The Florida Aquarium, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution astounds visitors with the beauty and fragility of our eco-system. The facility is home to more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals from Florida and all over the world. The cornerstone of The Channel District, The Florida Aquarium’s mission since opening in 1995 is to entertain, educate and inspire stewardship about our natural environment. It serves as a significant example of Florida’s commitment to preserving native landscapes, ecosystems, historical and archaeological sites, and ethnic and cultural traditions representative of the diverse geography and cultural life unique to our state. Opening in March 1995, the Aquarium has provided cultural enrichment experiences to more than seven million visitors, including 100,000 school students and 1,000 teachers annually.

Opened in March 1995, the 250,000 sq-ft aquarium tells Florida’s unique water story as it follows a drop of water from its underground source to the open sea and is home to more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals both native to Florida and from all over the globe.

Four galleries highlight the route of that drop of water:

• Wetlands – Explore Florida’s freshwater environments, including springs, streams, marshes, rivers and mangrove forests. Come face-to-face with otters, spoonbills, gators and snakes. Climb to the top of the dome to check out Aquariumania! An exhibit dedicated to home aquariums.
• Bays & Beaches – Discover sea life along Florida’s coast, such as bonnethead sharks, seahorses, spiny lobsters, stingrays and a 350 lb. grouper!
• Coral Reefs – Plunge 60 feet below the surface into a colorful coral grotto called Sherwood Forest without ever getting wet! Home to more than 2,300 fish including moray eels, grouper, tarpon, Queen Triggerfish and much, much more! Guests age 6 and over can ‘Swim with the Fishes’ in this 500,000-gallon tank! Learn more.
• Sea Hunt – Encounter the world’s most fascinating predators: sharks, a giant Pacific octopus, lionfishand more! Certified SCUBA divers age 15 and older can ‘Dive with the Sharks’ in Shark Bay! Learn more.

Other highlights include:

• Explore A Shore – Cool off this summer with splashin? fun at The Florida Aquarium?s 2-acre water adventure park, Explore A Shore! Watery waves, slippery slides, gushing geysers and an assortment of animal models are just a few of the attractions that await the kids. While the kids play, parents can enjoy the comfort of the Tampa Tribune Cantina with easy viewing of the play and table service.
• Aquariumania! – Explore the art, science and fun of the aquarium hobby and discover why Florida is a leader in the global tropical fish business.
• Dive with Sharks – Our new shark experience, featuring the chance for certified divers to dive in our shark tank. Reservations required: (813) 367-4005.
• Behind-the-Scenes Tours – Explore the Aquarium as never before. See previous “off-limits” areas and learn what it takes to make the Aquarium work.
• No Bone Zone – A kid-friendly, interactive presentation of invertebrates, featuring a 600-gallon touch pool.
• Eco-Tours – The journey through the bay aboard The Bay Spirit, our 49-foot powered catamaran, allows guests to encounter the awesome animals that thrive in these local waters. The only requirement is a sense of adventure. A good pair of binoculars is optional.

The Florida Aquarium (map) is located in the Channelside District, at 701 Channelside Drive. Parking is available in the lot just north of the aquarium (map), or the nearby Channelside Parking Garage (map).

The Florida Aquarium is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, but closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

As of November 2008, General Admission is $19.95 for adults, $16.95 for Seniors 60 and older.  Children under 12 get in for $14.95, and little ones 2 & under are Free.  Some of the optional tours incur an extra cost.

The St. Pete Times recently wrote about the exhibit, and it runs through December 27, and the suggested donation is $10 for adults.

Learn more about the Henry B. Plant Museum online, or visit the Henry B. Plant Museum (map) on the campus of University of Tampa, and is open to the publc.

The Tampa Museum of Art will be renamed the Cornelia Corbett Center upon its opening in fall 2009.

Corbett was board chair at the museum from 2004 to 2007 and remains a trustee. The board awarded her in 2007 with the Jeanne Rozier Winter Distinguished Award for her contributions to the museum.

She and husband, Dick Corbett, recently increased their support of the project to $5 million, the largest individual contribution to the museum’s capital campaign.

In April, TMA broke ground on a 66,000-square-foot facility in downtown Tampa.

The museum is holding a ceremony at its construction site on Nov. 6 to mark the placement of the final steel beam on the facility.

Construction costs amount to $26.6 million, a combination of public and private funds.

Construction of the new museum facility in downtown Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Park will begin in early 2008, with the opening of the new building expected in the fall of 2009.

