Museums in St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg has been undergoing a constant transformation and is now one of Florida's most vibrant areas. Jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico and just a stone's throw from Tampa, St. Petersburg has plenty to offer visitors in its prime location. If, like me, you are a lover of museums, you're in luck. St. Peterburg boasts some of the most fascinating museums in the Sunshine State. Here is what you should know about visiting museums in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Founded in 1920, the St. Petersburg Museum of History is the first museum in St. Petersburg and the third oldest in the entire State of Florida. The mission of the museum is "to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of St. Petersburg and the Pinellas Peninsula; to increase and facilitate the understanding and appreciation of this unique area for the community and its visitors; to maintain an archival library and a museum in which to display collections and provide educational programs that will promote, reflect and celebrate our cultural heritage." The St. Petersburg Museum of History is located at 335 Second Avenue NE. General admission to the museum is $5, and its hours of operation are from ten a.m. to five p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, noon to five on Sunday, and noon to seven on Monday. Visit the St. Petersburg Museum of History online at http://www.spmoh.org/home.html.

The Florida International Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate featuring rotating exhibits every few months. Located at 244 Second Avenue North in downtown St. Petersburg, the Florida International Museum is one of Florida's premier cultural attractions. Plan to stay approximately two hours in order to view everything the museum has to offer. It is open from ten a.m. to five p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to five on Sunday. At the museum's website (http://www.floridamuseum.org/), you can view upcoming events and schedules and learn more about the museum's history and purpose.

The Florida Holocaust Museum, located at 55 Fifth Street in St. Petersburg, is one of the nation's largest. You will learn the history of the Holocaust through videos, presentations of facts and figures, displays, and an open gallery, where you will observe the museum's centerpiece, a genuine boxcar which transported prisoners to Auschwitz. General adult admission to the museum is $8, with discounts for students and seniors. The museum is open seven days a week from ten a.m. to five p.m. You can visit the museum online at http://www.flholocaustmuseum.org/index.cfm for more information.

Enjoy your visit to the museums of St. Petersburg, Florida.