Guest reviewer: The Wife This museum 100% lives up to its…read morename. Every piece of art at the museum--from the paintings, to the sculptures, to the rest rooms, to the walls themselves--is a study in creative whimsy. Before entering the building, visitors are treated to the sight of giant flamingo statues adorned in fancy headwear and bow ties. What I think delighted me the most about walking around this space was the understanding that the world of art is so much broader than what I learned about at university. The indoor spaces featured both paintings and smaller pieces of sculpture in many different styles, while the outdoor sculpture garden brought the awe of childish whimsy everywhere I looked. Don't forget to check out the men's bathroom near the entrance to the museum!

My mouth hung open in awe from the moment I entered the property. I love this museum. I have…read morebrought many of my friends here. Every piece of painted art is amazing. I am a whimsey painter and I always leave here so inspired I can't wait to start another project. This is a MUST see for Florida visitors. Even if you aren't artistic You will be inspired by this whimsical magical amazing museum of art. Mary, the owner shares her collection of whimsical art on this property and in these buildings. Again, this is a must see in Florida.

We booked the Uncovering Ca' d'Zan Guided Tour ($40 per person) before flying to Florida. The tour…read morelasts about 60-70 minutes and includes the main rooms on the first floor, a peek into the Tap Room with stories about indulgence and Prohibition during the 1920s, as well as select spaces on the second, third, and fourth floors of the Ringlings' magnificent waterfront mansion. I'm so glad I booked this tour! it was the highlight of our Florida trip. Our tour guide, Susan, was professional, knowledgeable, and full of humor. She made the entire experience both informative and relaxing. Ca' d'Zan is simply breathtaking. This stunning Mediterranean Revival mansion sits on the shores of Sarasota Bay and was built in the mid-1920s as the winter retreat of American circus magnate, entrepreneur, and art collector John Ringling and his wife, Mable Burton Ringling. Although the mansion is over 100 years old, it still radiates the glamour, elegance, and artistic vision of the Ringlings. Every room is filled with exquisite craftsmanship and thoughtful details that reflect their passion for art and architecture. One of my favorite features was the magnificent ceiling paintings by the Hungarian artist Willy Pogany. Each one tells a story from another era, preserving its beauty for generations to admire. Standing on the terrace overlooking Sarasota Bay, I couldn't help but be reminded of the atmosphere from the movie Great Expectations. There was something incredibly romantic, mysterious, and timeless about the view. To me, Ca' d'Zan feels alive. If you slow down and listen carefully, the mansion tells its own story. There is glamour. There is longing. There is sadness. There is hope. And somehow, there is a place for you within it. I absolutely fell in love with this place. Without a doubt, this was the best attraction we visited during our trip to Sarasota. I would highly recommend the Uncovering Ca' d'Zan Guided Tour to anyone visiting the area, and I will definitely return to explore the Museum of Art next time.

The Ringling is absolutely beautiful and there's way more to see than I expected. You get…read moreeverything from circus history to ancient art and artifacts, contemporary pieces, gorgeous grounds, statues and the rose garden. The roses were supposedly in season, but honestly that part was a little underwhelming. My personal favorites were the ancient artifacts and the circus miniature. There are also some parts of circus history that definitely haven't aged well, including minstrel depictions, but history is history and I appreciated that it wasn't sanitized. My biggest issue was being asked THREE separate times to show our wristbands while walking the grounds. Normally, no big deal, but we watched larger groups walk right by without being questioned while our group of three kept getting stopped, despite our wristbands being just as visible. By the third time, it was hard not to feel like we were being profiled. That was disappointing, especially after driving an hour for a close friend's birthday. I usually don't spend my money where I feel unwanted, but I wasn't going to let it ruin her day. Beautiful museum and absolutely worth experiencing, but that part of our visit left a bad taste in my mouth.

A very cute a fun museum!…read more My group and I came here mostly to see the manatees but enjoyed the rest of the museum as well. We went through the exhibits on the two floors relatively quickly but they were interesting to look at. I liked the emphasis on Florida specific history. The planetarium was interesting and the seats were very comfortable. The manatees were obviously the highlight. We were able to see two babies, Sorbet and Juneau, right at feeding time. The top view of the water had a superior view. Overall, while I'm not from here so I'm not sure when I'd be back if I went, I really enjoyed my time here.

Sad to admit this was our first visit here, and literally on the last day of the Clyde Butcher…read morephotography exhibit. Jade who worked up front was friendly and helpful. Manageable sized museum where we spent about 90 minutes and had to leave before viewing everything. The Butcher exhibit was very good, I wish there was more. Truly incredible work. There is a manatee rehab area, although no manatees currently as the ones they had were thankfully released back into the wild. Emma who works in this area answered several of my husband's questions and was quite knowledgeable and informative. Some great historical artifacts, especially for local history. Excellent museum gift shop as well, with a large variety of items and another friendly and engaging employee, Anne. Looking forward to the upcoming baseball exhibit, and will allow more time.

