From a 3,000-year-old mummy to melting clocks; Here’s a guide to Free Museum Day 2022.
Courtesy of Aubrey Carr | The Crow’s Nest
There is always something to do in St. Petersburg, and with the arrival of Free Museum Day, students can conduct their own field trips through local art and history at no cost.
Thanks to St. Petersburg’s “Arts Alive!” celebration in conjunction with Smithsonian Magazine, St. Petersburg residents can visit several of the city’s museums for free tomorrow.
Deciding which of these museums to explore in just a day can be daunting, but luckily, the guide below provides all the ins and outs of the participating collections.
St. Petersburg’s Museum of Fine Arts
First off, St. Petersburg’s Museum of Fine Arts hosts a wide range of eras and genres, including historical pieces like Egyptian funeral masks, Baroque Catholic iconography and Buddhist statues.
Don’t let their respect for the classics fool you as the curators also shine spotlights on newer pieces of art. Currently, Gio Swaby’s striking portraits are on display in her collection “Fresh Up,” showcasing her appreciation for the female form and her ingenuity with patterns.
You’ll get a chance to see all of these works from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 255 Beach Dr. N.E..
St. Petersburg’s Museum of History
If local history is more your thing, don’t miss out on St. Petersburg’s Museum of History.
Established in 1921, the showcase of local artifacts takes its visitors through the birth of commercial flight and baseball, as well as the industrialization journey, creating what we now know as Central Avenue.
If you’re hungry for something a little older, this museum happens to be home to the oldest resident of St. Petersburg, a 3,000-year-old mummy.
Students can visit anytime from 10 a.m.. to 5 p.m. at the 335 2nd Ave. N.E. location. .
Chances are that you’ve already heard of the Salvador Dalí Museum. Its signature glass dome, courtesy of architect Yann Weymouth, hides a treasure trove of the artist’s greatest works.
Students can already visit the collection for free anytime with their school ID, but this Saturday gives the perfect excuse to revisit some of Dalí’s most bizarre works.
Besides the iconic lobster telephone model, new exhibits include Yamandú Canosa’s distinctive take on Surrealism in “The Visit” and an exploration of Paul Éluard’s life as a poet and rebel.
Walk down to the museum anytime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at 1 Dali Blvd.
Carter G. Woodson’s African American History Museum
The Carter G. Woodson’s African American History Museum is a must-see for any St. Petersburg resident. Named after the infamous American author, this museum shows guests the pivotal contributions of the Black community to the “Sunshine City.”
The collection includes artifacts from the African American medical center Mercy Hospital and the local theater, as well as maps of historic neighborhoods that were displaced during St. Petersburg’s gentrification.
As the city grapples with what to do with the Tropicana Field, a structure that stands atop the former Black gas plant neighborhood, a visit to the museum is as crucial to residents as ever.
Visitors can explore the museum between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. located at 2240 9th Ave. S.
The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art Museum
Last, but not least, The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art Museum is one of the most recent breathtaking contributions to St. Petersburg’s treasures.
The exhibition includes 19th century illustrations of awe-inspiring landscapes and wild animals. Additionally, The James Museum inherited a collection of indigenous art and jewelry to give a new understanding of Native American craftsmanship.
The collection is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 150 Central Ave.
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