I love a history museum, especially one that's free, and the Brevard Museum of History and Natural…read moreScience checks both boxes. With more than 3,000 fascinating artifacts in its permanent collection, there's so much to learn and explore. The Brevard Museum, Inc. was formed in 1969. The museum is currently operated by the City of Cocoa in a building tucked away in the quiet College Green Estates housing subdivision. If you didn't know it was there, you could easily drive right past it. The museum has two wings to explore. One focuses on Florida's natural history, featuring Ice Age fossils, including a giant ground sloth and mastodon, along with exhibits that recreate life in 1800's Florida. The other wing traces the region's human history, beginning with indigenous people, the Spanish colonization of Florida, and continuing through pioneer life, before ending with the Space Age. Exhibits cover a wide range of topics, including Florida's Indigenous peoples, Ice Age and modern wildlife, early Brevard settlers, Spanish ships, the citrus and turpentine industries, Flagler's railway, space exploration, arrowheads, artifacts from the Seminole, Miccosukee, and Ais peoples, shells, and casts of prehistoric and modern animal fossils. The Albert and Grace Taylor exhibit displays the personal effects of pioneers Albert and Grace Taylor. Grace Webster Taylor was a resident of the City of Cocoa, who passed away on December 27, 1945. There are also replicas of a one-room schoolhouse, a general store, and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. The exhibit that fascinated me most was about the Windover archaeological site. In 1982, a bulldozer excavating a pond for a new housing development uncovered several human skulls. Archaeologists soon determined that the remains belonged to an ancient Indigenous community that had lived in the area approximately 7,000 to 8,000 years ago. Over time, researchers recovered the remains of 168 individuals from the peat at the bottom of the pond. The peat created remarkable preservation conditions, protecting not only the skeletons but also soft tissues, including some brain tissue. Research conducted by Florida State University revealed a wealth of information about Florida's earliest inhabitants. Textiles recovered from the burials provided rare insights into ancient weaving techniques, while preserved stomach contents offered valuable clues about their diet. The museum exhibit displays a preserved skeleton, a bust of the "Windover Woman," and a recreation of the unique wet archaeological excavation. Unlike many local history museums I visit, this one has activities for kids making it more family friendly. There is a Discovery Room designed for children, where there are toys and a rocket capsule they can climb into along with other hands-on activities to enjoy. Behind the museum is a nature preserve and the Johnnie Johnson Nature Trails. The winding network of paved and natural-surface trails meanders through 22 acres of native Florida upland and wetland ecosystems surrounding Clear Lake, making it a fun way to extend a visit. There is so much local history packed into this small, free museum. The exhibits on archaeology, Florida history, natural science, and the Space Age are interesting for all ages. This is a wonderful budget friendly activity outside of the typical tourist destinations.

This is a really fun, free museum for all ages located in Brevard. For a rainy day or just a fun…read morechance to learn about Brevard, this is the perfect place. The museum is very well maintained and cared for. Me and my three year old were at the park and followed the trail for about 7 minutes and with help from a stranger, located the museum. I do wish there was signs. Without the help of my phone and the stranger, we would've gotten lost as there are various routes. The museum has a lot of really cool elements. There are bones, fossils, shells, space, and even a playroom amongst many other things. I was very intrigued by all the history and the large rooms of items to look at. Some items are a little outdated, but as a free entry museum it's very well kept. I look forward to coming back with my other son and husband as a family.

