PRESS RELEASE: Temporary Closure of the Museum of Florida History

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. –

Beginning Tuesday, September 6, 2022, the Museum of Florida History will temporarily close as part of ongoing renovations at the R. A. Gray Building. The renovations are part of a repair project on the plaza level above the Museum’s exhibit galleries.

“As Florida’s official state history museum, we take great pride in preserving our artifacts and sharing them with the public,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “Artifacts in the Museum’s collection are an important part of Florida’s irreplaceable heritage. They will be removed from the exhibit galleries as a precautionary measure and will be back on display for the public when the museum reopens.”

Special care is being taken to preserve and protect the artifacts on display in the Museum. As a result, the Museum must remove all artifacts from beneath the construction area. For the duration of the repair project, public access to the Museum and Florida’s History Shop will be closed. Updates on a reopening date for the Museum will be announced when available.

Certain areas will remain open through Labor Day, including Florida’s First People, the Waterways exhibit featuring the recreated steamboat, Grandma’s Attic, and the special temporary exhibit The Lure of Florida Fishing. However, some exhibits in the Museum have already closed in preparation for the project, and artifacts have been removed in other areas.

During the temporary closure, the Museum will continue to offer virtual programs as well as off-site programming and outreach. Information about the Museum’s upcoming programs and other educational offerings is available online at: MuseumofFloridaHistory.com and through social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Visitors are encouraged to experience our sister museums, Mission San Luis Historic Site and The Grove Museum, which will remain open.

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About the Museum of Florida History
Opened in 1977, the Museum of Florida History is Florida’s official state history museum. The Museum collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets evidence of past and present cultures in Florida, and promotes knowledge and appreciation of this heritage, especially artifacts and eras unique to Florida's development and on roles that Floridians have played in national and global events.