The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, "The AGB" for short, is formerly known as the Polk Museum…read moreof Art (and probably what I'll always think of it as). The name change came with a huge expansion which allowed the museum to nearly thrills its exhibition and learning spaces. And let me tell you, going there pre- & post-expansion the difference is mind boggling. Polk County & Lakeland truly have something to be proud of with this museum. And the best part? Free admission!! I wasn't sure if it'd remain this way after their buildout but they are striving to keep it free for all to visit and enjoy. They have a really impressive collection for being a still smaller museum compared to the Met, Chicago Museum of Art or places like that. First, you walk into to see several Auguste Rodin sculptures, starting off strong. You can see Andy Warhol, an incredible mix of diverse artists from all over the world, and even a few Dale Chihuly blown glass pieces. It is all absolutely stunning. The AGB is a Smithsonian affiliate so they definitely have high standards. It's also located in such a great spot right off of Lake Morton next to the library & Lake Morton Black & Brew, the Peach House, Misterfish, and the newer MooTown Scoops. Whether you're feeling coffee, ice cream, drinks or actual food, it's all with a 3-4 minute walk right there. A great museum to visit!

Security was a little rude towards the end but really really nice museum its cute not crowded on…read moreweekends very quiet.

What an outstanding experience to tour this campus! The…read moreguide Jack C is simply amazing. Me & Barby took the one & one half hour tour & really enjoyed it. We found free parking on College St one block away. It cost about $30 & you can get a AAA discount. They give you a small audio ear piece & you can hear Jack in your ear as you walk from building to building. If you're a FLW fan, this is a singular experience.

I'm just here to add to the chorus of voices offering praise for this comprehensive and enjoyable…read moreFLW extended tour. The guide we had was knowledgeable and a great storyteller. I also appreciated some of her strong opinions about the architecture and the architect. Our tour had many delights along our walking/exploring journey. We went a little long, which everyone appreciated, and I was not tempted to look at my watch once. (Pro Tip: The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (The AGB) at Florida Southern College is extraordinary, and you will find several local-flavor restaurants nearby.)

Closed on the Monday when I was passing through Bartow but I got to at least enjoy the outside of…read morethis massive structure that used to be the Polk County Courthouse and is now the History Center. The new Justice Center towers above, across the street. There is a historical marker out front that provides some history. It reads, "Polk County was established February 8, 1861 formed from eastern Hillsborough County and western Brevard County and comprised one of two counties created after the state's secession from the union. Polk County was named after James Knox Polk the eleventh president of the United States. Polk served from 1845 to 1849, and was the first president to hold office after Florida achieved statehood. The turbulent 1860's saw Polk's seat of government changed several times. Located first at Mud Lake, the county seat soon moved to Jefferson, a surveyed town site within the present day limits of Bartow. Court and County records were maintained in the home of the county clerk the Reverend Jeremiah Hayman at Six Mile Creek. In 1867 cattleman Jacob Summerlin donated 120 acres of land at Bartow for a town site and seat of county government. Several courthouses have existed at this site, built in 1867, 1884 and 1909." It is marker number F-549 and was erected in 2005 by the Polk County Historical Commission and the Florida Department of State. The building was designed by Edward Columbus Hosford with contributions from Francis J. Kennard in a Classical Revival composition. The style is unmistakable: a symmetrical facade, strong classical massing, and a clock tower rising above the roofline. A series of earlier courthouses stood on this same ground, beginning with an 1867 structure, then an 1884 replacement, and finally the 1909 building that survives today. The facade's classical detailing, the clock tower, and the building's balanced proportions all reflect a period when counties across the South were asserting their permanence through monumental architecture. Inside, the building now houses the Polk County History Center, and the county offers regular architectural tours that highlight the structure's Neo‑Classical features and the stories behind its construction. Just not on Monday. [Review 1612 of 2025 - 2189 in Florida - 25160 overall]

Well appointed and accredited museum. We spent over an hour watching the short videos and reading…read morethe information. Unfortunately, they are under renovation and some of the sections were closed off. That just means I need to go back when I visit next year.

We were in the area and wanted to check this place out. We were outside exploring and then came to…read morethe museum to cool off. For Florida residents, the tickets were $16/per person rather than $20. My kiddos loved the various stations this museum had to offer. I would absolutely go again, especially to cool off from the Florida heat.

