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.

DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

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.