Saturday is Free Museum Day at art, history spots across Tampa Bay

Initiated by the Smithsonian, museums across the country and the Tampa Bay area will be free on Saturday.

To get a voucher, go to smithsonianmag.com/museumday. Each ticket allows two people entry to participating museums. Limit one ticket per email address.

Some organizations, such as many St. Petersburg cultural spots, are doing a free day of their own that doesn’t require the Smithsonian voucher, so check the websites of your favorite places before heading out on this popular day.

Participating organizations in the Smithsonian effort include Cracker Country, Tampa; Henry B. Plant Museum, Tampa; Countryman Family One Room Schoolhouse Museum, Brooksville; Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg; Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs; May-Stringer House Museum, Brooksville; and the Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa.

In St. Petersburg there are a number of organizations, including the The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, the Florida Holocaust Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, offering a free day Saturday for the city’s annual Arts Alive! free day. But some have caveats:

• The Dali Museum is offering free admission for Pinellas County residents only with valid proof of residence. Tickets will need to be reserved in advance online to help control capacities. Reserve at thedali.org/event/arts-alive-at-the-dali-2022.
• The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art will be open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Advanced registration is encouraged to reserve a time slot at thejamesmuseum.org/eventarchive/freeday-2022. Limited walk-up tickets will be available at the door.
• St. Petersburg Museum of History has free admission for Pinellas County residents only.

This is a popular day in St. Petersburg so visitors are encouraged to ride the St. Petersburg Trolley Downtown Looper or the Central Avenue Trolley; schedule and stop information is available at stpetetrolley.com.