From the Tampa Museum of Art website:

The Tampa Museum of Art provides a broad range of art-related experiences for visitors of all ages. The Museum collection includes 20th century and contemporary art and a renowned collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. A changing special exhibitions program provides a mix of classical and contemporary shows. Classes, lectures, seminars, and children’s activities complement the exhibitions. Established in 1979, Tampa Museum of Art is accredited by the American Association of Museums. It is member supported and funded in part by the City of Tampa, State of Florida, Department of State/Division of Cultural Affairs, and Florida Arts Council. Additional programs are offered with the support of the Arts Council of Hillsborough County and Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

The museum provides an engaging and picturesque backdrop for celebrations, corporate receptions, special events, meetings and business gatherings and offers a variety of rental options at competitive rates.

Mission Statement

The Tampa Museum of Art is dedicated to advancing the visual arts through exhibitions and educational programs for the broadest possible audience.

The Tampa Museum of Art’s primary purpose is to collect, preserve, display and interpret works of art, reflecting art forms of regional, national and international importance.
Vision Statement

The Tampa Museum of Art will be nationally recognized as a major art destination. The museum will be housed in a state of the art facility whose architectural design will be celebrated for its distinctiveness and its aesthetic contribution to Tampa’s urban landscape.

Through its collections and programming, the museum will be a preferred venue for local as well as visiting guests.

Exhibitions will be widely recognized for their excellence and their variety, offering a balance of national, international and regional art experiences.

The museum’s major collecting areas will continue to grow and achieve prominence. They will continue to inspire the major themes of exhibitions. These collections will be made available to the public not only through expanded exhibition spaces, but also through storage and study rooms that will provide access for students and interested individuals.

Educational opportunities that place the visual arts as central to our culture will be expanded with an emphasis on life long learning opportunities. Programs and resources for educators and the children they teach will be a priority.

The latest technology will be utilized to deliver information and services efficiently.

The museum, through its vibrant and progressive programs, will reflect the character of the City of Tampa and Tampa Bay.

Find out what’s going on at the art museum and find your way to the Tampa Museum of Art (map).

Parking is available in the parking garage under the art museum (map).

The TMA Square Foot Society is now accepting contributions equal to the cost of a square foot of the new building’s construction.

TMA SQUARE FOOT SOCIETY
Step Up, Make A Difference
And Help Create The Experience.

A project of this magnitude requires the support of the entire community. Your donation toward the construction of the new TMA will create a lasting legacy for future generations. It will enable TMA to provide new programs and services for families, promote the spirit of community through the expression of ideas, and contribute to the revitalization of downtown Tampa.

Make your contribution to the campaign for the new TMA today. Construction costs to build this beautiful new 66,000 square foot facility are $26.6 million – or $404 per square foot. You can show your support of this fine institution and the future of the City of Tampa by investing in one square foot – or several square feet.

Join the TMA Square Foot Society and receive a certificate recognizing your contributions, along with a t-shirt that proudly announces I helped build the new TMA.

Plus, depending on your level of giving, you will receive a complimentary free museum membership with your donation to the TMA Square Foot Society.

To donate to the museum’s Capital Campaign or the TMA Square Foot Society, call 813.259.1735.

Related links:

• Tampa Museum of Art
• The New Tampa Museum of Art

If you’re railroad magnate Henry Bradley Plant, in the midst of the sand swamps that would be Tampa, you construct the most astonishingly magnificent hotel of its day, then fill it with treasures from around the world. With its splendid Moorish architecture, opulent furnishings, and spectacular tropical gardens, Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel attracted a host of celebrated guests, from Teddy Roosevelt to Sarah Bernhardt to Babe Ruth. A visit to the Henry B. Plant Museum and the authentically restored rooms of the Tampa Bay Hotel will transport you back to a time of indulgent ten-course meals, waltzing on the veranda and alligator hunting by moonlight… The journey is still worthwhile.

Find out what’s going on at plantmuseum.com and find your way to the Henry B. Plant Museum (map).

Free on-street parking is available in front of the Museum or in the parking garage at the corner of North Boulevard and North “B” Street (map). The Museum is fully accessible.

Hours

The Henry B. Plant Museum and the Museum Store are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 12 Noon to 4 p.m. Closed Mondays (Jan-Nov), Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Admission
A donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12 is requested January – November. Henry B. Plant Museum members are admitted at no charge.

Tours
You will begin your tour with a 14-minute introductory video entitled “The Tampa Bay Hotel: Florida’s First Magic Kingdom”. The self-guided tour continues with a brochure and signs in each room of the Museum. Tour sheets are available in French and Spanish. A hand-held audio tour is available for $4.

Reservations are needed for groups of 20 or more. Group rates are $4 per person for groups of 20 or more. Please call Sally Shifke Monday – Friday at (813) 258-7302, to make your group reservation and to schedule a docent-led tour if desired. Or contact Sally Shifke via email at sshifke[at]ut.edu