The best museums in Orlando for culture vultures

The Orlando Museum of Art was founded in 1924 and continues to be a must-go for locals who want to learn about Orlando’s rich history while gazing upon historical and modern pieces of art. Each year the museum presents 10 to 12 different exhibitions on-site and 13 exhibitions off-site, so no matter when you go, there will always be something new to see.

What’s new: Be sure to stop by the “INK!” exhibition, which showcases contemporary American graphics. This collection will be on display through October 27, 2024. Another new exhibition highlighting Little Golden Books will run from September 6 through November 29.

Time Out tip: On the third Thursday of every month, the museum offers free admission to all visitors. Throughout the day, special activities include sketching, live performances, and docent-led highlight tours.

For over 60 years, the Orlando Science Center has welcomed visitors into a hands-on museum. The museum spans four floors with interactive exhibits, labs, theaters, workshops and more. While exploring, you’ll find exhibits where you can learn about America’s food system and how to make it more sustainable, how kinetic energy works and everyone’s favorite: dinosaurs.

What’s new: You can now book private experiences for small groups where you can choose to be an animal keeper for the day or get creative in the Makerspace to learn everything from origami to soldering a circuit board.

Time Out tip: Throughout the year, the museum hosts adults-only events as part of its Science Night Live program. The museum is taken over by adults and features everything from ice cream workshops and science trivia to live science shows and presentations. Even better, tickets are budget-friendly at $20.

I love that the Winter Park neighborhood is filled with art, thanks to the nearby Rollins College. On the college campus, the Rollins Museum of Art showcases a variety of exhibits, including ones that feature work by the college's students. Additionally, the museum has pieces on display at the neighboring Alfond Inn. At the hotel, you can take an audio tour of the works that line the common spaces.

What’s new: The museum has an entire gallery that highlights its recent acquisitions. The pieces rotate about every three months. I like to visit the museum a few times a year to see what's new.

Time Out tip: This is a great museum to explore before or after taking the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour since both are within walking distance of each other.

The rise and demise of the Titanic have captured the imaginations of people for decades. In Orlando, you can step into a recreation of the 1912 vessel to see over 300 artifacts, full-scale room recreations and interact with costumed actors at “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.” Every day of the week, the museum offers guided tours where visitors will learn real-life stories of passengers and crew on board, along with how artifact recovery and conservation is done.

What’s new: The museum is hosting a Titanic Teatime experience, which includes a three-tier food platter, plus drinks. You are expected to dress in your best Sunday dress for this event, though gloves are optional.

Time Out tip: Florida residents can get $4 off admission by showing a valid Florida driver’s license.

The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is located in historic Winter Park. The museum houses the largest collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including leaded-glass lamps, paintings, art glass and windows. The spacious museum is also home to American pottery, paintings and more. The quiet halls of the museum make this a nice stop in the mid-afternoon after a day of exploring bustling Winter Park.

What’s new: Starting October 2024, the museum will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Tiffany Chapel's display at the Morse. Part of the celebration will include an exhibit showing how the chapel moved from Chicago to Winter Park.

Time Out tip: When you walk into the Tiffany Chapel, be sure to sit down and wait for the 'show.' Every few minutes, the lights in the room go from bright to dim to showcase the different ways the stained glass can reflect color. I enjoy sitting in here for a few rotations of the show to really take everything in.

The Orlando Fire Museum, built in 1926, originally housed Station 3. It showcases the history of firefighting in Orlando. One of the coolest things in the museum's collection is the completely restored 1926 American LaFrance fire engine. Currently, the museum is only open on Friday and Saturday.

Time Out tip: Entry into the museum is free, but the museum does run on donations, so consider adding a few dollars into the box at the end of your tour.

The Orange County Regional History Center is located in a historic building from 1927 that was once the Orange County courthouse. Now, the museum documents and teaches the public about Orlando’s history, from aviation to the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. It is currently honoring healthcare workers in a special exhibition.

What’s new: The latest special exhibition, which runs until February 2, 2025, showcases the music and culture of Orlando’s underground rock and club scene.

Time Out tip: If you love theme parks, check out the museum’s “Theme Park Era” exhibition, which covers how Orlando has become a hot spot for some of the best theme parks in the world.

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If you’re heading to Winter Garden, be sure to stop by the Central Florida Railroad Museum. The museum is known for its artifacts and photos that highlight the railroads that once served the neighborhood and the larger Central Florida area. One of the biggest collections at the museum is its dining car china and silver collection, which features more than 30 different patterns from a dozen railroads.

Time Out tip: Every Saturday, the Winter Garden farmers market takes place across the street from the museum, making this a fun activity to pair with some local shopping.

The stunning home of Albin Polasek, a Czech sculptor, is nestled on the shore of Lake Osceola and now houses the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. The home is currently on the National Register of Historic Places. While walking around, visitors can enjoy paintings, sculptures and more that reflect the life and legacy of Polasek, along with other American artists. The outdoor gardens are filled with a variety of sculptures and shouldn't be missed.

What’s new: The museum's newest exhibit features paintings depicting central Florida wildlife and plants. The art was created by Emma Sears Marsh and Joy Postle throughout the 1920s.

Time Out tip: You can take a picnic lunch with you to enjoy on the outside grounds, complete with sculptures and people-watching. My favorite spot to grab lunch from is just down the road at Barnie's Cafe, which is also in Winter Park.

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Follow the yellow brick road to the Wizard of Oz Museum. The movie-themed museum is actually in Cape Canaveral, but worth the drive if you love the iconic film. The museum has over 2,000 pieces of memorabilia, including an iconic blue and white checkered dress worn by Judy Garland, first-edition books from the original series, and a pair of ruby slippers that were once displayed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios inside the now-defunct Great Movie Ride.

Time Out tip: The museum is completely self-guided and also features an immersive experience that casts scenes from the Oz books and movies onto the walls and floors. All of the immersive experience scenes are created by the museum owner himself.