Explore a different side of Orlando at museums and galleries throughout the area.
Updated Aug. 18, 2026
Everyone knows that Orlando is a wondrous place where you can enjoy fantastic lands, endless adventures and incredible experiences you won’t find anywhere else. But with documented history that includes Indigenous settlers, astronauts, Black American trailblazers, artistic visionaries and more, as well as robust regional support for the arts, Orlando has also emerged as a top destination for cultural tourists.
Discover: Local History
Whether you want to explore the past, see historic artistry with your own eyes, or just immerse yourself in gorgeous paintings and sculpture you won’t soon forget, make time for Orlando’s museums and galleries — including these family-friendly options.
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Hannibal Square Heritage Center
In the heart of Winter Park, learn about the upscale Hannibal Square district’s origins as one of Florida’s original Black American communities at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, operated by Crealdé School of Art. Inside the 2-story venue, you can peruse black-and-white photography, artwork and oral histories in an intimate setting that invites you to take a closer look and escape into the legacy that makes this community proud.
Discover: Black American History & Culture
The gallery also features a timeline that starts in 1880 and includes local events such as the 1911 founding of Winter Park’s Bethel Missionary Baptist Church on Welbourne Avenue. Parking and admission are always free.
The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center
Located in Maitland close to Winter Park, about 30 minutes north of International Drive, the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center doesn’t just teach about the past. It also focuses on a future that is free of antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.
Discover: Things to Do in Winter Park
One of this museum’s most unique exhibits invites you to don Oculus googles for a powerful virtual-reality experience that will transport you to the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis, with Frank sharing her inspirational story along the way. Many other thought-provoking exhibits await, as well as special programming examining relevant topics and historical events.
Orange County Regional History Center & Heritage Square Park
Housed in a historic, 1927 county courthouse in the heart of downtown Orlando’s City District, the Orange County Regional History Center traces 12,000 years of local history through three floors of dynamic permanent collections. Starting in the region’s prehistoric past, you’ll see how we evolved from an Indian settlement, to a small citrus and cattle town, to our modern tourist- and tech-centric metropolis.
Discover: Things to Do in City District
A Smithsonian Institution affiliate that is accredited by the American Association of Museums, the History Center also hosts limited-run national exhibitions, plus a full slate of events and educational programs for children and adults, including lectures, camps and workshops. The museum grounds also encompass Heritage Square Park, a beautiful outdoor space where you can enjoy sculpture, other artwork and people-watching.
Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture
Built in 1921 by prominent Black American physician Dr. William M. Wells, the Wells’Built Hotel offered accommodations to Black travelers who were barred from Florida’s then-segregated hotels, including famed musicians such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and others. The hotel was even promoted in The Negro Travelers’ Green Book, which started publication in the 1930s and inspired 2018’s Oscar-winning film, Green Book.
Discover: Things to Do in Parramore
Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and located in in downtown Orlando’s Parramore District, Dr. Wells’ former hotel is now known as the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture. Inside, you’ll find programming dedicated to Orlando’s Black community, as well as exhibits about the Civil Rights movement, African art and artifacts, and other items of interest.
Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
Based in its namesake city, the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation operates three history-focused venues, all approximately 25 minutes west of International Drive. The first of the three, the Winter Garden Heritage Museum, showcases exhibits that explore west Orange County’s rich history.
Discover: Things To Do in Winter Garden
Literally steps away from the Heritage Museum, the History Research & Education Center further documents the area’s past with an extensive archive. A short walk from there will take you to a facility that is perfect for the young and young at heart: the Central Florida Railroad Museum, which as its name implies celebrates the influence of railroads in Florida’s development. And yes, they have a train. All aboard!
Discover: Orlando Train Rides
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
Born in 1879 in what is now known as the Czech Republic, internationally acclaimed sculptor Albin Polasek emigrated to the U.S. in his early 20s. During his long career, he created more than 400 works of art — and you can view nearly half of them at the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens in Winter Park, about 20 minutes north of International Drive.
More than an arts venue, the Albin Polasek Museum was formerly the artist’s Winter Park home, in which he lived from 1950 until his passing in 1965. As a result, you will literally walk in the master’s footsteps as you tour his galleries and outdoor sculpture gardens, all of which celebrate a wide range of enriching art designed to tell compelling stories.
