On Saturday September 26th, 2009, many museums will participate in the Smithsonian Free Museum Day.
The Smithsonian is free every day, and in the spirit of sharing history with everyone the Smithsonian magazine has again organized its free museum day around the nation.
To get your free admission, go to the event website, and fill out the form with basic information — your name and address — and print out the admission card.
There are four things to keep in mind:
- The card is good for you and a guest.
- The offer is only valid for Saturday
- The limit is one card per household
- The card can only be used once
This year 1,200 museums in 50 states are participating.
To print out an admission card, good for two people, and see a complete list of participating museums, go to http:// microsite.smithsonianmag.com/ museumday/admission.html.
View Museums in a larger map
Below is the list of participating museums on the coast, just click on the state you’re interested in to jump to the correct section of the list.
Northeast Florida, Georgia, South Carolina.
NORTHEAST FLORIDA
Amelia Island Museum of History, Fernandina
233 South 3rd Street
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
(904) 261-7378
www.ameliamuseum.org
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 4:00pm
Visitors are invited to “Unlock the Past,” as they enter the renovated 1935 Nassau County Jail which houses historical objects and archaeological finds. Amelia Island Museum of History is Florida’s first spoken history museum.
Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum, St Augustine
29 St. George Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-825-6830
www.historicstaugustine.com
Museum Day Hours of Operation
9:00am – 5:30pm
Step back in time to 1740s Spanish in  Augustine’s living history museum. Visit the blacksmith, carpenter, or soldier’s wife as they go about their daily activities in St. Augustine’s only living history museum.
Florida Agricultural Museum, Palm Coast
1850 Princess Place Rd
7900 Old Kings Road
Palm Coast, FL 32137
(386) 446-7630
www.myagmuseum.com
Museum Day Hours of Operation
9:00am – 5:00pm
Outdoor historical farm with focus on Florida agriculture circa 16th-20th century. Original 460-acre farm with implements, equipment, nine buildings, and citrus complex explain the progression of farm life in rural Florida and the history of the cowboy. Events describe the folklife surrounding this early unique farmstead.
Visitors will learn about life on a subsistence farm through guides and hands-on participation.
Government House Museum of History and Archaeology, St Augustine
48 King Street
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 825-5079
www.historicstaugustine.com
Museum Day Hours of Operation
9:00am – 4:30pm
Government House Museum illustrates area history through a chronological series of archaeological and historical exhibits and presentations. Displays feature over 300 artifacts from archaeological digs including American Indian artifacts, treasure from Spanish shipwrecks and military and religious items.
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society, Jacksonville
11964 Mandarin Road
Jacksonville, FL 32223
(904)268-0784
www.mandarinmuseum.net
Museum Day Hours of Operation
9:00am – 4:00pm
Located on St. Johns River in the 10-acre Walter Jones Historical Park , the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society takes visitors back to old Florida. Interactive exhibits present the history of the area. Permanent exhibit “Always the river…†explores the history of Mandarin and the river that defines the community. Exhibit includes artifacts from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Mandarin winter home and items recovered from the Civil War-era steamboat “Maple Leaf.†Rotating gallery exhibits artwork from local artists.
Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville
333 North Laura Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 366-6911
www.mocajacksonville.org
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 4:00pm
Focusing on exhibiting and collecting art created since 1960, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA), a cultural resource of the University of North Florida, displays the works of national and international artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. MOCA Jacksonville is one of the Southeast’s largest museums of modern and contemporary art. MOCA features Motherwell: Lost in Form, Found in Line September 25, 2009 – January 3, 2010.
Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum, Jacksonville
829 N. Davis St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 632-5555
www.ritzlavilla.org
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 2:00pm
Celebrating its 10th Yr. Anniversary in September, 2009, the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum’s permanent collection features the history of Northeast Florida’s African American community. Home of James Weldon Johnson and the anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, Jacksonville’s LaVilla community was once known as the “Harlem of the South”.
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Jacksonville
829 Riverside Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 356-6857
www.cummer.org
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 5:00pm
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is the largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida with more than 5,500 objects in its permanent collection. It is home to a highly regarded collection of European masters and American impressionists, a world-renowned collection of 18th century Meissen porcelain, and more than two-and-one half acres of historic gardens along the St. Johns River.
GEORGIA
Jekyll Island Museum, Jekyll Island
100 Stable Road
Jekyll Island, GA 31527
(912) 635-4036
http://www.jekyllisland.com/history
Museum Day Hours of Operation
9:00am – 5:00pm
The Jekyll Island Museum presents exhibits daily, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. These exhibits are based on the museum’s extensive photograph collection and unique artifacts. They are housed in the Jekyll Island Club Stables on Stable Road and are open to the public free of charge.
Additional exhibits are also present in each of the museum’s historic house touring properties. These exhibit spaces are accessible on a variety of tours, which vary seasonally. Tours depart from the Jekyll Island Museum on Stable Road, (912) 635-4036.
