What are the must-see museums in Volusia County?

Top picks include the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) and the Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art in Daytona Beach, the Museum of Art – DeLand, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, and the Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens.

Can I tour any historic homes in Volusia County?

Yes. The Stetson Mansion in DeLand offers guided tours in a Gilded Age residence. DeBary Hall Historic Site is another popular option with period rooms and exhibits.

Are there family-friendly museums or hands-on experiences?

Absolutely. MOAS features a planetarium and interactive exhibits, the Marine Science Center lets kids see sea turtles and seabirds up close, and Barberville Pioneer Settlement offers living-history demonstrations year-round.

Where can I learn about Volusia County’s local history?

Visit Halifax Historical Museum (Daytona Beach), New Smyrna Museum of History, and the DeLand House Museum & Conrad Center. Port Orange Historical Trust and Edgewater Historical Society also preserve community stories.

Is there a photography museum in Volusia County?

Yes. The Southeast Museum of Photography at Daytona State College presents rotating exhibitions of fine art and documentary photography, often with free admission.

What lighthouse museum can I climb or tour?

The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum—Florida’s tallest lighthouse—offers museum exhibits and tower access on most days, weather permitting. Check the official site for hours and safety guidelines.

Do these museums and sites offer guided tours?

Many do. Stetson Mansion and DeBary Hall run scheduled guided tours; historical societies and MOAS frequently offer docent-led tours. Always confirm tour times and reservations on the venue’s website.

Are any museums free or donation-based?

Yes. Several historical societies operate on suggested donations, and the Southeast Museum of Photography is typically free. Others offer monthly free days or discounts—check each museum’s website.

When are museums open in Volusia County?

Hours vary by season and day. Many museums are open Tuesday–Saturday with limited Sunday hours. Always verify current schedules, ticketing, and special programs on the official websites.

What’s a good rainy-day plan for museum hopping?

Pair the Museum of Arts & Sciences (including the Brown Museum of Art) with the Southeast Museum of Photography in Daytona Beach for a full indoor day. In DeLand, combine the Museum of Art – DeLand with Stetson’s Hand Art Center and Gillespie Museum.

History Museums - Volusia Writers

Immerse Yourself in Time and Place

History Museums and Heritage Sites in Volusia County

This guide highlights Volusia County’s history museums, historic homes, and heritage landmarks, where Florida’s stories, landscapes, and people come into focus.

If we missed your favorite site, let us know so we can add it to the list.

Barberville

Barberville Pioneer Settlement — Pioneer village with relocated 19th- and early 20th-century buildings, demonstrations, and festivals. 1776 Lightfoot Ln, Barberville, FL 32105.

Daytona Beach

Cici & Hyatt Brown Museum of Art — Museum on the MOAS campus dedicated to the world’s largest collection of Florida-themed art. 352 S Nova Rd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.
Halifax Historical Museum — Regional history museum in a 1910 bank building with exhibits on the Halifax River area and Daytona’s growth. 252 S Beach St, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.
Lilian Place Heritage Center / 1884 Lilian Place Museum — Restored Victorian home and heritage center interpreting early beachside life and local legends. 111 Silver Beach Ave and 1000 S Peninsula Dr, Daytona Beach, FL 32118.
Mary McLeod Bethune Home / Bethune Foundation — National Historic Landmark home of educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune on the Bethune-Cookman University campus. 640 Dr Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America — Museum at Daytona International Speedway honoring champions of American motorsports. 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.
Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) — Major regional museum with art, history, science, Americana, and a planetarium. 352 S Nova Rd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.
Veterans Museum & Education Center — Free military history museum honoring U.S. veterans with artifacts from multiple wars. 302 Vermont Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118.

DeBary

DeBary Hall Historic Site — Restored 1871 winter hunting estate that interprets Gilded Age tourism along the St. Johns River. 198 Sunrise Blvd, DeBary, FL 32713.

DeLand

African American Museum of the Arts — Exhibits on African and African American art, culture, and local history. 325 S Clara Ave, DeLand, FL 32720.
DeLand House Museum & Conrad Center (West Volusia Historical Society) — 1886 historic home, archives, and research center interpreting West Volusia history. 137 W Michigan Ave, DeLand, FL 32720.
DeLand Memorial Hospital & Veterans Museum — Restored 1920s hospital and galleries focusing on medical history, Black heritage, and local veterans. 230 N Stone St, DeLand, FL 32720.
DeLand Naval Air Station Museum — World War II aviation and military history museum at the former DeLand NAS. 910 Biscayne Blvd, DeLand, FL 32724.
Gillespie Museum (Stetson University) — Earth science museum with mineral collections and environmental exhibits. 234 E Michigan Ave, DeLand, FL 32723.
Stetson Mansion — 1886 Gilded Age estate, Florida’s first luxury home, open for guided architectural and holiday tours. 1031 Camphor Ln, DeLand, FL 32720.

