St. Petersburg Museum of History
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{For|the museum in Russia|The State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg}}
{{Short description|Museum and cultural center in St. Petersburg, Florida, US}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = St. Petersburg Museum of History
| logo =
| logo_upright = 0.5
| image = 2024-Front entrance, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL-02.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Entrance to museum
| alt =
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| coordinates = {{coord|27.7740|-82.6306|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
| established = {{Start date| 1920|df=y}}
| location = 335 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, Florida
| type = Local History
| accreditation =
| executive_director = Rui Farias
| website = [https://spmoh.com/ spmoh.com/]
}}
The St. Petersburg Museum of History (SPMOH) is a history museum located in St. Petersburg, Florida, dedicated to covering the area's history. {{Asof|2020}}, the museum's director is Rui Farias.{{cite web |last1=DeGregory |first1=Lane |title=St. Petersburg Museum reopens with new exhibits, expectations |url=https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/2020/07/21/st-petersburg-museum-reopens-with-new-exhibits-expectations/ |publisher=The Tampa Bay Times |accessdate=11 November 2020 |date=21 July 2020}}
History
The museum was founded by Mary Wheeler Eaton in 1920 as the St. Petersburg Memorial Historical Society. The city of St. Petersburg granted the organization the site after the 1921 Tampa Bay hurricane destroyed the aquarium standing on the land. It is the oldest museum in Pinellas County.{{cite web |title=St. Petersburg Museum of History |url=http://spmoh.com/ |website=spmoh.com |access-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702142342/https://spmoh.com/ |archive-date=Jul 2, 2023 |location=St. Petersburg, Florida |language=en |url-status=live}} The mission of the museum is to collect, preserve, and communicate the history and heritage of Florida with an emphasis on St. Petersburg and the Pinellas peninsula. The museum hosts a variety of traveling exhibits, evening events, guest speakers, and more. The St. Petersburg Museum of History has a significant archive that includes over 5,000 indexed city photographs, 32,000 artifacts, and other historic photos and documents.
Notable holdings include a plus-sized pair of pajamas owned by William Howard Taft; a full-sized replica of the Benoist XIV aircraft; reading glasses owned by George Armstrong Custer; and the largest collection of signed baseballs in the world (called "Little Cooperstown").
Research Center
Within its premises, the museum includes a research center accessible to academics, historians, and the general populace. This center offers resources, such as documents, photos, maps, and books, focusing on the history of St. Petersburg, the wider Tampa Bay area, and Florida. This resource enables research across a spectrum of topics, from the region's indigenous communities and early European settlers to its evolution into a significant metropolitan area. The research center also supports the museum's exhibits and educational programs by supplying historical data and information.{{Cite web |last=Sell |first=Sarah |date=January 10, 2024 |title=History Harvest uncovers thought-provoking stories in the community |url=https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/news/2024/history-harvest-follow.aspx |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=University of South Florida Campus News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title=St. Pete Museum of History chronicles memories of city through postcards |url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/st-pete-museum-history-chronicles-memories-city-through-postcards |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=FOX 13 News |language=en-US}}
Gallery
Collections Archive, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL.jpg|Collections Archive
Research Center, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL 11.jpg|Research Center
Research library, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL 12.jpg|Research library
Local history exhibit, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL 09.jpg|Exhibit on St. Petersburg's local history
Exhibit-Piers Through the Years, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL.jpg|Exhibit: Piers Through the Years
Gallery display-Florida Highwaymen Painting Paradise, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL 07.jpg|Exhibit on local African American artists
Event-Lecture hall, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL.jpg|Event/Lecture hall
Little Cooperstown, St. Petersburg Museum of History, St. Petersburg, FL.jpg| World's largest collection of autographed baseballs{{Cite web |last=Ledger |first=John Ceballos The |title=St. Pete museum houses world's largest collection of autographed baseballs |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/lifestyle/2016/03/23/st-pete-museum-houses-world/8253973007/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Ledger |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|St. Petersburg Museum of History}}
- [http://www.spmoh.com/ St. Petersburg Museum of History website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Petersburg Museum of History}}
Category:1920 establishments in Florida
Category:History museums in Florida
Category:Museums established in 1920