Florida Museum of Natural History at University of Florida

LOCATION

Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida Cultural Plaza
3215 Hull Road
Gainesville, FL 32611-2710

VIEW MAP

PHONE

(352)846-2000

CALL NOW

FACEBOOK

LIKE PAGE

INSTAGRAM

FOLLOW

FREE ADMISSION

Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm


Located at the University of Florida in Gainesville and open year-round, the Florida Museum of Natural History is one of the nation’s top five natural history museums. It features limited-time-only exhibits, eight permanent exhibits, and several outside areas to discover!

THEIR MISSION: Understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage to ensure their survival for future generations. Using its expertise to advance knowledge, the Florida Museum has been particularly successful at utilizing research collections and making them accessible to diverse audiences, making it "more than just a museum."


Journey through a South Florida estuary and learn why they are one of the richest ecosystems on Earth and how they have supported people for thousands of years, including the powerful Calusa who once controlled all of South Florida.

Highlights Include:

  • Mangrove Boardwalk - Stroll through a full-scale mangrove forest and mud flat full of plants, animals, light and sound to explore the nature of these rich coastal ecosystems.
  • Fishing Heritage - This artifact-rich gallery highlights 6,000 years of fishing along Florida’s Gulf coast, including a 1,000-year-old fishing net and canoe paddle.
  • Calusa Leader’s House - Enter a palm-thatched building and find yourself in a Calusa leader’s house during a political ceremony in the year 1564.
  • Native American Legacy Gallery - Get a close-up view of some of the most rare and interesting objects in the Museum’s South Florida archaeology collections, among them a famous 1,000-year-old painting of a woodpecker and other works of art in wood.
  • Today’s South Florida Indian People - Learn about the vibrant traditions of the Indian people who live in South Florida today—the Seminole and Miccosukee.

People lived and fished on Florida’s Gulf coast long before the first pyramids were built in Egypt. The Calusa built towns, engineered canals and followed complex religious, political and artistic traditions. The artifact-rich Fishing Heritage gallery highlights 6,000 years of fishing along Florida’s Gulf coast, including a 1,000-year-old fishing net and canoe paddle.


page information credit: Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida
photos from the sources listed above, as well as publicly posted online sites with thanks to the contributors