Miami Children’s Museum | Museums in Miami | Miami Children’s Museums
Having fun in Miami does not require a large amount of money. In fact, there’s a lot to experience in this big city for free, and who doesn’t love to get something for free? As host to many of the world’s most incredible artifacts, rare illustrations, and history and architecture, Miami’s museums offer visitors and residents an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re planning a family trip or just want to explore historical, scenic and cultural sites in your own backyard, we’ll help.
ALWAYS FREE
The MDC Museum & Galleries of Art + Design
Located in the heart of Downtown Miami, in the heart of the Miami Dade College campus you’ll find The MDC Museum & Galleries of Art + Design. With more than 1400 square meters of space, this museum is one of the largest and most diverse institutions in the country dedicated to the visual arts. Visitors will find an impressive collection of artworks by emerging artists and also leading figures in modern, postmodern and contemporary art. Concerts, conferences and events are free and open to the public.
The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum
Located on Florida International University’s University Park campus, Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum was designed by architect Yann Weymouth and is considered a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. This avant-garde construction uses natural light to display the paintings. Visitors can stroll through the museum’s different halls and see innovative exhibits ranging from unique regional programs to nationally recognized ones. Spectacular lectures are also offered.
Bay of Pigs Museum
For history buffs, Bay of Pigs Museum offers a small collection of memorabilia about the historic and failed invasion of Cuba by Brigade 2506 in 1961. One notable display is the flag of Brigade 2506 held by President John F. Kennedy during a speech he gave at the Orange Bowl in 1962.
FREE ON SELECT DAYS
Bass Museum of Art
Free day: the last Sunday of each month from 12 to 17 hours
Free day for Bank of America & Merrill Lynch members: First Saturday and Sunday of each month (12 to 5 p.m. each day during 2013).
IDEA@thebass is free for children and adults on the last Sunday of each month, from 2 pm to 4 pm.
In the heart of the historic Art Deco District, Bass Museum of Art offers a sweeping view of distinguished art. From a permanent collection (great European masters, eighteenth-century English portraits, sculptures, Chinese woodcuts and much more) to traveling exhibitions, lectures, world-class workshops and a wonderful gift shop, it offers something for every visitor. IDEA@thebass activities include art projects, scavenger hunts and awards. Admission is always free for children under 6 years old.
Gold Coast Railroad Museum
Free Day: The first Saturday of every month, except in March when the museum hosts the famous Day out with Thomas event.
An unmissable museum for every train lover where you will find plenty of trains to explore at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum. This display of model trains includes various scales and, for young children, numerous Thomas the Tank Engine boards with interactive games. You’ll find rare collector’s items, such as the “Ferdinand Magellan,” a private railroad car built for President Franklin Roosevelt, and Florida East Coast Railway’s No. 153 locomotive. This unique museum is free for children under the age of two.
HistoryMiami
(formerly known as Historical Museum of Southern Florida)
Free day: the second Saturday of the month.
As a cultural institution and affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute program, this museum is committed to gathering, preserving, and celebrating Miami’s unique history. Family Fun Day, which is the second Saturday of every month, offers children and adults the opportunity to learn and experience something new and fun. Children under six are free, as are veterans between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Jewish Museum of Florida
Free day: every Saturday.
Jewish Museum of Florida sits between two restored buildings that served as synagogues for Miami Beach’s first congregation. Located in South Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, the museum features 80 stained glass windows, decorative chandeliers and a Moorish copper dome. Temporary exhibitions change throughout the year in both buildings, but the main exhibit, MOSAIC: Jewish Life in Florida from 1763 to the Present Day, is a core attraction of the museum. Children under the age of six are free.
Lowe Art Museum
Free Day: Donation Day, the first Tuesday of each month. There is a free gallery tour at 1 p.m.
Located in Coral Gables, on the beautiful campus of the University of Miami, it is considered the oldest art museum in Miami. With a variety of permanent works of art as well as temporary exhibitions, it is the only museum in the area with a remarkable collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities. This museum is free for children under 12 years old.
Miami Children’s Museum (Museo Infantil de Miami)
Free day: the third Friday of the month from 15 to 21 hours.
Day off for Bank of America & Merrill Lynch members: First Saturday and Sunday of each month (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during 2013).
Visitors of all ages will enjoy interactive, bilingual activities and crafts throughout the museum. Captivating exhibits encourage learning through play. On the first floor, children have the opportunity to explore a bank, a supermarket, a health and wellness center, a veterinary clinic and a television studio; everything tailored to you. Upstairs, kids of all ages can make art and music, board a life-size cruise, climb a two-story sandcastle, and much more. The museum is free for children under one year old.
Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA)
Free day for Bank of America & Merrill Lynch members: first Saturday of the month (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.); First Sunday of the month (from 12 to 17 hours) during 2013.
Famous for its search for a new and sometimes provocative approach to art research, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is recognized and respected for its ability to define new trends in international contemporary art. MOCA presents up to ten exhibitions a year and offers an exciting and changing mix of emerging and established artists. It’s free for children under 12, North Miami residents, city employees and veterans.
Miami Science Museum (Museo de Ciencias de Miami)
Free day: the observatory is free on the first Friday of each month (from 20:30 to 22 hours)
Free day for Bank of America & Merrill Lynch members: First Saturday and Sunday of each month (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during 2013).
Originally built in 1949, Miami Science Museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute. The museum features national traveling exhibitions and visitors can watch live science demonstrations and daily theater shows. When you go, don’t miss the wildlife center where you’ll find rare and exotic birds, and Miami Planetarium, home to two powerful telescopes from Weintraub Observatory. You’ll marvel at seeing the Milky Way and distant galaxies during the observatory’s free monthly star show. Miami Science Museum is free for children under 2 years old.
Wolfsonian-FIU Art Museum
Free day: every Friday after 6 pm.
This internationally famous art museum is housed in a 1926 Mediterranean Renaissance-style warehouse in the heart of Miami’s historic art district. Art lovers will not be disappointed by the magnificent exhibitions, paintings, ceramics, posters, books, furniture and architectural creations of the modern era. Be sure to visit the museum’s gift shop and café. Scrutinize the bizarre selection of gifts, books, and movies inspired by the museum’s collection. Children under the age of six are free.
Dates are subject to change and may not include the cost of special exhibitions. Visit each museum’s individual websites for admission information, as well as policies for specific community members, such as military personnel and local school groups.
