Discounted and Free Admission to Museums in Polk County + Central Florida

Museums on Us – Bank of America Cardholders

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch credit or debit card holders can get free admission to select museums, aquariums, and science centers during the first full weekend of every month as part of the Museums on Us program. Present your active Bank of America, Merrill or Bank of America Private Bank (U.S. Trust) credit or debit card with photo ID to gain one free general admission to a participating cultural institution. Valid for cardholder only, other guests can pay regular admission.

Participating museums in Central Florida include:

• Tampa – Museum of Art
• St. Pete – Museum of Fine Arts, Florida Holocaust Museum
• Bradenton/Sarasota – Bishop Museum, Selby Gardens
• Orlando – Orlando Science Center, Orange County Regional History Center, Orlando Museum of Art

Visit the Museums on Us website for a full list across the United States. (TIP – we’ve taken advantage of this program while traveling and visited the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York for free!)

Polk Museum of Art

The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College is a teaching museum that seeks to enhance lives through inspirational and engaging art experiences for all. It is the largest and only nationally accredited visual arts organization in Polk County and the only Smithsonian Affiliate art museum in Central Florida. New exhibitions rotate through the main galleries, and you can also see some of the permanent collections on display. Our personal favorite is the children’s gallery with artwork created by local students.

Admission to the Polk Museum of Art is always free, memberships are available for special events, perks, and reciprocal admission.

Polk County History Center

What was once the Polk County Courthouse now serves as the Polk County History Center and houses a historical museum and library in Bartow, FL. Throughout the year, the History Center hosts rotating exhibits and educational programs that feature a variety of subjects specific to Polk County and Central Florida. Temporary exhibits also rotate through the museum. It is a fun look back at the history of our community!

The Polk County History Center is free and open to the public.

Mulberry Phosphate Museum

The Mulberry Phosphate Museum houses an outstanding collection of fossilized remains, area memorabilia, and educational exhibits on the history of the Phosphate Industry in Central Florida. Don’t miss the fossil dig pile outside where you can find small sharks teeth and fossils.

Admission to the museum and dig pile are free. (TIP – Bring a blanket and handheld shovel to look for shark’s teeth)

Bartow Airbase History Museum

The Bartow Air Base Historical Museum is located in the General Aviation Terminal at the Bartow airport. The museum owns and displays historical artifacts and memorabilia of the personnel who trained and lived at Bartow Air Base, including copies of many yearbooks published by the 70 pilot training classes between 1952 and 1961, as well as some issues of The Eaglet, the Air Base monthly newspaper.  Some of the artifacts recovered from P-51 aircraft that crashed into Lake Hancock are on exhibit as well as pilot uniforms.  Admission is free, donations are welcome.

L.B. Brown House Museum

The L.B. Brown House in Bartow, Florida was designed and constructed in 1892 by a self-taught master carpenter, Lawrence Bernard Brown.  Mr. Brown was born into slavery in 1856 and had limited formal education, if any.  Lawrence Brown overcame those debilitating circumstances and became one of Polk County’s most successful businessmen and community leaders.  The nine room house is an impressive two story structure with a generous amount of Victorian ornamentation.  The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and may be the only one of its kind in Florida, still in existence, that was built and owned by a former slave. It is also one of the exhibits in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. 

Visitors may tour the exterior of the home at any time.  Tours of the interior of the home may be scheduled by calling 863-944-6136.

African American Heritage Museum

The African American Heritage Museum, located in downtown Bartow, Florida, is a place where visitors can learn about the rich and diverse experiences of being a person of African American descent in Central Florida, and how our black ancestors’ lives helped shape the history of our great state. Admission is FREE, but donations are appreciated.

Lake Wales History Center

Visitors to the Lake Wales History Center learn about the natural history of the Lake Wales Ridge beginning with Florida’s native people to the development of Lake Wales’ railroad, industry and residents of the 20th century. Guests may visit the newly restored 1926 Seaboard Air Line Railroad caboose, the 1916 Pullman passenger car and 1944 US Army locomotive engine. Admission is free, suggested donation: $5/person.

Florida’s Natural Growers Grove House

At the Florida’s Natural Grove House in Lake Wales you can learn all about Florida orange juice and the history of Florida’s Natural. There is a small room of museum type displays, a short video, samples of Florida’s Natural juices, and a super cute gift shop. Admission to the Grove House is free, open seasonally.

Fort Meade Historical Museum

The Fort Meade Historical Society & Museum includes a collection of area artifacts and memorabilia as well as restored train cars. Free tours are available.

Florida Children’s Museum

The Florida Children’s Museum (formerly Explorations V Children’s Museum) opened at Bonnet Springs Park in November 2022.

The best deal at the Florida Children’s Museum is a Family Membership for only $120 per year for one adult and one child, and you can add additional family members only $20 per year. Join the Museum to enjoy a year of play every day of the week.

Florida Children’s Museum Free Admission Opportunities

• Polk Plays – Every school readiness child OR Polk County resident with an EBT SNAP card receives a FREE one-year membership to Florida Children’s Museum. Apply through the Polk Plays website.
• Culture Pass – Each of the 3 libraries in Lakeland have a Culture Pass available for check out each day. The Culture Pass allows for same-day general admission for up to five people to Florida Children’s Museum. TIP – Go right when the library opens for your best chance at getting it, only one is given out each day at each library.
• Museums for All program – Discount admission for EBT / SNAP Card holders, details on the FCM website. (WIC cards are not part of the Museums for All discount program)
• Special Events – FCM offers free admission days or pay what you can days a few times during the year including the Watermelon Festival in May, Florida Children’s Museum Birthday Celebration in Oct, and Day of Caring in January

Now Open! The Florida Children’s Museum: Central Florida’s Newest Family Attraction

Bok Tower Gardens

Bok Tower Gardens is one of our favorite places to be outdoors in Polk County. It includes beautifully landscaped gardens and trails, a huge variety of plants and flowers, a Singing Tower carillon with daily concerts, and 3-acres of nature-inspired play in the Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden.

