Marjorie MillerIt’s always a good idea to enrich your knowledge and awareness of your town’s history, especially through artifacts and information that you may not have encountered before.
Going to cultural events and visiting art and even science institutions are a great way to enhance your historical awareness.
If you’re looking for other avenues for educational adventure apart from attending various festivals, you’ll want to visit the best museums in Jacksonville. Invite your family and friends to make it a collective learning experience!
1. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
– Media credit: Cummer Museum
Website: https://www.cummermuseum.org/
Address: 829 Riverside Ave
Contact Details: +19043566857
Museum Hours:
- Mon: closed
- Tues: 11:00am – 8:00pm
- Wed–Fri: 11:00am – 4:00pm
- Sat: 10:00am – 4:00pm
- Sun: 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Museum members and Children (ages 5 & under): Free
- Adults: $20
- Students (ages 6–17): $15
- Seniors (ages 62+)*: $15
- Military* and Educators*: $15
- College Students*: Free Tues–Fri; $15 Sat–Sun
- EBT | SNAP | WIC*: Free
- Reciprocal* (AHS, NARM, ROAM, SERM): Free
*Current I.D. required
If you’re looking for a venue for a romantic art date with a beautiful view, The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is perfect for memorable moments.
The museum offers various modes of education such as through tactile drawings and Braille text to allow clear and helpful communication of educational information.
Their permanent collection boasts of a wide variety of historical artworks from European and American art to Japanese and Mediterranean pieces. It’s a visual way of engaging with various historical contexts, which is suitable for kids, too.
Every few weeks or months, they host new temporary art exhibitions from more contemporary artists like Maia Cruz Palileo and Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri. Their collections remain fresh, so you’d be able to come back for new ideas each time.
After your visit, you can also drop by the museum shop that sells calendars, stationery, lamps, and crochet flowers among others. They also have an outdoor cafe on a patio where you can host a business lunch.
If you’re engrossed by the romantic landscape, it’s good to note that they are open for venue rental for weddings, too.
| Pro tips: Schedule your museum tour accordingly, so that once you get to the gardens, you can capture beautiful photos against the backdrop of golden hour. You’d want to try exploring the indoor exhibitions first before you refresh your eyes with the greenery of the gardens. |
2. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
– Media credit: mocajax
Website: https://mocajacksonville.unf.edu/
Address: 333 N Laura St
Contact Details: +19043666911; [email protected]
Museum Hours:
- Mon: closed
- Tues–Sun: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Adults: $10
- Seniors* (60+): $6
- Military*: $6
- Youth (6–17): $6
- College students*: $6
- Children (5 and under): Free
Note: The first floor of the museum is always free.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) exhibits more than 1,000 contemporary artworks consisting of paintings, photographs, and new media among many forms.
The museum shows support for emerging and mid-career artists by holding a project called Project Atrium, where they commission these artists to create site-specific and site-sensitive artworks within the museum premises.
The institution also has initiatives that make art education fun and approachable for kids of all ages. They have the Kids Art Lab, which provides art activities for kids with a monthly theme, so you can make it a monthly engagement for your kids every month.
| Pro tips: Make sure to check out the educational resources for educators and parents because you never know when a kid might approach you for a learning opportunity. It could be a learning resource for you, too. Try visiting Project Atrium at the start of your visit, so you can grasp the scale of contemporary art before diving into the nitty gritty of the contemporary art scene. |
– Media credit: jaxnavalmuseum
Website: https://jaxnavalmuseum.org/
Address: 610 E Bay St
Contact Details: +19047897447
Operating Hours:
- Mon–Tues: closed
- Wed–Fri: 9:00am – 3:00pm
- Sat: 9:00am – 4:00pm
- Sun: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Museums for All: $3
- Ship Tour Pricing:
- Adults: $15
- Veterans and seniors: $13
- Youth (6–17) $7
- Kids under 5: Free
- AARP Adult: $10
- Active Duty In Uniform: Free
- Active Duty Out Of Uniform: $7
The Jacksonville Naval Museum, also known as the USS Orleck, is suitable for history buffs and those who are eager to learn more about wartime history.