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, National Historic Landmark, Savannah
10 East Oglethorpe Avenue
Corner of Bull and Oglethorpe
Savannah, GA 31401
912-233-4501
www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 4:00pm
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, 1818-1821, Savannah’s first Registered National Historic Landmark, authentically furnished family home as it appeared in in 1886.
Visitors enter the carefully restored period rooms, which appear like they did in December 1886.
Maritime Center at the Historic Coast Guard Station, St Simons Island
4201 First Street
PO Box 21136
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522
(912) 638-4666
http://www.saintsimonslighthouse.org/
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 3:00pm
A unique blend of cultural and natural history, the museum offers seven galleries filled with hands-on exhibits that explore the island beaches, marshes and forests as well as the military and Coast Guard history of the area.
Moore Methodist Museum and Library, St Simons Island
Epworth by the Sea
100 Arthur Moore Drive
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
(912) 638-04050
http://www.mooremethodistmuseum.org/
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 4:00pm
Since 1965, the Arthur Moore Methodist Museum has developed an ever expanding facility that houses the South Georgia Annual Conference official records, rare research books and journals, displays that depict Georgia history and origins of Methodism. The Museum focus is on Methodist history and particularly John and Charles Wesley’s experience in Georgia and St. Simons Island. There is a large display of nativities from around the world. The museum’s displays are Georgia history, Methodist history, Circuit Riders, including a touch-screen interactive kiosk.
On Museum Day we will be hosting a rare book sale from 9:00am -5:00pm with refreshments.
St. Marys Submarine Museum, St Marys
102 St. Marys ST W
Saint Marys, GA 31558
(912) 882-2782
http://stmaryssubmuseum.com
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10AM-4PM Tue-Sat – 1-5PM on Sun
Museum dedicated to the display of submarine objects from the boats and artifacts. To perpetuate the history of the American submarine community. 4,700 sq-ft of display area, with models, photos, plaques, submarine library, and a file on each submarine command.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Drayton Hall, Charleston
3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 769-2600
http://www.draytonhall.org/
Museum Day Hours of Operation
8:30am – 5:00pm
Circa 1738, Drayton Hall has survived the centuries in near-original condition and is the oldest preserved plantation house in America open to the public.
Circa 1738, Drayton Hall is the oldest preserved plantation house in America open to the public. Renowned for its architectural significance, its broad vistas and rare period features represent one of America’s most important, undisturbed historic landscapes. An accredited museum and National Trust historic site.
Georgetown County Museum, Georgetown
632 Prince Street
Georgetown, SC 29440
843 545-7020
http://www.georgetowncountymuseum.com/
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 3:00pm
Muskets, marshland, and muslin, rice, rivers, and revolution. What do these seemingly unrelated subjects have in common? The Georgetown County Museum offers fascinating connections that intertwine these and many other facets of life that span almost 300 years of American history lived out in the daily lives of the citizens of Georgetown, South Carolina.
Visit the Museum’s website for further details.
Horry County Museum, Conway
438 Main Street
Conway, SC 29526
843-915-5320
http://www.horrycountymuseum.org/
Museum Day Hours of Operation
9:00am – 5:00pm
The Horry County Museum is home to materials and objects relating to the history, prehistory and natural history of Horry County, South Carolina.
Exhibits: Coastal Plains Native Americans, Birds of Prey, Black Bear Exhibit, American Alligator, Turpentine & Timber Exhibit, Waccamaw River Exhibit, Influential Women of Conway Exhibit
The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Charleston
122 East Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29401
843-727-2165
http://www.oldexchange.com/
Museum Day Hours of Operation
9:00am – 5:00pm
One of the three most historic Colonial Public Buildings remaining in the United States. Completed in 1771, the building witnessed protests against the Tea Tax, the elections of Continental Congress delegates, British occupation, U.S. Constitution ratification and President Washington’s visit. Open daily.
The Powder Magazine, Charleston
79 Cumberland Street
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-9350
http://www.powdermag.org/
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 4:00pm
South Carolina’s oldest public building, The Powder Magazine (circa 1713) served as an arsenal within the old walled city of Charleston. See museum exhibits that relate to Charleston’s colonial and American Revolution history. Eighteenth century military artifacts will be on display. Period dressed interpreters will be on location. Living history programming is scheduled for the entire day (10am – 4pm).
The Rice Museum Georgetown
633 Front Street
Georgetown, SC 29440
(843)546-7423
http://www.ricemuseum.org/
Museum Day Hours of Operation
10:00am – 4:30pm
The Rice Museum tells the history of rice culture in Georgetown County through maps, dioramas, videos, artifacts and other exhibits. It also houses the Browns Ferry Vessel, the oldest vessel of colonial manufacture in the US, other historical exhibits, an art gallery and a gift shop.
