Museums in Volusia County
compiled by Ed Kufeldt
Did you know there are a lot of museums in the county? A few are large in size, most are small, but all have different themes and emphasis. If you are bored, want something to do, or have a desire to learn something on the history of the area, local museums can provide you with new facts and stimulating information.
Following is a listing of 21 museums with pertinent information on exhibits, artifacts, paintings, or photographs offered at each facility. Before you go, I suggest reviewing the website or calling to determine when it is open and the cost. Most small museums are staffed by volunteers and the hours of operation are limited. For them, there is generally no cost, but donations are requested.
African American Museum of the Arts 325 South Clara Avenue, DeLand, FL(386) 737-4004 https://www.africanmuseumdeland.org
The museum has permanent displays of African American art and artifacts, hosts temporary art exhibits, and fine arts performances. It also provides meeting space for community groups and art educational classes.
Black History Museum 314 North Duss Street, New Smyrna Beach, FL(386) 478-1934 https://www.blackheritage.org/
This museum displays a collection of memorabilia and artifacts used to educate citizens and students on the history and race relations in small town Florida over the course of the twentieth century. It offers a glimpse of African American History and heritage. The museum keeps the past alive through its exhibits, programs, and guided tours.
The Casements 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach, FL (386) 676-3216 www.thecasements.net
The Casements, named for the large hand-cut casement windows that adorn the John D. Rockefeller mansion, functions as a museum and the Cultural Center for the City of Ormond Beach. Special displays includes Boy Scouts of America historical memorabilia and a collection of Hungarian festival costumes and artifacts.
Deland Memorial Hospital Museum 230 North Stone Street, DeLand, FL(386) 740-5800 www.delandhouse.com_memorial_hospital_museum.hml
The museum is located on the third floor of the DeLand Memorial Hospital and includes two galleries dedicated to Florida military history with a significant collection of WWII uniforms, equipment, models of airplanes used at NAS DeLand, and related memorabilia. The museum houses eight different galleries and displays of a full operating room of the 1920s, mock pharmacy, and physicians' examining room and houses artifacts and displays of historic conflicts.
DeLand Naval Air Station Museum910 Biscayne Blvd., DeLand FL(386) 873-4689 http://www.delandnavalairmuseum.org/
DeLand Municipal Airport was a US Naval Air Station from 1942 to 1946. After WWII, the airfield (across from the museum), was redeveloped into the municipal airport. Navy aircraft are displayed and volunteers are in the process of restoring a T-33/F-80 and a PT boat. The museum building, even though small, holds a lot of memorabilia from WWII and the Vietnam wars.
Deltona Veterans Memorial Park and Museum 121 Evard Avenue, Deltona, FL(386) 789-8247 www.vmpm.com/museum.html
From the Civil War to Operation Enduring Freedom, the museum has artifacts from almost every war the USA has participated in. An Army AH-1 Cobra helicopter flown in the Vietnam War is displayed in the memorial park.
Halifax Historical Museum 252 S. Beach Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114(386) 255-6976 www.halifaxhistorical.org
Local history is displayed in the downtown museum from 5,000 BC to the present day. Throughout the museum are large murals, drawings, models, and exhibits depicting various historical events and times of early Native Americans, Spanish and British involvement, and permanent settlers who were attracted to the area after the civil war and into the 1900s. On display is a War Room depicting memorabilia from the Spanish American War, WWI and II and a large scale model of the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Bandshell as it was in 1938.
Henry A. DeLand House Museum1 37 West Michigan Avenue. DeLand, FL (386) 740-6813
Henry Addison DeLand founded the city in 1876 and built the house. He intended for city to be known as the Athens of Florida. A unique feature of the museum is the history of West Volusia County depicted in the extensive collection of period photographs. The authentic artifacts and memorabilia displayed in the cabinets and cupboards trace the history and development of the city and the surrounding area.
Holly Hill History Museum and Education Center 1066 Ridgewood Avenue Holly Hill, FL(385) 252-2339 https:/www.hollyhillhistoricsociety.com/
The museum is more than about Holly Hill. It has historic photos, first person interviews, books and materials for all of Volusia County. Displayed on walls are excellent photos and maps, and scattered around the main room are tools, furniture and artifacts. A 1901 doctor's carriage and an old mastodon tusk and tooth found in the area are on display.
Lake Helen Historical Society Museum 327 South Lakeview Drive, Lake Helen, FL(386) 256-4810
The museum is a room in the town hall. The building was originally a school house but now it houses town offices with one room for a museum. Displayed are a lot of photos, artifacts and other information on the town of Lake Helen.