Art & History Museums — Maitland
Part of Maitland’s cultural lineup, Art & History Museums — Maitland has so much to offer that it can’t be contained by one building. Instead, it is spread out over two campuses, both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places: the Maitland Art Center and the Victorian-era Waterhouse Residence Museum.
The Maitland Art Center is also a National Historic Landmark, thanks in large part to unique Aztec- and Mayan-influenced architecture and one of the southeast’s only remaining examples of Mayan Revival designs. The campuses feature other representations of unique architecture and lush gardens, as well as diverse collections, ongoing exhibits and educational programming.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
Situated in the heart of Winter Park, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is one of the most dazzling unexpected treasures awaiting you in the Orlando area — and we mean “dazzling” quite literally. The reason being, it boasts the world’s most comprehensive collection of work by legendary artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany, best known for his leaded-glass lamps and windows.
The collection also includes Tiffany’s jewelry, pottery and paintings, plus exhibits of American art pottery, Art Nouveau furnishings and objects, late 19th- and 20th-century paintings, and more. You can even look forward to the restored, Byzantine-Romanesque chapel interior that Tiffany designed for the 1893 World’s Fair, as well as a nearly 6,000-square-foot, permanent exhibition of surviving art and architectural objects from Tiffany’s Laurelton Hall estate.
CityArts
Visit a collective of diverse art galleries under one roof at CityArts, a unique venue in downtown Orlando that serves as the visual arts flagship of our Downtown Arts District. They feature a rotating selection of local and international works of art with new pieces being added monthly. Plus, admission is always free.
CityArts also hosts numerous events throughout the year. Check Visit Orlando’s events calendar to see what’s happening during your visit.
The Mennello Museum of American Art
A celebrated and self-taught artist, Earl Cunningham was best known for stunning coastal landscapes, not just of those he witnessed in Florida but also in Georgia, Maine, Michigan, New York, North and South Carolina, and even Nova Scotia. Since 1998, his work has been preserved, exhibited and interpreted by The Mennello Museum of American Art, which is part of Loch Haven Park just north of downtown Orlando.
In addition to its permanent Cunningham exhibit, this museum hosts a rotating lineup of temporary exhibitions, enriching programming and educational initiatives, as well as the Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden. With a sprawling, 350-plus-year-old live oak tree as its centerpiece, the garden presents numerous sculptures amid Old Florida landscaping and walking paths, the latter of which connect to the Orlando Urban Trail.
Orlando Museum of Art
One of Central Florida’s leading cultural institutions since 1924, Orlando Museum of Art, aka OMART, is part of Loch Haven Park close to downtown Orlando. With a stated mission of inspiring creativity, passion and intellectual curiosity by connecting people with art and new ideas, OMART curates and presents a wide range of compelling artwork.
Every year, OMART hosts a rotating selection of 10 to 12 on-site exhibitions, in addition to presenting 13 off-site exhibitions, art-enrichment programs, gallery tours, lectures, classes and other services. It is also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is a member organization of the Association of Art Museum Directors. Last but not least, it is a Blue Star Museum, which is a collaborative program between the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Rollins Museum of Art
Art-lovers won’t want to miss the Rollins Museum of Art at Rollins College in Winter Park — and not just because admission is always free. Inside, you can explore a massive permanent collection of more than 5,600 objects, encompassing everything from ancient art and artifacts to contemporary pieces.
Rollins Museum of Art also hosts rotating exhibitions and ongoing programs, including a children’s education gallery with fun, hands-on activities to encourage creativity and cognitive skills. Want more? Take a short walk to The Alfond Inn. Also operated by Rollins, the hotel’s public spaces feature The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art, which showcases a rotating exhibit of curated pieces from the museum and is also free to experience.
Winter Garden Art Association — SOBO Art Gallery
Housed in Winter Garden’s original fire station from 1938, the SOBO Art Gallery is headquarters for the Winter Garden Art Association. The organization’s vision is to be integral to the community’s cultural and educational framework.
Inside, explore and experience the arts in a dedicated space where local artists showcase their work. They also offer programs that nurture the individual and foster growth in the arts.
Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts
Historic Eatonville is one of the oldest Black communities in the United States, and you’ll find it just 25 minutes north of International Drive. Incorporated in 1887, the town also served as the childhood home of seminal author Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God).
