From original works by Salvador Dali to a gallery of Black portraits, to a gallery of 1,000 glass Buddhas, St. Pete’s museums offer incredible variety and inspiration. And this September, you can see it all for free as part of the annual Free Museum Day. Arts Alive! is produced by the City of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, and participating cultural organizations based on the currently paused National Smithsonian’s Free Museum Day.
On Saturday, September 23rd, access to all of these incredible St. Petersburg museums is completely free as part of the Arts Alive/Free Museum Day program. Parking for Free Museum Day is available in any of the downtown garages. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the Sunrunner, St. Petersburg Trolley Downtown Looper, and the Central Avenue Trolley. Check out our full guide on where to park in downtown.
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What you need to know:
- Some of these museums require tickets to be reserved in advance (we’ll note those below)
- Bring an ID. Some of these are only available to Pinellas/St. Pete residents
The participating museums:
Imagine Museum
📍1901 Central Ave
🎟️ To ensure a comfortable experience for all guests, entry will be based on timed tickets. Find those tickets here.
The massive, international collection of glass art and galleries at Imagine Museum is one of St. Pete’s most visually stunning experiences, and that’s saying something for a place as pretty as the Sunshine City. Color and creativity abound on all floors. Be sure to stop in their retail store for exclusive items and souvenirs commemorating the special day! 
The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art
📍150 Central Ave
🎟️ Reserve your timeslot ahead of time once registration becomes available. Limited walk-up tickets will be available but cannot be guaranteed with a reservation
The James Museum is a journey straight into the heart and soul of the American West. Utilizing more than 26,000 square feet of gallery space, the James is a deep dive into the lives and history of the people and wildlife of the West.
Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg
📍255 Beach Drive NE
🎟️ Complimentary museum entry for Pinellas County residents with a valid ID
While the MFA houses incredible artwork from such renowned creators as Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Kehinde Wiley, the massive Beach Drive museum boasts a collection of thousands of objects and artwork covering nearly 5,000 years of civilization. A walk through MFA is a walk through human history and beauty. 
The Dalí Museum
📍1 Dali Blvd
🎟️ FREE gallery admission for Pinellas County residents. Online reservations are highly recommended as walk-ups will only be available as space allows. Guests will need to show their pre-reserved ticket and Pinellas County ID for entry.
The largest collection of Dali pieces outside of his home country of Spain, the waterfront museum is one of St. Pete’s most recognizable buildings and most explored museums. If you haven’t been in a couple of years, you’ve missed out on some fun high-tech additions, including an artificial intelligence-led tour through Dali’s life, and an augmented reality guide to his artwork. The Free Museum Day tickets do not include the new Dalí Alive 360° experience. This can be purchased for $15. It’s wonderful and we highly recommend adding that on!
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