Boca Raton, Florida, is a sophisticated city full of creative minds. If you are planning a visit here soon, be sure to check out these six Boca museums that are sure to inspire and delight anyone.
Boca Raton Museum of Art
Image via Flickr by Infrogmation
The Boca Raton Museum of Art has been sharing art with the public for over 70 years. The museum’s collection is primarily focused on art from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries and includes unique pieces by artists such as Andy Warhol, Picasso, and Degas. The collection is also notable for its large number of drawings and watercolors.
There are four main collections of art to see at the Boca Raton Museum. The painting and sculpture collection includes many modern pieces as well as artifacts such as ceremonial masks and clay effigy jars. The photography collection is home to over 1,500 pictures, including pieces that range from the earliest known examples of the craft to modern, large-scale compositions. The sculpture garden holds over 30 pieces across two locations: The primary garden is at the museum, and a second, two-acre garden is at the museum’s art school on West Palmetto Park Road. The fourth major collection, titled Works on Paper, is home to silkscreen pieces, watercolors, and drawings.
In addition to its permanent collections, the Boca Raton Museum of Art routinely brings in temporary collections by prominent artists. You can find the museum on Plaza Real in Mizner Park, and it’s open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Costume Museum at The Wick Theatre
The Costume Museum at The Wick Theatre is the only museum of its kind in the world. It preserves and displays costumes used on Broadway stage productions and Hollywood films and curates a new exhibit every year.
A visit to the Costume Museum includes a walk through the exhibits with a theater professional. Your tour guide will provide in-depth information about the costumes and the process of theater production, and many tours also include a glimpse of the Wick Theatre’s current stage production. After your tour, you will enjoy a delightful meal on site. All meals are prepared by chefs at the Wick Theatre’s Tavern Room. Be sure to look for the original grand chandelier and china from the famed Tavern on the Green restaurant, featured in many classic movies. A matinee performance of the Wick Theatre’s current production is an optional add-on to your tour ticket.
The Costume Museum at Wick Theatre is on North Federal Highway. Tours are by appointment only and begin at 11 a.m. daily. Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office.
Sports Immortals
Sports Immortals provides a fantastic outing for sports fans, but even the casual observer will enjoy the artifacts on display at Boca Raton’s unique sports-themed museum. The Sports Immortals museum is the creation of legendary sports memorabilia collector Jim Platt. The collection includes an extensive array of artifacts from car racing, baseball, basketball, boxing, football, hockey, horse racing, the Olympics, and more.
Sports Immortals is home to Sugar Ray Leonard’s robe, Battling Nelson’s gloves, and a wide variety of boxing championship belts and trophies. Olympic exhibits include Jessie Owens’ commemorative medal from the 1936 games, Dorothy Hamill’s skates and costume, torches, and trophies. Baseball enthusiasts will enjoy seeing Satchel Paige’s game-worn glove and autographed baseball, autographed jerseys, and programs. Sports Immortals is home to the most valuable autographed baseball bat in existence. The extra-large bat is signed by over one hundred baseball Hall of Famers, including Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, and Roberto Clemente.
Sports Immortals is on North Federal Highway. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10, and there is plenty of off-street parking.
Children’s Science Explorium
Image via Flickr by Nathan & Jenny
The Children’s Science Explorium is a fun place for kids ages 5-12 to learn as they play. The Explorium is home to hands-on exhibits that explain science concepts such as sound, light, magnetism, and biology. The staff at the Explorium are always adding new exhibits, so there is something new to see and learn every time you visit.
The Children’s Science Explorium is inside Sugar Sand Park on Military Trail. Admission is always free. Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. The Explorium is currently closed due to COVID-19, but check their website for updates and opening dates. In the meantime, you can enjoy one of the Explorium’s take-home science kits.
Florida Atlantic University Galleries
For almost 40 years, the Schmidt Center and Ritter Art Galleries at Florida Atlantic University have been a home to all kinds of contemporary art. Previous exhibitions have focused on ceramics, paintings, photography, embroidery, and modern southeastern art.
Both galleries are on the Florida Atlantic University campus. The main entrance to the galleries is on Glades Road. During the academic year, gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. The Florida Atlantic University Galleries are currently closed due to COVID-19, but many of their exhibits are available for visits online.
Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum
The Boca Raton Historical Society collects, preserves, and shares artifacts that depict Boca Raton’s rich history. The Historical Museum includes the original 1920s Boca Raton Town Hall and the F.E.C. Railway Station. Exhibits cover the history, architecture, art, and photography of Boca. The Historical Museum is currently undergoing extensive renovations and installing a new exhibit entitled “History Alive,” which will demonstrate the growth of Boca Raton from a small farming community to the modern city it is today.
You can find the Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum on North Federal Highway. Normal operating hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The organization also offers historical tours of the Boca Raton area. You can tour the train museum, Boca Raton Resort, Historic Town Hall, the city of Boca Raton, or the Boca Raton cemetery. All tours are conducted by trained history professionals. Tours are currently on hold due to health concerns, so check their website for updates.
At Titan Funding, these are our six picks for must-see museums in Boca. If you have a favorite gallery or museum that we didn’t include, let us know so we can add it to our list.