10 History Museums in Florida That You Shouldn't Miss

Naples Historical Society's Historic Palm Cottage is Naples oldest house (1895) and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Open for house tours and historic district walking tours.

Dedicated to the Preservation of International Harvester Farming and Construction Equipment. New Dates for Tractor Show & Pull: Feb 4-6, 2021. Show Barn & surrounding grounds available for weddings and events accommodating 250+. Museum Admission $20 per person, military & veteran ID $15 per person, children under 9 are free, groups of 10 or more $15 per person. Call for children organization rates (i.e. schools, scouts or camps).

The Most Comprehensive British Ceramics Museum in the United States. In addition to the stellar collection of British decorative arts, the WMODA displays important works from the studio glass movement of the 20th and 21st centuries including Chihuly. Admission is $12 for Adults and $10 for Seniors. Children, Students (with ID) and Military (with ID) are $5. Children 5 & under are free of charge. WMODA is a 501c3 non-profit museum founded in 2014 by Arthur Wiener and his family to inspire appreciation and understanding of ceramics and glass as art forms.

A visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is more than you might expect! Climb 219 steps for a breathtaking view of both St. Aug and the beaches. Or go below to discover a 1782 British shipwreck. Take guided tours, free with admission, on the hour 11 am - 3 pm. Check out the exhibits in the Keepers' House and Maritime Archaeology Center. Visitors also encounter ghosts on the nighttime Dark of the Moon tour, which is the only St. Augustine ghost tour that gets you inside the Lighthouse. Book in advance because it fills up fast, and book mid-week to avoid crowds. For general admission purchase your tickets on-line in advance w/coupon code LH15 to get a 15% discount off regular admission prices. Or join as a family member for discounts to local attractions, and 20% off in the Museum shop as well as free admission all year long. Step up and make a difference at our non-profit museum. You help keep the light shining when you visit.

The Historic Stranahan House Museum is the City's oldest surviving structure. The story of the Stranahan House is the story of a family, a house, and a city. The Stranahan House was built in 1901 by Frank Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale's founding father, and his wife Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the area's first school teacher. The house has served as a trading post, post office, community center, town hall and home to the Stranahans. The Stranahan House has stood at the center of Fort Lauderdales growth since it was built and played a significant role in the economic and social life of this community. Open daily for guided House tours at 1, 2, and 3pm. Special events, weddings, and holiday programs.

When it was completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Whitehall, Henry Flagler's Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach, was "more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world." Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, featuring changing exhibitions and special programs. The 75-room mansion contains many of the original furnishings as well as an art collection. Adjacent to Whitehall, the Flagler Kenan Pavilion houses Henry Flagler's private Railcar No. 91 as well as a seasonal restaurant, the Cafe des Beaux-Arts, which offers a Gilded Age-themed tea service. The Museum Store offers for sale a wonderful collection of books, gifts and memorabilia with a focus on Florida history. Open Tuesday through Sunday.

Once the Tampa Bay Hotel, this museum focuses on the hotel's role in the Spanish-American War.

The Ringling is located in Sarasota, Florida and preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling. It is home to the State Art Museum of Florida, the historic Ca' d'Zan Mansion, Bayfront Gardens, the Art Library, two Circus Museums, and the Historic Asolo Theater. The grounds and gardens are free to visit, and the Museum of Art offers free admission on Mondays.

Operated by the Key West Art & Historical Society, the Keys oldest cultural non-profit. The mission of the Key West Art & Historical Society is to preserve the culture of the Florida Keys through exhibiting and displaying regional art, architecture and history for the purpose of educating the community and visiting public.

As Florida’s only presidential museum, the Harry S. Truman Little White House was the winter White House for this country's 33rd president. Truman spent 175 days during 13 vacations in the home that is filled with original furnishing and memorabilia from Truman’s days. Presidents Taft, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter and Clinton also used the house. Guided tours offer guests a window into the world President Truman and life of a US president.