My cousin in Florida recommended this place. She had been wanting to take my nephew, so we took our…read morekids and made it a family day. The museum itself is very interactive which is great for kids of all ages! There's a big outdoor playground enclosed by a cool, large, yellow alligator structure. Inside there is a huge dragon hanging from the ceiling made out of random trinkets. Outside is a MASSIVE beautiful park with a small man made lake/pond. Very beautiful place to visit. We enjoyed it very much. Adjacent to the main building is a food court as well and there's plenty of parking (free).

my son & i came here to celebrate a bday party & it was such a good time! the entrance leads you…read moreright into the gift shop (parents be aware) - but the process was seamless to enter. there was a whole room w/ animatronic dinosaurs that moved - the boys loved that! there is a shaded patio w/ lots of seating for eating & a splash pad right next to it too. they had a food cart & some other options for snacks as well. the playground was extensively built & the park itself is a generous size. they had neat attractions such as gemstone panning, fossil digging, & a rideable dinosaur cart as well as a train! we had so much fun celebrating our friends & my son said he couldn't wait to go back again. see yall soon !!

Beware! Today my daughter was playing at the splash area and suddenly started screaming that she…read morewas bleeding. There was a screw tucked between the tiles and she cut her foot! The young manager was called and he seemed overwhelmed with what to do with a crying child. Really just overwhelmed with the situation. Overall I'm disheartened by the response by the team because as my daughter was limping through the souvenirs, she really wanted a toy. But all the manager offered was a small discount. My daughter kept apologizing like she was the one who did something wrong when it's their fault she cut her foot by not keeping chairs and materials safe. It was a $10 toy. It's not like we demanded refunds or free tickets for a future visit. And they couldn't be bothered to help her trip end on a good note. It's it like we did something wrong. No one expected a screw to be sticking up in the splash pad area! Thank you for nothing.

Amazing, quirky, fun museum. We loved it. Great value at $20 per person…read more Two floors of exhibits covering circuses & carnivals from the 19th Century through the 1970s. Got everything! Items, memorabilia, photos, HO & O scale models of carnivals & circus trains, and Ferris wheel. A circus & carnival history film running in a small theatre on the second floor. Some circus vehicles on exhibit outside. Should one seek to research carnivals, circuses, and other outdoor shows, there is a library & research area on the second floor. The lady at the gift was quite helpful & gracious. As we left, she offered us freshly popped popcorn. Excellent! Parking tip: it's easier to enter the parking lot from the Palmer Ave. side street than directly from Riverview.

This place is amazing! And everyone was nice and friendly. The lady at the counter was so nice and…read moreeven gave me popcorn at the end of my museum visit. While there I got to see so many vintage attractions, memorabilia, and learn more about the Carnival history. This had been on my list of spots to visit and finally was able to cross it off my list! Yes, the admission is $20, but it's worth it for everything I learned and saw. They also have a shop where you can buy Carnival themed products. I ended up getting a cute carousel ornament. And while there, check out the disc golf course next door! There are even more vintage rides in the course.

We last visited these gardens, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead (who also designed Central Park…read morein Manhattan), in early 2024. This time, more flowers were in bloom, and we saw a different variety of birds on the premises. The tower is, of course, the centerpiece of the gardens. We had the pleasure of listening to it sing at least 5 times during our visit. We briefly visited the children's garden, and recommend this if you have youngsters in tow. After we were done in the gardens, we had a nice lunch in the on-site café. Portions are large, so you may want to consider sharing.

These gardens are so beautiful and peaceful. I love walking…read morethrough every path available while smelling nature The food at the restaurant is good and fresh Everything is nice and clean

So one random fair day it was a step back in time to what a settlement would have looked like next…read moreto a fair of the future! So coming here was totally random as none of us knew this existed it was just tucked away from the rest of the state fair and what a cool treat this was to an already awesome day! So this area is basically a bunch of colonial style buildings with lots of people playing those parts as it has everything a town would have back then and then some! We explored all the different buildings some with individuals crafting items like candles and rugs the old school way which was super cool to see as that isn't always the case anymore but with that said you really can't go wrong as that's when things were quality built to last! Pretty much everything here was a history lesson and a much needed one as it had been a while since I've been in an atmosphere like this making for a super fun time! Overall this is a super cool addition to the fair and a must do on your visit as we spent a good deal of time here and could have spent more time had we discovered this sooner, so definitely don't overlook this super cool area of history as it's a lot of fun!

Awesome time at Cracker Country. Came here with my daughter's second grade class. Learned all about…read morelife in the 1800-1900s. The buildings consist of historic, period pieces such as a one room school house, butter and candle making and, Of course, the "cracking" of the whip. Tons of fun while learning.