General Information
Attention Teachers: We are currently offering guided tours for Inside Africa every weekday with no guide fees! Entrance fees still apply. Please see our Programs at a Glance for details.
Museum Hours
NEW! Beat the Crowds! The Museum now opens early on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays exclusively for school tours. Book now, arrive at 9 a.m., and have the Museum all to yourselves!
Regular Opening Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 - 5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
The Museum is wheelchair accessible. Individuals with disabilities that require special accommodations should contact the Museum a minimum of two weeks prior to an event/program.
Parking
Car parking is available in the gated area of the Cultural Plaza parking lot for $3 (cash only) per car. Designated parking spaces are available for visitors with disabilities. Bus drivers, please see the receptionist after unloading students in front of the Museum.
Picnic Facilities
Open, grassy areas are available for fair weather lunches. Approximately 60 covered seats are available on a first-come basis. Additional picnic tables are located in the Natural Area Park located down the drive past the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Food and drinks are not permitted inside the Museum.
Museum Manners
The Florida Museum of Natural History is the state repository for many rare and priceless natural history collections. Objects from our collections and other museums are on display in the galleries. For the safety and security of these objects and our visitors, the following behavior rules are enforced. NO EATING, RUNNING OR RECKLESS BEHAVIOR is permitted in the Museum. Violators will be escorted out of the building.
Please:
- Keep your voices low so other visitors are not disturbed.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled entry.
- Do not bring more than the scheduled number of students without notifying the Museum.
- Be prepared to divide students into groups of 10 to 15.
- Provide a name tag for each student and adult.
Chaperones
Teachers should be sure all chaperones understand their duties before the visit. One chaperone per 10 children will be admitted into exhibits free of charge. Bus drivers will be admitted into exhibits free of charge.
Chaperones should:
- Assist the teacher and docent in providing a positive learning experience.
- Stay with their students at all times and help them move quietly through the Museum.
- Supervise their group and maintain order.
- Not bring children other than those in the class.
- Not talk on cell phones or otherwise disrupt the tour.
The Collectors Shop and Butterfly Rainforest Gift Shop
An optional part of any Museum field trip can be a visit to our gift shops. The shops carry a variety of unusual gifts for children and adults. There are many items low in price that children may purchase.
Shop Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sundays: 1 - 4:30 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day