The Henry B. Plant Museum in downtown Tampa is a treasure trove of history, natural science, and art all bundled into one lovely space. The museum was founded in 1926 and is the largest historical museum in the state of Florida. It is operated by the City of Tampa and is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sharing the city’s history. Plant Museum is home to over 400,000 artifacts that depict the city’s past, as well as its future. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as a very impressive library. Here’s everything you need to know about this amazing museum.
What’s the history behind the Henry B. Plant Museum?
The Henry B. Plant Museum in downtown Tampa is a treasure trove of history, natural science, and art all bundled into one lovely space. The museum was founded in 1926 and is the largest historical museum in the state of Florida. It is operated by the City of Tampa and is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sharing the city’s history. The Plant Museum was founded by Colonel Henry Plant and his wife, Katherine. The Plant Museum began as a microscope, mineral, and gem museum. When it opened in 1926, it was the country’s first public museum dedicated exclusively to natural history. Today, it’s the largest museum in the state of Florida.
What can you see at the Henry B. Plant Museum?
The permanent exhibitions tell the story of Tampa’s history and culture through artifacts and images. The museum also has a wide variety of temporary exhibitions that explore different topics. The first floor of the museum is dedicated to natural science, while the second floor is home to art and architecture. The museum also has a very impressive library that has over 250,000 books. The Plant Library is divided into four sections: Paleontology, Botany, Zoology, and Mineralogy. It’s home to the largest collection of books in the city. Read next post.
The permanent exhibitions
A Museum of Flora – This exhibition is dedicated to the flora of Tampa and Florida. It covers plants from the ice age to modern times. A Museum of Fishes – This exhibit explores the history of the marine life in Tampa Bay. The museum has specimens of Florida’s native and non-native fish, as well as a scale replica of the bay. A Museum of Minerals – This section explores the various minerals found in Tampa Bay. The museum also has a replica of the Tampa Bay Lightning ice shavings machine.
Temporary exhibitions
There are several different temporary exhibitions that explore different topics. One exhibition is on the history of the Tampa Bay Times and the Plant family’s history with the paper. Another explores the history of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Henry B. Plant III Library
The Plant III Library is the largest of the museum’s six libraries. The collection includes over 250,000 items, with a special focus on natural history. The library is also used for classes and meetings. The exhibits here are designed to inspire curiosity in the museum’s visitors.
The outdoor spaces
There are a few outdoor spaces at the Plant Museum. The most popular is the Rose Garden. It’s very sunny and full of blooming specimens. The museum also has a greenhouse that looks out onto the Tampa Bay. There’s also a Sculpture Garden and a Tropical Conservatory.
Conclusion
The Plant Museum is a beautiful museum with many permanent and temporary exhibitions. There’s a great library and plenty of outdoor spaces to explore. It’s a great place to learn more about Tampa’s history and culture. Go to home page.
Embedded Driving Directions From This POI To The Next POI
Written Driving Directions From This POI To The Next POI
Start: Henry B. Plant Museum
401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606, United States
Get on I-275 N from FL-685 N/E State Rd 60 E/W Kennedy Blvd and N Ashley Dr
5 min (1.0 mi)
Head south on UT University Dr toward Frederic H. Spaulding Dr/N University Dr
246 ft
Turn left onto FL-685 N/E State Rd 60 E/W Kennedy Blvd
0.3 mi
Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto N Ashley Dr
0.6 mi
Keep right at the fork, follow signs for I-275 N/I-4 and merge onto I-275 N
0.2 mi
Follow I-4 E to Branch Forbes Rd. Take exit 17 from I-4 E
17 min (18.1 mi)
Merge onto I-275 N
0.7 mi
Use the right lanes to take exit 45B for I-4 E toward Orlando
0.5 mi
Continue onto I-4 E
16.6 mi
Take exit 17 for Branch Forbes Rd
0.3 mi
Continue on Branch Forbes Rd to your destination
3 min (0.6 mi)
Turn left onto Branch Forbes Rd (signs for Dinosaur World)
0.2 mi
Turn left onto Harvey Tew Rd
0.2 mi
Turn left
0.2 mi
Turn left
Destination will be on the right
16 ft
End: Dinosaur World
5145 Harvey Tew Rd, Plant City, FL 33565, United States
Embedded Driving Directions From This POI To Blue Farm Digital Marketing Agency Tampa
Written Driving Directions From This POI To Blue Farm Digital Marketing Agency Tampa
Start: Henry B. Plant Museum
