Miami stands out for its paradisiacal beaches and its rich entertainment offer. However, its cultural diversity and artistic importance is not far behind. The city has multiple places to explore and enjoy art, history and science. Get to know here the best museums in Miami that you can visit.
Museums in Miami dedicated to art
Admiring various manifestations of art is one of the most interesting activities in Miami to do. The city has a varied repertoire of museums that exhibit different approaches and artistic influences:
Perez Art Museum Miami
This is an ideal place to explore twentieth and twenty-first century art with a Latin American perspective. The museum itself is a work of art by award-winning architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.
It offers stunning outdoor spaces and beautiful views of the Port of Miami, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the MacArthur Causeway. It is in Biscayne Bayfront, a privileged area for lovers of design, art and shopping centers in Miami.
Institute of Contemporary Art
This museum located in the design district is dedicated to emerging artists. It also includes the work of legendary visionaries such as Pablo Picasso, and is a center of research and education around art. It is also popular for its tranquil sculpture garden.
Bass Museum of Art
Right in front of South Beach, one of the biggest tourist attractions in Miami, is the Bass. This museum of both open and enclosed spaces in Collins Park hosts traveling exhibitions of international modern art. It also has pieces of public art such as the well-known Miami Mountain.
Museums in Miami that tell their story
The local history of the city of Miami takes the spotlight in several of its museums:
HistoryMiami Museum
Dedicated to the history of South Florida, this museum in Downtown Miami is part of the Smithsonian’s affiliate program. It features more than 37,000 objects dating back even to the times before the discovery of America. It features exhibits on topics as varied as tourism, development, technology, immigration and transportation.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya, in Coconut Grove, is perfect for experiencing Miami’s period of rise as a city. The place is built in the likeness of the Italian villas of yesteryear and houses more than 2,500 antiques. Its rooms are set to evoke Italian cities such as Milan, Palermo and Venice. In addition, it is surrounded by ten acres of beautiful gardens.
Wolfsonian
Right in South Beach, tucked away among the many shops and restaurants in Miami, is the Wolfsonian Museum and Research Center. It is home to a collection of more than 200,000 artifacts, photographs, paintings, furniture, books and other objects that show the importance of art and design in modern history. Undoubtedly one of the most peculiar museums in Miami.
Museums in Miami full of science
Science and education also have their place among the museums in Miami:
Frost Museum
In the Downtown area is one of the most emblematic museums in Miami. The Frost is one of the few museums in the world to feature both an aquarium and a planetarium. The 500,000-gallon tank displays sharks, rays and varieties of fish.
Meanwhile, the planetarium offers immersive visual experiences to learn about space, DNA, or coral reefs. It is also famous for its eye-catching laser shows. The museum is also notable for its interactive exhibits and virtual learning programs.
Miami Children’s Museum
Like the Frost, this is one of the most appropriate museums in Miami to visit as a family. It has 14 galleries filled with interactive exhibits. It especially focuses on educating about the various aspects of life in Miami, so it has spaces about the ocean and the nature of the area. It is located on the coast in front of Downtown Miami, on the MacArthur Causeway. This magical city is a privileged cultural and educational destination. Without a doubt, there is more than beaches, shops, nightclubs and water parks in Miami. Before visiting its many museums, be sure to check their days and hours of operation. In general, these have been modified in the context of the current COVID-19 emergency.
References
Benowitz, S. (2020). TOP MIAMI MUSEUMS TO VISIT ON YOUR VACATION. Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Meltzr, M. (2021). The All-Time Best Museums Worth Visiting in Miami. Thrillist.
The New Tropic. (n.d.). A guide to Miami museums.
Wood, J. M. (2019). 11 Best Museums in Miami. Condé Nast Traveler.