3 Reasons You Need to See the Art at the Imagine Museum

Do you believe it’s possible to freeze a single moment of a honeybee’s life inside of a blown-glass globe? Paul Stankard’s “Unseen Worlds” exhibit is just one of many at the Imagine Museum shows how Contemporary American Studio Glass can capture moments and evoke thoughts and emotions as effectively as other fine-art forms can. Contemporary American Studio Glass is a relativity new movement that gained momentum in the 1960s. Imagine Museum opened its doors in Jan. 2018 and has made headway in representing the art form and honoring its artists ever since. The museum is a great option for those taking a day trip to downtown St. Petersburg because it’s just five miles from our inn. Download our complimentary Vacation Guide for more ideas on how to make the most of your trip to Gulfport!

Why Imagine Museum Is Essential to Your Day Trip to Downtown St. Petersburg
Special EventsHave you ever been to a fine art museum with a cash bar and live jazz music? We’d venture to say that answer is probably no. Spreading awareness about their art goes beyond just selling tickets and offering walkthrough tours at Imagine. The museum offers a wide selection of fun, educational programs for families, teens, adults, and educators.
The museum hosted Imagine Museum After Hours—Hot Night, Cool Jazz in August. The event’s admission was $5 and included access to their full collection of beautifully crafted glass art while listening to live jazz music and cooling down with an adult beverage. These events vary by season but are a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable, unconventional way to experience the glass-crafted art this museum has to offer.

Forward MomentumPart of Imagine’s mission is, “As we move forward, more exhibitions will be curated from the collection to continue telling the story of this medium and movement, honoring where it began and demonstrate where it is going in our current century.” The museum doesn’t just aim to show visitors a gorgeous piece of artwork. This particular fine art movement is fairly new, and it’s important to the museum to show how it’s ever-evolving into something even greater. Their TENTRENDS exhibit is the best example of this. TENTRENDS shows art that pushes the Contemporary American Studio Glass envelope by experimenting with different thematic undertones.

Rich Arts CultureBeachfront towns like St. Petersburg often earn their reputation for being summertime, toes in the sand vacation destinations as well as a snowbird’s escape from winter’s wrath. St. Petersburg is more than nice year-round views and weather. Its downtown area is a hub for seven art districts. Imagine Museum flawlessly fits into downtown’s arts culture while bringing a contemporary, fine-art form to the table. The arts culture in St. Petersburg even extends to music, too. So, if viewing fine art in museums isn’t your cup of tea, head over to the Tampa Bay Symphony for a great night out.

Come Back to The Historic Peninsula Inn After Your St. Pete Day TripKick back and enjoy dinner at Neptune Grill in Gulfport after viewing some of the finest contemporary art at Imagine Museum. Swing by your pet-friendly room at The Historic Peninsula Inn and pick up your fluffy friend to have dinner with you on Neptune Grill’s porch! After all, a day trip feels like weeks in dog time. However, if you plan on bringing your pet, you must call ahead to find out what room is best for you.
We recommend The Serengeti Suite for all of our guests. This suite features a queen-size bed and sitting room. It’s the perfect space for those wanting a cozy place to relax after a long day. Check our full list of accommodations for yourself and book today for your contemporary Gulfport getaway.