St. Petersburg Museum of History facts for kids
The entrance to the St. Petersburg Museum of History.
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| Established | 1920 |
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| Location | 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Type | Local History |
The St. Petersburg Museum of History (SPMOH) is a history museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. It tells the story of the city and the area around it. The museum is the oldest in Pinellas County and is a great place to learn about Florida's past.
The museum's main goal is to collect, protect, and share the history of Florida. It focuses on St. Petersburg and the Pinellas peninsula. Besides its own collections, the museum also shows interesting exhibits that travel from other places. It hosts fun evening events and invites guest speakers to share their knowledge.
Contents
The Museum's Story
The museum was started in 1920 by a woman named Mary Wheeler Eaton. At first, it was called the St. Petersburg Memorial Historical Society.
The building has an interesting history of its own. It sits on land that once held the city's aquarium. But in 1921, a powerful hurricane destroyed the aquarium. After the storm, the city gave the land to the historical society to build the museum.
Amazing Things to See
The museum has a huge collection of items from the past. There are over 32,000 artifacts and thousands of old photographs and documents that tell the story of St. Petersburg.
Some of the most famous items include:
- Presidential Pajamas: A very large pair of pajamas that belonged to William Howard Taft, the 27th U.S. President.
- An Early Airplane: A full-sized copy of the Benoist XIV. This was the world's first airline plane, and it flew its first flight in St. Petersburg in 1914.
- Historic Eyeglasses: A pair of reading glasses that were owned by George Armstrong Custer, a famous U.S. Army officer from the 1800s.
- Little Cooperstown: The world's largest collection of baseballs signed by famous players. It has over 4,800 signed baseballs!
Digging into the Past: The Research Center
Inside the museum, there is a special research center. It's open to students, historians, and anyone who wants to learn more about local history.
The center is like a library filled with historical treasures. You can find old documents, photos, maps, and books about St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay area, and Florida. It's a great place to do research for a school project or just to explore the past. The information in the center helps the museum create its exhibits and educational programs.
Gallery
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The museum's collections archive, where thousands of historical items are stored.
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The Research Center is a place for discovery.
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The research library has many books and documents about Florida's history.
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An exhibit about the local history of St. Petersburg.
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An exhibit showing the history of the city's famous piers.
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An exhibit featuring paintings by local African American artists known as the Florida Highwaymen.
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The museum's hall for special events and talks.
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"Little Cooperstown" holds the world's largest collection of autographed baseballs.
