Those of us who live in South Florida year-round are often less aware than tourists of the many cultural attractions available here. But there are a lot of great museums and there is still plenty of time to take advantage of “Miami Museum Month.”
During the month of May not only visitors but residents as well are offered “Buy One, Get One Free” admission or “Join One Museum, See Them All” at participating museums. If you want to see places you’ve never been before or just revisit ones you know and save money, this is a good opportunity.
Here’s the list of participating museums:
Ancient Spanish Monastery. The oldest building in the Western Hemisphere, built in Segovia, Spain in 1141 and brought to America by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.
Art Center/South Florida. A creative and learning center, internationally recognized as a world class-cultural center.
Bakehouse Art Complex. Emerging and mid-career artists have studios here, with art programming, in Miami’s historic art deco bakery building.
Bass Museum of Art. In the historic Art Deco District, it has major European paintings, sculpture and textiles, plus temporary exhibitions of contemporary art from around the world.
Black Police Precinct & Courthouse Museum. The struggles and accomplishments of Black Police Officers in Overtown, as they served during the pre- Civil Rights era of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.
Coral Gables Museum. Architecture, urban design, sustainable development and preservation, with events, programs and tours.
Gold Coast Railroad Museum. Has a collection of historic railroad cars and memorabilia, a model train exhibit and Thomas the Tank Engine tables for children.
Haitian Heritage Museum. A mecca for Little Haiti, with a collection of beautiful Haitian art, historical artifacts, music, film and literary works.
Historic Old Town Hall Museum. Shows how South Florida’s early railroad pioneer expansion led to a downtown commercial neighborhood.
HistoryMiami. Miami’s history as the unique crossroads of the Americas, with exhibitions, city tours, education, research, collections and publications.
Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach. The memorial designed by Kenneth Treister is a tribute to the six million Jewish victims of Nazi terrorism before and during World War II.
Jewish Museum Of Florida – FIU. comprised of two adjacent, restored, former historic synagogues, connected with a skylighted bistro.
Little Haiti Cultural Center. Afro- Caribbean culture, developing new talent, and the arts.
Lowe Art Museum, University Of Miami. Permanent exhibits of Italian Renaissance and Baroque, Greco-Roman Antiquities, 17th-21st century Art of the Americas and Europe, and Asian, African and Native American art.
MDC Museum of Art + Design. Visual art and design, housed at the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College in Downtown Miami.
Miami Children’s Museum. On Watson Island, the museum has 14 interactive and bilingual exhibit galleries, as well as daily programming for the whole family.
Miami’s Auto Museum & Event Space. Features 1,200 vehicles including The James Bond Exhibition, Hollywood Cars of the Stars, and American/European Classics.
Museum Of Contemporary Art, North Miami. Known for its provocative and innovative exhibitions, and for seeking a fresh approach to examining the art of our times.
Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum. AAM accredited museum is adjacent to the Wertheim Performing Arts Center on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. Built by agricultural industrialist James Deering, the estate includes a main house filled with art and furnishings and 10 acres of gardens.
Wings Over Miami Air Museum. Military memorabilia from World War II and other conflicts are on display next to the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport.
The Wolfsonian – FIU. American and European decorative and fine arts from 1885 to 1945, propaganda posters and World’s Fair memorabilia.
For information and links, visit www.miamimuseummonth.com.
Thought of the Day:
Technology… the knack of so arranging the world that we don’t have to experience it.
— Max Frisch
Gary Alan Ruse contributed to this column.
Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669- 7355, ext. 249, or send emails to Michael@communitynewspapers.com.