Bok Tower Gardens Free Admission

• Wawa Summer Fun Days – last Thursday and Friday of every month from May through August {registration required}
• Bok Tower Gardens offers free admission days throughout the year including National Public Gardens Day, the annual Plant Sale, and other free offers for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day. Visit our calendar to see upcoming free admission days at Bok Tower Gardens.
• Bok for All – Free Admission for all eligible Polk County residents with a SNAP or WIC EBT card {confirm on website}

Free Museums in Tampa + Discount Days

Glazer Children’s Museum Tampa

Glazer Children’s Museum provides spaces for playful interaction and learning built just for kids. Glazer Children’s Museum Tampa Free Admission opportunities:

• Free Tuesdays – Free Admission the first Tuesday of every month from 9:30am-5pm. Register in advance, visit the Glazer Museum website for upcoming dates.
• Museums for All – admission is $3 per person for EBT/SNAP Card Holders (at publishing date, WIC is also accepted – check Glazer website to confirm).

Cracker Country Free Admission

Tampa’s only living history museum, located on the Florida State Fairgrounds. The museum holds a collection of 13 original buildings dating from 1870-1912 which were relocated from across the state of Florida, as well as costumed interpreters who portray daily living as Florida pioneers. Cracker County is a great place to take kids!

Cracker Country is only open to the public on select days during the year. Cracker Country Free Admission is available on Smithsonian Museum Day, and admission is also included with your ticket for the Florida State Fair.

Tampa Bay History Center

The Tampa Bay History Center includes 3 floors of Interactive, family-friendly exhibits focused on the history of Tampa and the state of Florida. Be sure to check out the 3rd floor Treasure Seekers Gallery and the Pirate’s Fate movie, especially if you have a pirate-loving child. Tampa Bay History Center Free Admission opportunities include:

• Museums for All (EBT/SNAP Cardholders)

Tampa Museum of Art

The Tampa Museum of Art houses an extensive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, one of the largest in the southeastern United States, and a diverse collection of modern and contemporary art encompassing sculpture, photography, painting, and new media. Tampa Museum of Art Free Admission opportunities:

• Art on the House – Every Thursday from 4 to 8 pm visitors can choose whatever admission price they want to pay. 
• Museums on Us (Bank of America/Merrill Lynch card – first full weekend of each month)
• Museums for All (SNAP/EBT Card Holders – discount or free admission)

Free Museum Admission in Sarasota + Bradenton

The Ringling – Sarasota

A place of exploration, discovery and respite, Ringling Museum of Art and Bayfront Gardens in Sarasota, Florida – which includes the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, historic mansion, an 18th-century theater and bayfront gardens – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Kids will especially love the playground and Circus Museum! Ringling Museum of Art Free Admission opportunities:

• Free Admission Mondays – The Museum of Art, Bayfront Gardens, and Glass Pavilion are free to the public on Mondays. Regular admission pricing applies for entry to the Circus Museum or Ca’ d’Zan. (If you are taking kids, we highly recommend paying admission and visiting the Circus Museum!)
• Museums for All (SNAP/EBT Card Holders – discount or free admission)

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature – Bradenton

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature is a natural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast offering engaging exhibits as well as educational programs that interpret the scientific knowledge of Florida, the world, and our universe. The Bishop Museum Free Admission opportunities:

• Museums on Us (Bank of America/Merrill Lynch card – first full weekend of each month)
• Museums for All (SNAP/EBT Card Holders – discount or free admission)

Selby Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens offers 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries to explore via two campuses. Visitors can take in rainforest, desert, native Florida, and display garden areas plus stroll along a bayfront mangrove walkway.

• Museums on Us (Bank of America/Merrill Lynch card – first full weekend of each month)

Free Museums in Orlando

Orlando Science Center

Orlando Science Center is Central Florida’s award-winning, hands-on science museum. With four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs and workshops, theaters, an observatory, and experiences that change with the seasons, there is always something exciting to see and do at OSC. Orlando Science Center Free Admission opportunities:

• Museums on Us (Bank of America/Merrill Lynch card – first full weekend of each month)
• Museums for All (SNAP/EBT Card Holders – discount or free admission)

Leu Gardens

Harry P. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical oasis minutes from Downtown Orlando. Free Admission opportunities:

• First Monday of the Month – Admission is free to Leu Gardens, remember to arrive early, free admission days are popular! Check the website for future free admission days at Leu Gardens.
• Museums for All (SNAP/EBT Card Holders – discount or free admission)

Orange County Regional History Center (Orlando)

Take a journey through 12,000 years of Central Florida history at the Orange County Regional History Center. Spread across four floors are fascinating exhibits which bring the past to life and inform, educate and amaze visitors with Florida’s rich heritage. The museum’s permanent exhibits cover everything from Florida’s indigenous people through to the current theme park tourism boom. Free Museum Admission opportunities:

• Third Thursday of each month, the Orange County History Center offers free admission from 5 to 8 p.m.
• Museums on Us (Bank of America/Merrill Lynch card – first full weekend of each month)
• Museums for All (SNAP/EBT Card Holders – discount or free admission)

Other museums in the Orlando area that are free to visit year-round include the Central Florida Railroad Museum and the The Cornell Fine Arts Museum.