Living Legends of Auto Racing Museum 2400 South Ridgewood Avenue, South Daytona, FL(386) 763-4483 https://livinglegendsofautoracing.com
The museum is jam-packed with hundreds of vintage photos and artifacts. It has engines, helmets, and other items that show what racing was like in the early days. Except for during the Daytona Race Week, a collection of race cars is on display.
Museum of Arts and Science (MOAS) 352 S. Nova Road. Daytona Beach, FL 32144(386) 255-0285 https://moas.org
MOAS is the largest museum in the area. It contains over 30,000 objects including a collection of American art and galleries of Chinese art, decorative arts, and Cuban paintings. On display is a giant ground sloth skeleton, restored railroad cars, antique automobiles, and a large collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia. Additionally there is a children’s museum, a planetarium, and the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art that displays the largest collection of Florida based art in the world. Check web for special events, exhibits, and artworks/paintings being shown in different sections of the complex,
Museum of Art -- DeLand Downtown 100 North Woodland Blvd. DeLand
Museum of Art -- Deland 600 North Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL(386) 734-4371 https://moartdeland.org
The museum is at two locations within a mile of each other. The original museum is located at 600 N. Woodland Blvd. near Stetson University. Both are dedicated to the collecting, preservation, study, display and educational use of the fine arts. In addition to the permanent collection, it is host to several new exhibits, gallery talks and receptions, educational programming, master artist workshops and special events throughout the year.
New Smyrna Beach Museum of East Coast Surfing 120 Sams Avenue, New Smyrna Beach (386) 479-0052 https://nsbhistory/museum-east-coast-surfing
The museum exhibits surf suits, photographs and other memorabilia related to those good old days of surf and love. Also available are video clips of surfers filmed decades ago with the appropriate 60s music.
New Smyrna Museum of History 120 Sams Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL(386) 478-0052 https://nsbhistory/museum.org
The primary display tells the story of the founding of Smyrna Settlement in 1768 and examines its successes, struggles, and ultimate failure of this British settlement led by Dr. Andrew Turnbull. Included are videos, artifacts, models, ancient fossils, a Civil War display, dozens of historical photos, a working archaeology lab, World War I and II information, and a moving display of the local men who served in the military during the Vietnam War.
Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens 38 Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach(386) 677-7005 https://www.ormondbeachmuseum.org
The museum was created in 1946 as a living monument to creative freedom and equality of all persons, and to commemorate the service of World War II veterans. Artist Malcolm Fraser donated a collection of his life's work that can be seen in the museum. The spirit of gratitude continues today honoring veterans of multiple wars within the museum and the gardens.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum 143 Beach Street, Ponce Inlet, FL(386) 219-3660 https://www.ponceinlet.org
The museum consists of the lighthouse tower and outbuildings of homes for lighthouse keepers’ families and buildings for support maintenance requirements. Completed in 1887, the brick lighthouse was a marvel of technology. Information on the huge Fresnel lens and other historical facts can be seen in a 20 minute film.
Ponce Inlet Historical Museum 143 Beach Street, Ponce Inlet, FL(386) 761-2408 https://www.ponce-inlet.org/211/Museum-Historical-Programs
The Ponce Inlet Historic Museum contains two historic Florida Cracker-style cottages that have been restored to their original layout. The museum is dedicated to education through the preservation and dissemination of the history and cultural heritage of the Town of Ponce Inlet.
Southeast Museum of Photography Daytona State College 1200 International SpeedwayBlvd. Mori Hosseini Center Daytona Beach (386) 506-4475
https://www.smponline.org
The museum is the only one in the southeast devoted entirely to photography. It hosts changing exhibits of historical and contemporary photography as well as lectures, film screenings, education programs for adults and children, print viewing in its permanent collection and study in its extensive library.
Stetson University's Gillespie Museum 234 Michigan Avenue, Deland, FL (386) 822-7330 https://stetson.edu/other/gillespie-museum
The museum features one of the premier historic mineral collections in the southeast, and seasonally changing exhibits on an array of earth science and natural history topics. It has more than 15,000 rock and mineral specimens. Additionally, the museum has events year round. Monthly Science Cafes feature presentations on a range of environmental topics, and monthly Science Saturdays offer hands-on educational fun for all ages.
Veterans Museum and Education Center Tic Toc Building, 2nd floor, 166 South Beach Street, Daytona Beach(386) 677-7416 www.vamec.org
The purpose of the museum is to educate the public on the importance of the American military veterans through collection, documentation, interpretation, and presentation of tangible artifacts and personal stories of the men and women who served our country. It pays tribute to the commitment, dedication, service and sacrifice of those who served in the US Armed Forces to defend our freedom and liberty.