Miami, FL

Historical Museum of Southern Florida
DESCRIPTION: This well-endowed history museum tells the stories of South Florida and the Caribbean; archaeological reference artifacts in the museum’s collection number more than 6,850; prints and photographs in museum’s Research Center number over 1.1 million; the venue also features a major exhibit describing the trials and triumphs of African Americans; a jewel among the Metro Miami-Dade Cultural Center, it also features the central public library

ADMISSION: Adults $8, Seniors and Students with ID $7, Children (6-12) $5, age 6 and under enter FREE

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-5p, Sun Noon-5p; on the 3rd Thursday of the month 10a-9p

ADDRESS: 101 West Flagler Street  MAP

PARKING: Cultural Center/Metro Dade Center Garage at 50 NW 2nd Ave

PHONE: 305-375-1492

WEBSITE: http://www.hmsf.org

Miami Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: Looks at international art from the perspective of the North and South America and the growing tendency to cross borders, thereby mixing cultural traditions; MAM’s permanent collection started in 1996 and will be considerably enhanced with a $35 million donation from the Perez Family towards the museum to be renamed Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM); the new museum will anchor a 29-acres of dramatically landscaped public gardens and sculpture installations in a park overlooking Biscayne Bay, American Airlines Arena, the cultural district to its north; PAMM will offer 200,000 square feet of programmable space -- 3 times the size of the Museum’s current facility when it opens in Fall 2013; coupled with the coming Frost Museum of Science to this Museum Park, this area will finally unify Miami's waterfront cultural and entertainment district; Museum Park currently appears on maps as Bicentennial Park
ADMISSION: $8 Adults, $4 Seniors, Free to Students w/ ID & age 12 and under
DAYS & HOURS: Tue–Fri 10a-5p, Sat–Sun Noon-5p, until 8:30p each 3rd Thursday of the month
ADDRESS: 101 West Flagler Street  MAP

PARKING: Cultural Center/Metro Dade Center Garage at 50 NW 2nd Ave

PHONE: 305-375-3000

WEBSITE: http://www.miamiartmuseum.org

Vizcaya Museum
DESCRIPTION: A stunningly beautiful estate turned museum and gardens; built by northern industrialist James Deering in 1916, it was designed to look as though the Main House was 400 years, yet fully restored; today, the extraordinary Main House is filled with European art and furnishings; you also could not pick a more perfect ten acres of manicured gardens facing Biscayne Bay; A National Historic Landmark; wheelchair friendly

ADMISSION: $15 Adult, $10 age 62+, $6 ages 6-12, Free Age 5-

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9:30a-4:30p

ADDRESS: 3251 South Miami Avenue  MAP

PARKING: free on premises

PHONE: 305-250-9133

WEBSITE: http://www.vizcayamuseum.com

Museum of Contemporary Art
DESCRIPTION: This 23,000 square foot venue opened in 1996 to discover new artists, showcase works by contemporary masters and American cultural heritage; presents 8 to 10 exhibitions annually in the gallery's nave-like space with moveable walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling -- window light fills the gallery with a soft look; an outdoor art court is used for evening film screenings; a large palm tree-lined plaza and reflecting pool create a dramatic entrance

ADMISSION: Adults $5, Students & Seniors w/ ID $3, age 12 and under enter FREE

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 11a-5p, Sun Noon-5p

ADDRESS: 770 NE 125th Street  MAP

PARKING: Free Parking available immediately east, west, and south of the museum; Handicapped parking behind the museum,

PHONE: 305-893-6211

WEBSITE: http://www.mocanomi.org

Miami Beach, FL

Bass Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: established in 1963 when Miami Beach accepted the gift of the art collection of John and Johanna Bass upon condition that it would maintain the collection in perpetuity; the museum occupies what was originally the Miami Beach Public Library and Art Center, designed in 1930; today one sees outstanding Medieval and Renaissance art from Europe; a good place to take the kids that will help many of their history lessons come alive; wheelchair accessible

ADMISSION: $8 adults, $6 students and seniors, age 6 and under enter FREE

DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Sat 10a-5p, Sun 1p-5p

ADDRESS: 2121 Park Ave  MAP

PARKING: Metered parking on site, more metered parking on perimeter streets

PHONE: 305-673-7530

WEBSITE: http://www.bassmuseum.org

Wolfsonian Museum
DESCRIPTION: Contains 70,000 objects from North America and Europe from latter 19th century to mid-20th century; it presents the cultural, political and technological changes that swept the world during that time; ADA compliant

ADMISSION: $7 adults, $6 and ages 6-12 $6; age 5 and under enter FREE

DAYS & HOURS: Thu-Fri Noon-9p (galleries close at 7pm on Thursdays), Sat-Sun Noon-6p

ADDRESS: 1001 Washington Ave  MAP

PARKING: garages at 7th Street & Collins Ave, and 13th Street & Collins Ave

PHONE: 305-531-1001

WEBSITE: http://www.wolfsonian.org

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale
DESCRIPTION: Upon opening in 1986, this architecturally striking museum led the renaissance of downtown; founded in 1958, is housed in a building completed in 1986; in 2003, the museum inaugurated its Studio School offering courses in painting, drawing, design, and other disciplines taught by professional artists; An active performing arts program, including Inside Out as its resident theater company, is scheduled in the Museum’s 256-seat Horvitz Auditorium; the complex includes a permanent African art collection

ADMISSION: Adults $10, Seniors & Students w/ID $7, ages 5 and under enter FREE

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 11a-5p, Sun Noon-5p

ADDRESS: 501 East Olas Blvd  MAP

PARKING: City Park Garage on SE 1st Ave across the street from Broward County Main Library

PHONE: 954-525-5500

WEBSITE: http://www.moafl.org

Fort Lauderdale Historical Museum
DESCRIPTION: Located in the city's first hotel on the banks of the new river, the museum's permanent collection and changing exhibits depict the development of Fort Lauderdale; did you know the city of Fort Lauderdale is named for a fort built during the Second Seminole War on the banks of the New River; admission includes a self-guided tour of the 1905 New River Inn, the first building in Broward County to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places AND A guided tour of the 1907 King-Cromartie House, a pioneer house museum, and the 1899 Replica School House.

ADMISSION: adults $10, students w/ID $5, age 6 and under enter FREE

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun Noon-4p; Docent-led tours begin at 1p, 2p and 3p

ADDRESS: 231 SW 2nd Ave  MAP

PARKING: nearby garages

PHONE: 954-463-4431

WEBSITE: http://www.oldfortlauderdale.org