7 Top Miami Museums

July 12, 2016

Miami has some incredible museums that offer residents a taste of local culture and excitement outside of a beach visit or a nightclub. You can find beautiful photography, incredibly paintings, and pieces of history at the museums around the city. While you may love living in Miami for the fun restaurants, beautiful beaches, and celeb sightings, you don’t want to miss the museum scene that completes Miami’s cultural offerings.

You’ll find some hidden gems here as well as nationally recognized institutions containing Latin American artists’ pieces and photos of some of the biggest names in pop culture including The Beatles and Sinatra. If you’re ready for a weekend of arts and culture in Miami, these are the top 7 museums you should check out with the whole family.

Museum of Contemporary Art – 770 NE 125th St, Miami

Miami Museum of Conteporary ArtStart with the most obvious choice, the Museum of Contemporary Art, to see what the arts and culture scene is all about in Miami. This is a great choice because it’s a bit more laidback than the downtown options.

You can find MOCA in North Miami where the last Friday of the month offers an outdoor jazz concert for visitors on a donation-basis. Throughout the year, take part in community programming like art education and artist-led classes. You’ll love their exhibits like the Art Basel featuring Tracey Emin’s “Angel Without You” installation.

Wolfsonian-FIU – 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami

Make your way over to South Beach to check out another popular museum option. The Wolfsonian-FIU is a beautiful Miamian museum that is located within a 1927 storage facility that was restored. There are some really interesting finds here like the deco postbox that came from New York’s Central Station and the cinema posters from Cuba.

You’ll love walking around from one exhibit to another as you pass the well-displayed furniture, paintings, and metalwork. Among the various exhibits, you can take part in touring exhibitions and lectures. Despite the nearby nightclubs, serious art lovers make a point to stop here to see everything from patinings and graphic designs to a more general view of the modern world. Stop in from 6-9pm on Fridays for a free-to-the-public chance to check it out.

Perez Art Museum Miami – 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami

Perez Art Museum MiamiIf you are going to be over in the Biscayne Boulevard Historic District, pay a visit to the Perez Art Museum Miami where you’ll find fantastic permanent collections, high-caliber traveling exhibits, family-friendly programs, and views of the Biscayne Bay. You’ll find the work of James Rosenquist, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, and many more.

Jorge Perez even donated a portion of his personal collection to this museum. Try family-friendly activities like the Second Saturday program where the second Saturday of the month offers a chance to follow museum teachers through a hands-on activity related to the displays. Many people nickname this one PAMM and you’ve probably heard it mentioned for its happy hours and dance parties.

Rubell Family Collection – 95 NW 29th Street, Miami

If you are in the market for a museum that offers the largest, privately owned contemporary collection in the world, Don and Mera Rubell’s Family Collection may be the place for you. It’s actually in a former DEA storage facility in the Wynwood Art District. The unusual backstory alone makes this one worth a visit. Find pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jeff Koons, among others.

Frost Art Museum at FIU – 10975 SW 17th Street, Miami

The beautiful Frost Art Museum can be found over at the Florida International University. Whether you are new to art or you’ve been studying it for years, Patricia & Phillip Frost’s Art Museum at FIU will inspire you to want to learn more. You’ll find permanent collections that feature African artifacts, American prints from the 60s, and pre-Columbian art.

Bass Museum of Art – 2100 Collins Avenue, Miami

Bass Museum of ArtThe Bass Museum of Art is another great option to check out in Miami. Here you’ll find the donation of collectors John and Johanna Bass with contemporary works and more. Look for pieces like the Egyptian sarcophagus and the “Art & Sole: Fantasy Shoes” from the Jane Gerson Weitzman Collection. This is actually one of the main Art Deco buildings where the former Miami Beach Library and Art Center was.

HistoryMiami – 101 W Flagler St, Miami

Lastly, try switching things up by visiting a history museum in the area. HistoryMiami offers exciting finds like a real Cuban refugee raft, a real Miramar Playa hotel sign used in filming “Magic City, ” and historical moments of the past like when The Beatles performed at Miami Beach or Frank Sinatra filmed a movie at Fontainebleau.

Related: Miami’s Unique and Unusual Spots

Getting a piece of history or seeing major pieces of art is an exciting way to spend your time in Miami. Check out these top museums to see the best of what the city has to offer.

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