, international and regional artists. STUDIO-f, visiting-artist program is included in the gallery events. http://studiof.utarts.com

Culture, History, Specialized

The Tampa Police Museum is open Mon – Fri from 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. and is located on the ground floor of the Tampa Police Department headquarters building in downtown Tampa. The entrance is on the West side of the building on N. Franklin Street.

Botanical Garden, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

This Folk Victorian house was the honeymoon cottage of Peter and Lillie Knight and one of the earliest residences in Hyde Park, Tampa's first neighborhood. The House exemplifies Tampa's rising middle class's lifestyle in the Gaslight Era. Originally an "umbrella organization" of local history, Tampa Historical Society, headquartered at the Knight House, is now devoted to interpreting Victorian Era Tampa life through the House, its furnishings, artifacts, and programs, and off-site programs as well. Among the off-site programs, the most popular and unique take place at Oaklawn Cemetery (c.1850, Tampa's first public burying ground)in downtown Tampa. The Society also publishes one of the South's most prestigious journals of local history, The Sunland Tribune.

History

The Ybor City Museum State Park and the adjoining gardens and house museum form the core of an interpretive complex that brings to life Ybor City’s colorful past.

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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

March 10 - March 13, 2026

California Association of Museums 2026 Annual Conference

Omni Hotel

Los Angeles, California

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2026 conference, set to take place from March 10–13, 2026 in Los Angeles. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community at CAM 2026: Reframing

Reframing encapsulates the tangible nature of museum work–what we restore, revive, and rebuild–and the intangible nature of museum work–where we reflect, interpret, educate, and shift perspectives. On a larger scale, Reframing gives us the power to redefine who we are, why we’re important, and how we connect with and show up for our community. Reframing is resistance and resilience.

We look forward to reuniting with the California museum community in Los Angeles, March 10–13, 2026 at the Omni Hotel. Stay tuned for more annual conference developments.

April 29 - May 2, 2026

Oregon Museum Association 2026 Conference

Woodburn, Oregon

OMA will join forces with Oregon Heritage for a spring conference in Woodburn

Save the Date: 2026 Conference

For more information, please call !!!.

February 16 - February 18, 2026

Small Museum Association 42nd Annual Conference 2026

The Yorktowne Hotel, York, Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania

42nd Annual Conference: Climate Chang

Explore how museums are dealing with the challenges of climate change, from more extreme weather events to changing community needs. Join other small museum professionals and volunteers in discussing the key role small museums can play in educating, engaging, and supporting their communities in the face of changing physical and social climates

About the Conferenc

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.