The South Florida Museum is the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The museum interprets the region from the Pleistocene to the present with highlights including fossil evidence of Florida’s earliest mammals and marine species and the Montague Tallant collection of prehistoric and early post-contact archeological artifacts.
Permanent galleries also focus on the Florida’s ecology and bio-diversity, early 20th-century medical practices and Spanish exploration. The museum’s Spanish Plaza has full-scale replicas of a 16th-century manor house, chapel and conquistador Hernando DeSoto’s birthplace. The museum’s East Gallery is constantly changing, with new temporary exhibitions featured throughout the year.
General admission also includes access to state-of-the-art digital Bishop Planetarium shows and presentations at the Parker Manatee Aquarium, home to Snooty™ the manatee. Snooty™, born in 1948, is known as the world’s oldest manatee and Manatee County’s most famous resident.
The South Florida Museum features engaging exhibits as well as educational programs which interpret the scientific and cultural knowledge of Florida, the world and our universe.
Conveniently located in downtown Bradenton, at 201 10th St. West, Bradenton, just a few blocks from Old Main Street, the Manatee Players Theater, ArtCenter Manatee and Mattison’s Riverside at the Twin Dolphin Marina. Parking is available in the lot north of the building and between the museum and the marina.
General Admission:
Adults: $15.95, Seniors (65+): $13.95, Children (4-12): $11.95, Children ages 3 and younger: free with paying adult.
Hours of Operation:
January through April and the month of July: Open 7 days a week.
Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
All other months: Open 6 days a week.
Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Call 941-746-4131 or visit www.southfloridamuseum.org for more details about the museum, family night programs, science cafes, film screenings and other events.