**OVERALL REVIEW**…read more Last year when my friends and I went on the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, Museums, and Launchpads Tour, Sands Space History Center - which I will shorthand simply to "Sands" for the remainder of this review - was supposed to be the first location on said tour. Unfortunately at the time, Sands was closed for renovation. Now many months later, I get the chance to return to Sands to see what I missed. For a history museum that is free to the public, this is one of the better space museums to check out. I will be the one to admit the amount of displays of actual artifacts and periphenalia from space history is "limited" compared to other museums in the area, but it surely delivers on history. If you like to read, learning the history of a particular set of NASA and space history, which I will explain further in the review, as well as enjoy a live presentation and Q&A with current astronaunts, Sands is definitely the museum worth going to. Did I mention Sands is free to the public? Though an address is provided, it is best to detail how to get to Sands as you'll be exiting from SR-528 onto the road leading to the private military base. This is correct, and you'll almost drive up to the military base gate, but instead you'll be turning into the last public section which happens to be where Sands is. The Navajo Rocket should be a giveaway as where to turn. Upon arriving at a trio of buildings, the updated Sands is a blue building with a mural of an astronaut on it. Entering the double doors, you'll first be in the lobby where the front service desk and restrooms are. There are plenty of pamphlets detailing what you'll see in Sands as well as many other museums, not just in the space industry, but along the Space Coast. The restrooms are also located here. There are two parts about Sands that need to be detailed. The first is the "museum display" part located along the walls. Sands concentrates on the 41 launch complexes (LC) that NASA used starting with, of course, LC-1 and 2. LC-1 is the oldest complex in which it launched the very first shuttles and rockets. Going clockwise around the wall, the latter LCs will have information on how they contributed to the space industry such as what shuttles and/or rockets they launched. Some even have artifacts to view, too, as their tags explain their relationship to the LC. As mentioned earlier, there are 41 LCs and they have information spanning all four walls of the large assembly-like room. Speaking of assembly, the middle of the room is setup like an auditorium with chairs lined into rows. At times, astronauts and other imporant space figures will come by and speak, sometimes giving a more personal hands-on insight to past LC events or telling stories of their own adventues during their active tenure. Finally, there is a small gift shop on the southside of the building. It has numerous souvenirs for patrons to buy such as stickers, magnets, clothing, puzzles, and more. This is actually a lot, and I mean A LOT, for a museum that doesn't cost anything to enter to provide. On a sidenote, Sands is also part of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and Space Tour, primarily as the first and last stops of said tour. And for the kids, there is a scavenger hunt they can partake in, or if they want a more dynamic approach on learning, there is a touchscreen kiosk complete with interactive displays to even keep kids with ADD and/or ADHD entertained. Ultimately, I am giving Sands a perfect five-out-of-five star rating for its review. Just so much to learn, so much to experience, and all for free, I am definitely recommending Sands to anyone who asks about it.

Having grown up with Dad working in the early space industry/Cape Canaveral, I thought this little…read morecampy, community space history center was amazing. The volunteer there that led our tour was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the space program. it turns out he and I grew up three years apart and not too many miles apart. we reminisced over when Ron Jon's was a small little bikini shop in Cocoa Beach. ( if you don't know it, it covers three city blocks now.) They had a scavenger hunt for the kids, and they were happy to explain all of the memorabilia in the small, but authentic history center. This is a must see for the old timers; I consider myself one of them since I grew up in the 60s with my dad involved at the Cape. I'm not sure if this center would have much meaning to the younger kids, but we enjoyed it immensely. Even my son and his early 40s thought it was amazing. and it's free :-)

Just clicked my heels over to The Wizard of Oz Museum in Cocoa Beach, Florida, and WOW, what a trip…read moredown the Yellow Brick Road. As someone who's actually played The Cowardly Lion, I had to go... and it absolutely delivered. The giant Yellow Brick Road mural outside was extra special for me because I helped design it digitally before it was painted, and seeing it come to life in person was surreal. It sets the tone perfectly the moment you arrive. Inside, the museum is packed with Oz history from L. Frank Baum's earliest inspirations all the way to modern adaptations. You'll find screen used treasures like Judy Garland's dress and even the Cowardly Lion's gloves. Tons of photo ops, tons of nostalgia, and the projection show is incredibly immersive. If you're anywhere near Cocoa Beach, I highly recommend stopping by. Huge thanks to Fred Trust for hosting us and curating such an amazing journey through Oz history!

Came here for a fun thing to do in the afternoon out of the sun. It was definitely worth five…read moreminutes in the car to get here. Enjoy the many cases of memorabilia and immersive experience. The staff are very friendly.

Robert (Bob) Graveline was our guide through the Cape Canaveral space force Museum. What a…read morefantastic and knowledgeable man. How lucky were we to have access to a living memory of the daily tasks and workings of the space facilities there. As we toured, he described hands on knowledge of how everything worked, and even described his own Experience and job at the space technology test sites. He described how he started in 1952 and gave a few personal anecdotes. As an amateur historian myself, with the bachelor's degree in history, having him as a prime resource is profoundly honorable and gives the museum, the integrity it deserves. A fascinating history in the buildings and the projects that came out of the space coast. Highly recommend, and if you can meet Bob, he will enlighten your imagination. He is sharp, articulate, and witty. Thank you for an unforgettable tour.

Small, mainly photos, maps and models. But the people are well informed, and you can watch booster…read morelandings from the parking lot.

