The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is committed to engage and inspire through the arts, gardens and education. A permanent collection of nearly 5,000 works of art and historic gardens on a riverfront campus offers more than 110,000 annual visitors a truly unique experience on the First Coast. Nationally recognized education programs serve adults and children of all abilities.
Every week art classes are offered to both members and non-members of The Cummer Art Museum. Check the website for the most updated class offerrings and prices.
Visit the Cummer Museum for free on Tuesdays from 4-9pm and also on the first Saturday of the month.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville is a visual arts educational institution and cultural resource of the University of North Florida. It serves the community and its visitors through exhibitions, collections, educational programs, and publications designed to enhance an understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art with particular emphasis on works created from 1960 to the present.
Explore MOCA for free on Wednesdays from 5-9pm and also on the first Saturday and Sunday of the month.
Kingsley Plantation is open seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Admission is free.
You can explore the grounds at Kingsley Plantation, which include the slave quarters, barn, waterfront, plantation house, kitchen house, and interpretive garden. The visitor contact station/bookstore is located in a 1920s building adjacent to the plantation buildings.
Please note the Jacksonville Fire Museum is closed; it’s re-opening date will be announced when available.
The Jacksonville Fire Museum serves as an educational link between past and present. Through the years, thousands of visitors have toured the museum, learning about the rich history of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
At the Jacksonville Fire Museum, you will see thousands of items detailing the history of the fire service not only in Jacksonville, but the entire state of Florida. Exhibits include photos from the Great Fire of 1901, a fully-restored 1902 American LaFrance horse-drawn fire engine, and a working 1926 American LaFrance fire engine.
If your kids love fire trucks and firemen then this museum is worth a visit. Located in Metropolitan Park this small museum offers visitors lots of information about the history of fire service in Jacksonville and in Florida.
The Mandarin Museum and the 1898 St. Joseph’s Mission Schoolhouse for African-American Children are open every Saturday from 9-4 at Walter Jones Historical Park, 11964 Mandarin Rd. The museum features the Civil War steamship Maple Leaf which was sunk in the St. Johns River at Mandarin Point in 1864. On display are many artifacts recovered from the shipwreck, Civil War soldiers’ uniforms and an interactive exhibit about the diving operation that recovered the objects belonging to the soldiers. The historic schoolhouse is the last remaining one-room schoolhouse left in Duval County. While visiting, children can pick-up a park and museum scavenger hunt that helps them learn about important objects or sit in an old school desk and color or read a book, and learn about how different school was over 100 years ago. Following the visit to the museums, you will want to stroll the beautiful 10-acre Walter Jones Historical Park, walk along the St. Johns River on the boardwalk and imagine being dropped back in time to a quiet life of the early 1900s. Picnic tables and restrooms are available.
For more information and photographs, see Mandarin Museum and Historical Society or call 268-0784. Comprehensive School and Youth group tours are available by appointment with a small fee.
Do your children love trains? Let them experience the time when the railroad ran through town. They will get to ring the bell on a real steam locomotive and learn about life during the turn of the century as they tour Pablo Historical Park. Your little engineers will want to make tracks to visit again and again!
The Beaches Museum creates a unique learning experience for people of all ages. Visit the Beaches Museum and explore the history of pioneers at the Beaches, discover who Henry Flagler was, and experience the innovation of the railroads! Your trip begins with a scavenger hunt in our Permanent Exhibit featuring the six beach communities of Mayport, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, and Palm Valley. On tour through our History Park, you can visit the 1911 Steam Locomotive, the 1900 Florida East Coast Mayport Depot, and the 1900 Florida East Coast Foreman’s House while having the stories of each building brought to life by the docent. Finally, discover our Heritage Demonstration Garden, maintained by the Master gardeners through the University of Florida IFAS program. In the garden, you will have the opportunity to learn about seasonal vegetables, sugar cane, and composting. Visitors will gain a richer understanding of local history and gain a valuable experience in this fantastic beach culture.
Visit us online at http://www.beachesmuseum.org for more information.