Museums & Exhibits

Tucked away on the shore of Lake Formosa in Loch Haven Park just north of downtown Orlando, the Mennello Museum of American Art is housed in what was once the private home of Howard Phillips, son of philanthropist Dr. P. Phillips. The intimate museum uses its gallery spaces to showcase changing exhibitions featuring American art of all genres and time periods, including originally curated and traveling shows.

The treasure of the Mennello Museum is the permanent collection of paintings by self-taught or “primitive” artist Earl Cunningham (1893-1977), generously donated from the collection of Michael A. and Marilyn L. Mennello. This collection of Cunninghams is the largest in existence, and a rotating selection of paintings remains on display. Owned and operated by the City of Orlando, the Mennello Museum of American Art opened its doors in 1998.

A lakeside sculpture garden is another attraction and is the site of the annual Orlando Folk Festival, held the second weekend in February. When visiting, you may be welcomed by Red, the museum’s resident greeting feline. He has found his way to hearts of patrons and staff alike.

The Morse Museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), including the artist and designer’s jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass lamps and windows; his chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago; and art and architectural objects from his Long Island country estate, Laurelton Hall. The Museum’s holdings also include American art pottery, late 19th- and early 20th-century American painting, graphics, decorative art.

The Orlando Science Center is a private science museum located in Orlando, Florida. Its purposes are to provide experience-based opportunities for learning about science and technology and to promote public understanding of science

Imagine entering a crime scene and being the one responsible for noticing and collecting every trace of evidence. The pressure is on: you know the analysis of your evidence must be scientifically sound to crack the case.

You’ve seen the hit television crime drama, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on CBS. Now, there’s a forensic science exhibit related to the TV show, as well as a Web-based learning adventure.

CSI: The Experience is a completely immersive exhibit that invites visitors to enter “crime” scenes where they identify and record evidence. It takes them inside “laboratories” for scientific testing and to “autopsy” rooms for pathology analysis. Then it returns them to the “office” to build their case, based on the scientific evidence. The exhibit brings to life real scientific principles and the most advanced scientific techniques used today by crime scene investigators and forensic scientists.

From DNA and firearms analysis to forensic anthropology and toxicology, visitors will be immersed in hands-on science in an exciting multi-media environment with dazzling special effects direct from the CSI TV series. Cast members from the TV show welcome guests into the exhibit from a large video monitor, lead them through the experience, and praise them for a job well done at the end. The exhibit is geared toward adults and youth age 12 and above.