Top Free Museums in Florida

Museums are a wonderful thing to do in Florida when trying to beat the summer heat, avoid an afternoon rainstorm or making memories learning something new. There are so many affordable and free museums to explore when you visit Florida.

Museum Day is an annual celebration of exploration, heritage, culture, art, music and museums hosted by Smithsonian Magazine. Museum Day is a one day event held annually, usually on May 18th, where participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone with a Museum Day ticket.

The participating museums include some of the best free and affordable museums and cultural institutions in Florida. Enjoy these wonderful museums for free on Museum Day, or check out our list below of the best free Florida museums throughout the year.

Top FREE Museums in Florida All Year Round

Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, Cocoa, FL

Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, Carrabelle, FL

Carrabelle History Museum, Carrabelle, FL

Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, FL

Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, FL

Crooked River Lighthouse, Carrabelle, FL

DeLand Naval Air Station Museum, INC, DeLand, FL

DeLand’s Memorial Hospital & Veterans Museum

Deerfield Beach Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center, Deerfield Beach, FL

Deerfield Beach Old School House, Deerfield Beach, FL

Destination Archaeology Resource Center, Pensacola, FL

Flagler Beach Historical Museum, Flagler Beach, FL

Flagler County Historical Society Holden House and Annex, Bunnell, FL

Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL

Gillespie Museum, Stetson University, DeLand, FL

HistoryMiami Museum, Miami, FL

Manatee County Agricultural Museum, Palmetto, FL

Mandarin Museum & Historical Society, Jacksonville, FL

Matheson History Museum, Gainesville, FL

Naples Depot Museum (Collier County Museums), Naples  FL

Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum, Kissimmee, FL

Palmetto Historical Park, Palmetto FL

Peña-Peck House, Saint Augustine, FL

Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL

Pompano Beach Historical Society, Pompano Beach, FL

Florida Museum exhibit courtesy of the Florida Museum, Gainesville

Top Florida Museums Participating in Museum Day

These museums only offer admission when participating in Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day celebration. Be sure to check back often or with the museum directly to confirm admission.

1885 Train Depot Museum, Brooksville, FL

Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Winter Park, FL

Amelia Island Museum of History, Fernandina Beach, FL

American Space Museum, Titusville, FL

Ancient Spanish Monastery, North Miami Beach, FL

Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, FL

Art and Culture Center / Hollywood, Hollywood, FL

Art and History Museums of Maitland, Maitland, FL

Artis-Naples, The Baker Museum, Naples, FL

Bradlee-McIntyre House Museum, Longwood, FL

Coral Gables Museum, Coral Gables, FL

Cornell Art Museum, Delray Beach, FL

Countryman Family One Room Schoolhouse Museum, Brooksville, FL

Cracker Country, Tampa, FL

Discovery Center, Ocala, FL

Field Manor Historic Homestead and Grove, Merritt Island, FL

Florida Agricultural & Rural Museum, Palm Coast, FL

Florida Keys History & Discovery Center, Islamorada, FL

Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Miami, FL

Henry B. Plant Museum, Tampa, FL

Historical Society of Martin County, Stuart, FL

History of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, FL

Key West Museum of Art & History

Manatee Observation and Education Center, Fort Pierce, FL

May-Stringer House Museum, Brooksville, FL

Mission San Luis, Tallahassee, FL

Mount Dora History Museum, Mount Dora, FL

Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, FL

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Naples Botanical Garden, Naples, FL

Old Davie School Historical Museum, Davie, FL

Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando, FL

Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Pensacola, FL

Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola, FL

Pensacola Museum of History, Pensacola, FL

Seaboard Air Line Railroad Station, Deerfield Beach, FL

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, St. Augustine, FL

Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa, FL

Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL

Tennessee Williams Museum, Key West FL

The Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg, FL

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa, FL

Please contact each museum directly for current details, hours, promotions, admission tickets, and to verify visitor travel information as things may change.

To find other amazing museums in Florida near you, check out the See & Do page. Save money on your Florida vacation with the exclusive coupons from Enjoy Florida Deals.