The Pier at St. Petersburg
Come visit one of the area’s favorite places to shop, sightsee, or just relax. The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg is a unique piece of Florida architecture that offers visitors a chance to experience the waterfront in the Tampa Bay area. Situated at the end of 1/4 mile long approach, this five-story inverted pyramid features shops, galleries, restaurants, The Pier Aquarium, dolphin sightseeing cruises, pelican feeding, surrey bike rental, a kid’s club, live music, and even boat docks. The top floor of the Pier features a huge observation deck, giving the visitor a truly unique view of the Tampa Bay area. Plenty of parking, complete with trolley service, links The Pier to the rest of downtown St. Petersburg, offering visitors a true taste of life in Florida.
The Aquarium at the Pier
The Pier Aquarium is a non-profit public aquarium and marine education center located on the second floor of The Pier at St. Petersburg. Their mission is to share information with visitors and students about issues concerning our most valuable natural resource, the marine environment. The Pier Aquarium invites you to explore diverse marine environments from around the world, stepping out into our own backyard in Tampa Bay, and voyaging to the California kelp forests, the Caribbean, and Pacific coral reefs. A variety of educational exhibits and programs, along with the large permanent tank environments give visitors an up-close look at marine plants and animals both within and beyond the Tampa Bay area.
Great Explorations Hands on Museum
Great Explorations, The Hands-On Museum, is a museum for children of all ages. Our mission is to make learning fun! At this hands-on museum, you don’t just look at the exhibits… You touch, move, explore, and experience them. At Great Explorations, families can stretch mental muscles, test wits, and fire up imaginations! Exhibits encompass the arts, sciences, technology, and health.
St. Petersburg Museum of History
On permanent display is the Walk Through Time Gallery and Try History On For Size Gallery, where visitors can see themselves in vintage costumes through mirrors creating the illusion of wearing period clothing. Significant artifacts include a canoe of the Tocobaga Indians from the 1500s, a replica of the world’s first commercial airliner, and a 3,500-year-old mummy. In Souvenirs of Florida – From Tasteful to Tacky, the exhibit traces the earliest souvenirs made of naturally occurring materials such as alligator teeth and palm fronds from the 1880s through the dreadful kitsch of the 1960s.
The Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts of St. Petersburg was founded by Margaret Acheson Stuart (1896-1980) and reflects her vision of providing outstanding examples of world art in an inviting, elegant setting. The museum has the only comprehensive art collection, extending from antiquity to the present day, on the Florida west coast. See stellar works in galleries designed for leisurely reflection. In addition, the museum’s chamber music series is one of the finest in the area and presents artists from around the world in the Marly Room, an exquisite, intimate “concert hall.”
Salvador Dali Museum
World-famous, the Salvador Dali Museum ranks as one of the top attractions in Florida. Daily tours of the museum’s fascinating collection will educate, yet entertain you, about one of the 20th century’s greatest artists. You are assured of finding something special. Be sure to include time for the Dali Museum in downtown St. Petersburg in your plans.
Gulf Coast Museum of Art
Gulf Coast Museum of Art, located in Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo, features permanent and changing exhibitions of contemporary art created by Florida artists from 1960 forward and fine craft media objects from the Southeastern U.S. Experience the museum’s galleries, sculpture gardens, and museum store during your visit.
Florida Craftsmen Gallery
Florida Craftsmen Gallery, located in downtown St. Petersburg, is the headquarters and showplace for Florida Craftsmen’s statewide non-profit organization. The sales gallery represents over 130 Florida fine craft artists showcasing contemporary craft in clay, wood, metal, fiber, glass, jewelry, paper, and mixed media. The exhibition gallery presents six exhibitions of national and regional scope annually.
Florida Holocaust Museum
Located in the heart of St. Petersburg’s Museum district, the Florida Holocaust Museum houses the premier permanent exhibit called History, Hope, and Heritage; a compelling history of individuals who confronted hatred and violence and coped with persecution and isolation. Through a collection of works of art, photographs, and historical artifacts, you will be guided through a vibrant multi-media presentation.