St. Pete museums to go admission-free Saturday

Save a bundle on admission to four of St. Petersburg’s world-class museums? Yes, please.

This Saturday, Sept. 23, is Free Museum Day, a national movement spearheaded several years ago by Smithsonian magazine. Although Smithsonian administrators are “pausing” their involvement this year, Pinellas County, and St. Pete, opted to carry on.

This doesn’t include every museum in the city, but a decent cross-section, and advance tickets are available, and recommended, for beating what’s expected to be large walk-up crowds. For Pinellas County residents only.

Things can get a little busy, so you’ll want to plan accordingly.

Here’s are the participants:

The Dali Museum. Photo provided.

The Dali Museum, 1 Dali Blvd. The city’s most-visited destination will be free for those showing proof of residence. This includes the current gallery exhibitions Where Ideas Come From: Dali’s Drawings and Leonora Carrington: Writer, Painter, Visionary … in fact, everything except the Dali Alive 360 dome experience, which carries a separate admission price. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Reserve free tickets here.

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, 101 1st Ave. South. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, the building itself is a work of art … timed, advance tickets sold out weeks ago. Walk-ups may get in; call ahead at 727-892-4200.

Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave. Founder Trish Duggan has one of the most extensive collections of contemporary glass art in the country, and a good portion of it is on view here. Timed advance tickets are recommended; click here. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, 255 Beach Drive NE. The city’s longest-lived (circa 1965) house of art doesn’t require advance tickets – it’s walk-up all the way to view the extensive permanent collection exhibits, and temporary exhibits like Dogs in Art and Water + Color. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Website.