Today, Eatonville honors Hurston’s legacy with the annual ZORA!® Festival, which takes place each winter, and the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, aka The Hurston. In addition to spotlighting Hurston’s contributions to literature and Eatonville history, the museum provides gallery space for artists of African descent. There is no set admission fee, but donations are always welcome.
Map of Orlando Museums & Galleries
Use this interactive map to track down all of the museums and galleries featured in this blog.
FAQ: Orlando Museums & Galleries
What are some of the best museums to visit in Orlando?
Orlando is home to a wide range of museums focused on art, history, science and culture. Highlights include Orlando Museum of Art, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Orange County Regional History Center, The Mennello Museum of American Art and the Rollins Museum of Art. Visitors can also explore specialty museums that showcase local history, African American heritage and notable artists.
Where can I learn about Orlando’s history?
Several museums explore Central Florida’s past, including the Orange County Regional History Center, which traces 12,000 years of local history, and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center in Winter Park, which documents the area’s Black American heritage. The Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture also highlights important chapters of Orlando’s history.
Are there art museums in Orlando?
Yes. Orlando features numerous art museums and galleries, including Orlando Museum of Art, Rollins Museum of Art, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, The Mennello Museum of American Art, and the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. These venues showcase everything from contemporary works and American art to sculpture, decorative arts and historic collections.
Where can you find the world’s largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s work?
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Its collection includes Tiffany’s famous leaded-glass lamps and windows, along with jewelry, pottery, paintings and architectural elements.
Are there free museums and galleries in Orlando?
Several Orlando-area museums and galleries offer free admission. CityArts in downtown Orlando is always free to enter, as are the Hannibal Square Heritage Center and Rollins Museum of Art. The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts does not have a set admission fee and welcomes donations.
Where can I see local art in Orlando?
CityArts in downtown Orlando features a rotating collection of local and international artwork across multiple galleries under one roof. The SOBO Art Gallery in Winter Garden also showcases work by local artists and supports arts education programs in the community.
What museums in Orlando highlight Black American history and culture?
Visitors can explore Black American history and culture at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center, the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts. These venues preserve stories, artwork and historical contributions that have helped shape Central Florida.
Are there family-friendly museums in Orlando?
Yes. Orlando’s museums and galleries offer family-friendly experiences that include interactive exhibits, educational programming, art collections, historical displays and outdoor spaces. Many venues also host workshops, lectures, children’s activities and special events throughout the year.
What is unique about the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center near Orlando?
Located in Maitland, the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center combines historical education with exhibits focused on combating antisemitism, prejudice and bigotry. One of its signature experiences uses virtual reality technology to transport visitors to the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II.
Where can I see sculptures in the Orlando area?
The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens in Winter Park features nearly half of sculptor Albin Polasek’s more than 400 works. Visitors can also enjoy outdoor sculptures at the Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden and Heritage Square Park in downtown Orlando.
Is there a railroad museum near Orlando?
Yes. The Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden explores the role of railroads in Florida’s development. It is operated by the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation and is located near other history-focused attractions, including the Winter Garden Heritage Museum and History Research & Education Center.
What can visitors experience at Orlando Museum of Art?
Orlando Museum of Art presents a rotating lineup of exhibitions, educational programs, gallery tours, lectures and classes. Founded in 1924, the museum is one of Central Florida’s leading cultural institutions and hosts 10 to 12 on-site exhibitions each year, along with additional off-site exhibitions.
What is the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts?
Located in historic Eatonville, the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts celebrates the legacy of acclaimed author Zora Neale Hurston while providing gallery space for artists of African descent. The museum also connects visitors to the history of one of the oldest Black communities in the United States.
Where are many of Orlando’s art museums located?
Several of Orlando’s most prominent cultural institutions are located in or near Winter Park and Loch Haven Park. These areas are home to venues such as Orlando Museum of Art, Rollins Museum of Art, The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, The Mennello Museum of American Art, and the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens.
Can I explore both art and history museums in the Orlando area?
Yes. Orlando offers museums devoted to fine art, sculpture and decorative arts, along with venues focused on regional history, African American heritage, railroad history and Holocaust education. This variety allows visitors to experience multiple aspects of culture and history during their trip.
FAQs are based on this blog’s content, created in partnership with Microsoft Copilot, and edited by the real humans at Visit Orlando.
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