Browse Museums

Botanical Garden, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

This Folk Victorian house was the honeymoon cottage of Peter and Lillie Knight and one of the earliest residences in Hyde Park, Tampa's first neighborhood. The House exemplifies Tampa's rising middle class's lifestyle in the Gaslight Era. Originally an "umbrella organization" of local history, Tampa Historical Society, headquartered at the Knight House, is now devoted to interpreting Victorian Era Tampa life through the House, its furnishings, artifacts, and programs, and off-site programs as well. Among the off-site programs, the most popular and unique take place at Oaklawn Cemetery (c.1850, Tampa's first public burying ground)in downtown Tampa. The Society also publishes one of the South's most prestigious journals of local history, The Sunland Tribune.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Tampa, Florida

Aquarium, Botanical Garden, Children's, Culture, Nature Centers, Park, Science, Zoo

Recognized as the #1 Zoo in the U.S. by Parents magazine (2009) and Child magazine (2004), Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo features 1,000 animals on nearly 56 acres of natural habitats. Guests will find many interactive exhibits and opportunities to get closer to wildlife -- feed a giraffe, walk with wallabies, hold a lorikeet, touch a stingray and more. The Zoo's Manatee and Aquatic Center expands the traditional boundaries of a zoo, focusing efforts on critical care for injured, sick and orphaned wild manatees. Also at the Zoo: splash ground water play areas, wild rides, educational shows and restaurants.

Botanical Garden

The mission of the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens is to foster appreciation, understanding and stewardship of our natural and botanical heritage through living plant collections, displays, education and research. The USF Botanical Gardens serves the education and research needs of the University community and provides education and recreation opportunities for the Tampa Bay area community. Collections include: orchids, bromeliads, begonias, carnivorous plants, palms and native plants.