Museum visitors get the chance to board the USS Orleck — a Gearing Class destroyer that served during the Cold, Korean, and Vietnam wars — so it has had its share of historical experiences.
They even offer a ship tour where you can experience the ship in all its glory and battle scars, providing an experience of tangible discovery with artifacts, like an antique certificate awarded to an Orleck crew member.
They also feature commemorative videos highlighting significant moments in history.
| Pro tips: Exploring a historical ship may not be conducive to wearing heels. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes when visiting, so you won’t be caught cranky with painful soles. Take advantage of the guided tours and ask away. They’d be happy to answer all of your questions about the ship’s history. |
4. Ritz Theatre & Museum
– Media credit: ritzjax
Website: https://theritz.jaxevents.com/
Address: 829 N Davis St
Contact Details: +19046325555
Museum Hours:
- Sat–Mon: closed
- Tues–Fri: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Admission Costs:
- General admission: $12.15
At the Ritz Theatre & Museum, expect to discover the history and significance of the Civil Rights Movement. The institution holds an exhibition that celebrates the stories of African American heritage through local voices.
You’ll also learn more about the Civil Rights Protesters from the 1960s at the Woolworth’s counter — along with stories from James Weldon and John Rosamond Johnson about Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, widely known as the African American National Anthem.
Apart from their African American history museum, The Ritz Theatre & Museum also holds performances. They host concerts from contemporary artists like Roman Street and Peabo Bryson, so you’d have a holistic cultural experience during your visit.
| Pro tip: It would be best to schedule your museum visit on the same day as a performance night. Enjoying a double whammy can provide a holistic cultural and historical experience. |
5. Mandarin Museum & Historical Society
– Media credit: findyourjax
Website: https://www.mandarinmuseum.org/
Address: 5983+4C Mandarin
Contact Details: +19042680784
Museum Hours:
- Sun–Tues: closed
- Wed–Sat: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Free admission
- Tours of Historic Buildings:
- Suggested donation: $7 per person
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is truly an educational experience, especially for young ones.
Kindergarten through 5th grade students will be guided through exhibitions, the Walter Jones Historical Park, and their butterfly and vegetable gardens, where they learn topics like the lifecycle of butterflies, and the relationship between plants and pollinators.
They also offer tours that are appropriate to Florida State Standards for various subjects like Social Studies, Science, and Visual Arts.
Plus, expect a wide array of events, like the interactive frog painting activity, where participants can paint the provided molded and cast frog figures.
It’s best to learn from expert museum guides firsthand because they’d be able to provide clear context and information about the museum’s features and exhibitions.
| Pro tip: Explore the museum grounds even after the museum tours, and soak in the natural environment. Apart from educational experiences, immersing yourself in nature is good for your well-being. |
6. The Brumos Collection
– Media credit: thebrumoscollection
Website: https://www.thebrumoscollection.com/
Address: 5159 San Pablo Rd S
Contact Details: +19043730375
Museum Hours:
- Sun–Wed: closed
- Thurs–Sat: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Adult: $24.99
- Child: $14.99
- Student: $14.99
- Military/First Responder: $19.99
- Senior: $19.99
It’s not often you come across a museum that’s highly specialized like The Brumos Collection. The museum focuses on the auto-racing history in Jacksonville and the glory days of the Brumos racing team that was based locally.
As you walk through the museum, you’d be welcomed by digital kiosks that narrate milestones and automotive accomplishments surrounding Brumos. It includes historical photos, and even the technical specifications relevant to the race cars.
The best part is how the Brumos Collection has set aside the usual museum standard of setting up barriers like red tape or ropes, as it aims to provide an engaging experience for the visitors.
You’ll get to see and feel the stories of top drivers like Siffert, Gregg, and Haywood.
| Pro tip: Take your time in looking around the artifacts, and reading through the historical texts. It would be great to expose yourself to technical specifications of cars, whether you’re a car person or not. You can always ask what the specs mean for the car’s performance. |