Deltona

Lyonia Environmental Center — Education center and gallery adjacent to Lyonia Preserve, focusing on scrub habitat, wildlife, and conservation. 2150 Eustace Ave, Deltona, FL 32725.

Edgewater

City Historical Museum (Hawks Park Recreation Complex) — Small city museum within Hawks Park with exhibits on Edgewater’s local heritage. 1108 S Ridgewood Ave, Edgewater, FL 32132.

Enterprise

Enterprise Heritage Center & Museum — Restored 1930s schoolhouse museum interpreting the history of Enterprise and the St. Johns River corridor. 360 Main St, Enterprise, FL 32725.

Lake Helen

Lake Helen Museum (Historic Schoolhouse) — City museum housed in a former school building inside City Hall, with artifacts and photos from “The Gem of Florida.” 327 S Lakeview Dr, Lake Helen, FL 32744.

New Smyrna Beach

Historic Connor Library Museum — Small museum of colonial and prehistoric artifacts from the New Smyrna area in a former library building. 201 Sams Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168.
Marine Discovery Center — Hands-on marine science center with exhibits, boat tours, and programs on the Indian River Lagoon. 520 Barracuda Blvd, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169.
Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum — Housed in a restored 1920s church, with exhibits on African American life and civil rights in Southeast Volusia. 314 N Duss St, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168.
New Smyrna Museum of History — Museum interpreting the Turnbull Colony, coastal settlement, and local heritage. 120 Sams Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168.
New Smyrna Sugar Mill Ruins Historic Site — Ruins of an early 1800s sugar mill destroyed during the Second Seminole War. 600 Mission Dr, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168.
Turtle Mound (Canaveral National Seashore) — Ancient shell mound overlook with views of Mosquito Lagoon and interpretive signage. Canaveral National Seashore, near New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Orange City

Blue Spring State Park & Thursby House — Manatee refuge and St. Johns River spring run with the 1872 Thursby House museum and riverfront history exhibits. 2100 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763.
Florida Postal Museum at Heritage Inn — Small postal history museum inside a historic roadside inn, with vintage mail artifacts and displays. 1630 State Road 8 (US 17-92), Orange City, FL 32763.

Ormond Beach

Anderson–Price Memorial Library Building — 1915 library and community hall used for cultural programs and historic society events. 42 N Beach St, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.
MacDonald House Museum & Welcome Center (Ormond Beach Historical Society) — Historic home and visitor center with exhibits on local history and tourism. 38 E Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176.
Nathan Cobb Cottage — 1897 cottage built from salvaged shipwreck timbers, a designated Florida Heritage Landmark. 137 Orchard Ln, Ormond Beach, FL 32176.
Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens — Art museum and memorial gardens honoring veterans, with rotating exhibits and lush grounds. 78 E Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176.
Ormond Mound — Prehistoric Native American burial mound in a small riverside park with interpretive signage. Mound Ave at S Beach St, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.
The Casements — John D. Rockefeller’s former winter home, now a cultural center with tours and exhibits. 25 Riverside Dr, Ormond Beach, FL 32176.

Ponce Inlet

Green Mound State Archaeological Site — Large shell mound and archaeological site with views over the Halifax River. Off S Peninsula Dr near Ponce Inlet, Volusia County, FL.
Marine Science Center — Sea turtle and seabird rehabilitation facility with interactive marine science exhibits. 100 Lighthouse Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127.
Ponce Inlet Historical Museum — Town history museum in two restored Florida Cracker cottages (Hasty Cottage/Post Office and Meyer–Davis House). 143 Beach St, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum — Florida’s tallest lighthouse, museum complex, and maritime history exhibits. 4931 S Peninsula Dr, Ponce Inlet, FL 32127.

Port Orange

Gamble Place Historic District — 175-acre historic retreat with a 1907 cracker-style house, cottage, and citrus packing house preserved by MOAS. 1819 Taylor Rd, Port Orange, FL 32128.
Port Orange Historical Trust / Port Orange Museum — Local history museum and archives in a restored historic home. 740 Commonwealth Blvd, Port Orange, FL 32127.

Volusia (St. Johns River Community)

Hontoon Island State Park — St. Johns River island park accessible by boat or ferry, with trails, a small museum, and ancient shell mounds. 2309 River Ridge Rd dock, DeLand, FL 32720.
Volusia Museum — Small riverfront museum featuring Native American artifacts, pioneer memorabilia, and local history exhibits. 1958 Alice Dr, Volusia, FL 32180.

History Museums