I spent 2 1/2 hours with a Veteran guide, Jeff Sherwin, the Gallery Section Captain. Jeff had many…read moredetails, anecdotes and personal experiences to share, it made for a fascinating afternoon. There are many exhibits, well laid out, including artifacts, videos, newspaper clippings, interactive opportunities, and much, much more. It makes discovering facts about our American history a little less overwhelming. Many things I discovered I either never learned in high school or didn't remember. Everyone I encountered who works and volunteers here is friendly and welcoming, with a terrific sense of humor. So many stories, I could go back and spend another few hours and learn even more. I highly recommend a trip to this museum. If you are fortunate enough to have Jeff as your guide, you will learn the 3 things required for victory, common to every war (Hint: W.A.O.). Find out where Kleenex got its start before manufacturing hygiene products and why Lucky Strike changed is packaging from green to white. I am very proud to be an American. The history on display conveys where we came together, where we messed up, how we learned and how we continue to grow as a nation. I learned so much in a short period of time, mostly that history is important for each of us to understand our heritage. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" --George Santayana. Thank you, Jeff, for your service and for spending your time with us.

We visited often. The volunteer staff are knowledgeable and fun to chat with. School trips are a…read morepriority for these folks. Education is key to remember our history

You get what you pay for, and this place is free, although they do accept donations. So don't be a…read morecheapskate and give some dollars if you go. It's mainly outdoors and walking ‍ is required. They have a map and scavenger map for fun. There is no guided tour but that makes it better because you can roam as you like. Seeing all the historical items is always cool and really makes you thank God we weren't born back then lol (no ac). My spawn and I really enjoyed all the old time items and it was cool having to explain what things were. Please go and enjoy yourself.

Such a fun place to visit if you are in the area. I highly recommend taking a self-guided walking…read moretour of the main building and outbuildings.

This place is a hidden somewhat run down but still super awesome old school gem that we loved…read more Florida's "Colonial Williamsburg" type living history museum with several buildings o exhibts as wrll as: Some livestock animals. A small garden inckuding sugar cane. Lots of vintage old stuff to explore. We woukd have loved a docent but self discovery was neat too. We really enjoyed our visit. Hoepfully some big money or loving volunteers step up to help support this super cool place. A trip back in time.. I love this place.

Wonderful place to take children. Old Florida at its best. Adjacent to Myakka State Park and easy…read moreto get to.

Let me tell you about the time my wife casually turned a normal "drop our daughter off at college"…read moretrip into what felt like a deleted scene from a survival movie... destination: Solomon's Castle in the absolute middle of nowhere. And when I say nowhere, I mean NOWHERE. I'm driving waiting for streetlights... nothing. Gas stations? Nope. People? Questionable. Cows? Plenty. Motorcycles flying by like we accidentally entered a post-apocalyptic biker convention? Oh yeah. At this point, I'm looking at my wife like, Babé are we visiting a castle or auditioning for The Walking Dead: Florida Edition?" Then suddenly... BOOM. Out of nowhere... like a mirage built by a very creative pirate appears this shiny, aluminum-covered CASTLE. Now I'm confused. Because one minute I'm dodging cows... and the next minute I'm like: Did we just teleport to medieval times sponsored by Home Depot? But here's the thing this place is AMAZING. Inside? Pure genius. Art everywhere. Sculptures made out of stuff you probably threw away last week. It's like if creativity, humor, and a junkyard had a baby and that baby became a castle. And then there's the restaurant. Yes. A restaurant. Inside a boat. Inside a castle. In the middle of nowhere. At this point, I've stopped asking questions and just accepted that I'm in someone else's dream. If you want the backstory, go ahead and Google it because it's wild. But honestly, just go. Don't overthink it. Would I have ever planned this stop? Absolutely not. Did my wife once again prove she's the CEO of random but incredible detours? 100%. Final verdict: Unexpected Slightly suspicious drive in Completely worth it If you're ever near Ona, Florida--or even if you're not take the detour. Just make sure your gas tank is full... and maybe say a quick prayer once the streetlights disappear

Your sign on the front gate. Sorry folks close until October 1s. What a joke! How about you post it…read morein your website CLOSED UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST! SPENT 4 HOURS driving to get to you only to find a sign! Extremely inconsiderate! We will not be back and we will not recommend anyone visit.

Been wanting to check this museum out forever. It did not disappoint…read more I knew Dalí was famous, but really got to appreciate his story and style here. The architecture of the building had great lighting and spaces. Not huge, but also not small. I believe they are expanding too. Cafe downstairs and a gift shop. Took two turns at the art work. One solo and one on the free tour. The tour is absolutely a must. I learned so much and got to get a better understanding for the pieces and artist. Gift shop was fun, but I expected more unique things. Pricer side. I'd say overall visit absolutely worth it. Nice walkable area nearby. If you're lucky, you'll see some dolphins!

2nd time for the Dome exhibits…read more 1st one was Pink Floyd it was amazing the acoustics were good. 2nd was the Sounds of Nature is was cool. This time there was time to walk around the museum. A very cool place to learn about Dalí and his work

Friendly, clean well laid out floor plan. Beautiful displays of artwork from different artists…read more Enjoyed the historic flavor of the constitution and different representations of famous people. One of the nicest places I've visited.

Great museum downtown to visit! I went on a Friday evening for an anime themed night and I had a…read moregreat time. I learned that they do a lot of activities throughout the week which I'm excited to check out! They have plenty of parking.

Beautiful art! This display of oil on canvas, oil on slate and different other paintings. Go on…read moreMondays and it's free. John and Mable Ringling bestow most of them.

Nicely transformed former high school with beautiful comfortable exhibit spaces. Few exhibits have…read morebeen interesting to me over the past few years