Museums

Fort Lauderdale is a city rich in culture and history. There are many fine museums to include in your Fort Lauderdale itinerary:

Bonnet House

900 North Birch Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 563-5393
http://www.bonnethouse.org/

This 35-acre beachfront estate is a tribute to the history of old South Florida. Its architecture, artwork, and natural environment are truly memorable. Registered with the National Register of Historic Places, this house museum is open to the public with guided tours. The Bonnet House is open year round except for Mid-August through September.
Closed Mondays and some holidays.

Fort Lauderdale Historical Museum

219 SW 2nd Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 463-4431
http://www.oldfortlauderdale.org/

Learn about the history of Fort Lauderdale and the South Florida area at the Fort Lauderdale Historical Museum. The current special exhibit is "Panorama of the Past: A Chronological Look at the History of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County."

Also, see history as it still stands in three of Fort Lauderdale's oldest structures: the New River Inn, the Philomen Bryan House, and the King-Cromartie House. There is even a replica of the city's first schoolhouse!

Active educational programming provided by the Historical Society includes workshops and lectures, walking and boat tours of local historical sites, and children's camps. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Museum of Art / Fort Lauderdale

One E. Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 525-5500
http://www.moafl.org/

Located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Arts and Entertainment District, the Museum of Art / Fort Lauderdale is Broward County’s most exciting venue for cultural activities. The Museum features an ever-changing menu of exhibitions, along with an ambitious education program offering art classes in a variety of media and subjects for all ages and skill levels, and weekly and monthly special events ranging from jazz and classical concerts to lectures and yoga classes. For information, call the Museum’s 24-hour hotline at (954) 763-6464.

Recent large-scale exhibitions include Diana: A Celebration and Saint Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes. Starting on December 15, 2005, the Museum will be the only venue in the southeastern U.S. for Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. The Museum’s permanent collections include American and European modern and contemporary art, Picasso ceramics, and contemporary Cuban art, as well as a comprehensive collection of works by the American impressionist William Glackens and one of the country’s largest collections of works by the Northern European artists from the movement known as CoBrA (for Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam).

Docent-led tours are available. The Museum is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. After February 6, 2005, the Museum will be closed on Tuesdays through December 15. Hours for the Tutankhamun exhibition to be announced.

Museum of Discovery and Science and Blockbuster IMAX Theater

401 SW 2nd Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
(954) 467-6637 (Museum)
(954) 463-4629 (Theater)
http://www.mods.org/

Only minutes from downtown, this interactive science museum is situated in the Arts & Sciences District in Riverwalk Park. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, noon to 6 pm.

Old Dillard Museum

1009 NW 4th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
(754) 322-8828

Include a visit to Fort Lauderdale's historic African American museum -- it is one you will not want to miss. The Old Dillard Museum is a cultural and educational center that was originally Old Dillard High School. Built in 1924 as the first school for blacks in Fort Lauderdale, this landmark was restored and exists today because of broad community efforts.

Current gallery exhibits include: the Old Dillard Heritage Gallery, Jazz: The Language of the Soul Heritage Gallery, and an Interactive Gallery. Open Monday through Friday 11am to 4pm. Mornings are reserved for local school tours. After hours group (10 or more) tours available on requests.

Admission: Donation only.

Stranahan House

355 SE 6th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 524-4736
http://www.stranahanhouse.org/

Fort Lauderdale's history as a city began in this historic building. Once a trading post, residence to Frank and Ivy Stranahan, a restaurant, post office and town hall, the Stranahan House is now a historical museum.

Restored to its original configuration, it features early 1900 furnishings and paintings. It is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 1pm to 4pm.