Daytona Beach Museums

The museums in Daytona Beach are among the city's top attractions, none more so than the Museum of Arts and Sciences. The Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences can be found at 352 S. Nova Road, just east of the Daytona Beach Airport and the Daytona International Speedway. Also referred to simply as MOAS, this museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, which points to its quality. The Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences isn't the only museum in the Daytona Beach area worth visiting, and if you have some time to work with, try to get to some of the other local museums.

Whether you are enjoying a family vacation, a romantic escape, or a getaway with friends in Daytona Beach, spending some of your time at MOAS can make for an excellent diversion. The Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences (pictured) boasts an impressive art collection, though it's not all about the art here. The second-largest collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia is on display at MOAS, and visitors can check out the continent's most complete skeleton of a giant ground sloth. Also of interest is the collection of Early American Furniture and Art, not to mention the exhibition on Florida history. As for the art, the Cuban exhibition is of particular interest. It's the largest collection of Cuban art found anywhere outside of Cuba, and one of the crowning pieces is the portrait of Eva Peron. Children's exhibits like Making Light and Music and Crime Scene Investigation help to make the Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences a great family attraction, as does the planetarium.

Like MOAS, the Halifax History Museum can be found on the mainland side of Daytona Beach, and it's another museum that you won't want to miss. This interesting museum, which is housed in an 1912 neoclassical-style building, occupies a spot on Beach Street in the city's original riverfront business district. You can learn all about the history of Daytona Beach and the surrounding region at the Halifax History Museum. Some of the exhibits revolve around early Native American activity, the ensuing Spanish and British plantation days, and pioneer life. Another exhibit focuses on the Civil War and how it affected Florida. Helping to make this one of the best Daytona Beach museums to explore are the temporary exhibits, which are usually of high quality.

If you're looking for some more museums in Daytona Beach to visit, there are a few good ones that deserve consideration. They include the Black Heritage Museum in New Smyrna Beach and the Daytona 500 Experience, which can be found at the Daytona International Speedway. The former covers the history of African Americans in Florida, from the sixteenth century on up to through the twentieth. As for the Daytona 500 Experience, it covers all things NASCAR related, and you're bound to enjoy it even if you aren't a racing fan. Among the highlights at the Daytona 500 Experience is the exhibit that displays the last car to win the renowned Daytona 500 race. As a side note, the Daytona 500 Experience used to be named Daytona USA, and you might still come across the old name from time to time when researching the area.

The small village of Ponce Inlet is home to some of the best Daytona Beach museums, not to mention some of the best beaches in Florida. Ponce Inlet is a small village that has fishing at its core, and it's very in touch with its maritime side. You'll find the state's tallest lighthouse in Ponce Inlet, and it features a small museum that deserves a look. After checking out the historical artifacts at the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, you might attempt to climb the more than 200 steps to the top, which will reward you with some excellent views. In addition the museum at the lighthouse, Ponce Inlet also boasts the Marine Science Center. There's a small aquarium at the Marine Science Center, and when you're not viewing the creatures there, you can head over to the area for endangered bird and sea turtles. The displays here cover a range of things, from the native Florida mangroves to the creatures that inhabit the dunes on the area beaches.

The Daytona Beach museums have something for everyone, which is why you're encouraged to keep them in mind on your next visit to this seaside city. If nothing else, the museums in Daytona Beach can make for excellent rainy day attractions, though they're every bit as interesting on sunny days.