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more Despite the Space Coast (Brevard County) being synonymous with surf and, well, space, there is plenty of other historic locations and museums to enjoy. One I like to really push is the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum (which I will shorthand simply to LB Museum for the remainder of this review). For a historical museum with free admission, there is a lot to see and a fair amount of activities to do in the LB Museum. I wish I can do this museum justice in this review in hopes you'd check it out. For starters, the LB Museum is located on Oak St. which is right next to Wells Park, the one right next to the Melbourne Auditorium with the double-round lake. There is a military brancy and history memorial infinity walk right next to the museum, too. Ergo, if you like to read your history of some of the wars America has been in or know more about our military branches, definitely check it out. As for the LB Museum, I first and foremost must stress the museum is manned by volunteers and open to the public only on two days, Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you are able to get here on one of those two days, you definitely have more than enough time to truly enjoy all the museum has on display and offer, starting with the introduction video with a brief history of the liberty bell followed by the volunteer explaining the liberty bell on display in the middle of the museum. You may even join the "Ding Dong" club and get a chance to strike the bell with a rubber mallet. The museum is three rooms, two of them consisting of artifacts and lore throughout American government, diplomatic, and military history. From artifacts used in each war to personal artifacts owned by elected officials, there is much to see. To add another layer of entertainment, especially for the children, there is a scavenger hunt they can partake in. Find all the items listed on the scavenger hunt, you get a free sticker. Ultimately, the LB Museum is one of the better locales of historical learning you can partake in along the Space Coast. Given the fact it is free, there should be no naysay on attedance unless Wednesday and Saturday just happen to be a bad time to go. I will give the LB Museum, four-out-of-five stars for this review. Definitely a higher rating for all they have for free, but the limited time to visit is definitely a major hindrance for this museum.

A very nice museum with a LOT of history! This museum is…read morelocated at right off Babcock St, with plenty of free parking in two large lots flanking the site. There are about 100 spots total. It is across the street from a park and two lakes and walkways. The building is a distinctive round structure that packs in displays for every American war, military service branch, and historical era, making it a comprehensive tribute to veterans and U.S. history. Admission is free, though donations are welcomed to support the volunteer-run operation. On our visit, we entered the main round room where a full-size Liberty Bell replica greets you front and center, surrounded by artifacts and exhibits lining the walls. To the left is an area with a repeating film that explains the museum's mission and honors veterans, plus displays of war-era items. The right side features a conference room and library for educational programs, briefs, or events. Outside, on the flagpole-lined grassy area between the parking lots, they were hosting live music, food vendors, and a craft fair, adding to the lively atmosphere. The space is well organized and clean. I think you could sense the passion that the volunteers pour into preserving and sharing American history for current and future generations. The staff was very friendly. Overall, it's a hidden gem (allow 30-60 minutes). I would definitely recommend it to families, history buffs, or anyone in the area wanting to learn about and honor our heritage. Enjoy!

Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center is absolutely astounding. So cool to witness…read moreall the marvels of space travel in the past, see all that's being done in the present and into the future. If you have any questions about space travel or ever had any doubts about the legitimacy of NASA or any space related, this marvel of a spectacle is definitely worth a visit if you are planning to come to Orlando! 5 solid stars and two galactic thumbs up!

The last building that we toured was the impressive Space Shuttle Atlantis. Kennedy is the…read morepermanent home of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Atlantis is raised 30 feet off the ground, and is turned 43.21 degrees as if it were in space. There's a full scale external tank and two rocket boosters that are the grand gateway. The huge orange external tank is suspended 23 feet above the ground, and reaches 184 feet in the air. The inside tour tells the entire story of the Space Shuttle Program. There is over 60 exhibits and simulators to experience in the space shuttle center. Two other sights to see is full sized replica of the Hubble Space Telescope, that hangs opposite the open payload bay doors of Space Shuttle Atlantis, with Atlantis' Canada Arm extended(the robotic arm made by Canada). The permanent memorial honors the lives lost during the space shuttle missions, Challenger and Columbia are in the complex with patches along the walls, Challenger on the left and Columbia on the right. We didn't do the space shuttle experience(another trip in the works later this year) on this visit, but some of my younger family members did take the slide down to the next level. Space Shuttle Atlantis also has a souvenir shop located on the way out. I REALLY enjoyed my second time visiting Kennedy Space Center, it was worth the 33 yrs. wait return visit.

Orbit, the restaurant was extremely disorganized, slow, dirty, and some older hag behind the…read morecounter was really unprofessionally reprimanding overwhelmed shorthanded staff. I felt completely aghast and disgusted that the staff is treated as such. After waiting 45 minutes, once I finally got my food, there wasn't a clean table to be found. this ruined what was a great experience we were having otherwise.

Always a great experience. So many things to see and do, you definitely need 1 full day just to…read moreview all of the videos and do the experiences. Then you go back to see all the artifcats. Of course, you want to do all of the outside stuff early in the morning when it is not raining or too hot. Recommend the KSC Explore Tour to add to the adventure. You do get some experiences that you don't get on the normal bus tour. Ken and Melanie were great with the bus ride and the stories to tell.