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.

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 :-)

Amazing history here and a very knowledgeable tour person. Pictures, displays, and a gift shop…read more Plan to spend about an hour or 1.5 if you read everything.

**OVERALL REVIEW**…read more The Wizard of OZ Museum and Van Gogh Experience, which I will shorthand simply to the Oz Museum, is one of those unique attractions that stand out simply because of its uniqueness in an area you do not expect to see such an attraction. But this is Florida (my beloved state I love so much), and it should not be weird to see a surf museum (Florida Surf Museum) nearby the dinosaur store and museum (literally called the Dinosaur Store). But it works because the Oz Museum surely highlights so much from the Wizard of Oz franchise, not just the movie, but the entire lore inspired by the amazing book written by Frank L. Baum. I would have waited until later to post this review up, because there is one more "experience" I need to watch through-and-through in the Van Gogh Experience, which is the projector experience of traveling through The Wizard of Oz, but there is new news pertaining to this locale. The Oz Museum is moving south to Cocoa Beach. Not only that, it will be near the Dinosaur Store. How wonderful is it that two of the quirkiest museums Cocoa Beach has will be next to each other. Ergo, this review is for the Oz Museum as they are officially in their "Final Weeks in Cape Canaveral" before they move south to Cocoa Beach. For starters, the Oz Museum is located on the westside of A1A a.k.a. Jimmy Buffet Highway, at the northwest quadrant of its intersection with Center St., the street that leads westward to the dinky Center Street Park where one of the five bat houses of Cape Canaveral are located. The Oz Museum is actually "small" pertaining to the price one must pay to enter, which is about $32 plus tax for adults. Military and seniors get a discount and children are about half that price, but still, that can be considered steep for entry. But if you truly take your time with this location and engage in all they provide, it actually fair price. Most people would probably just breeze through all the exhibits, including officially recognized items that belonged to Frank L. Baum, signed books, and just a collection of all Oz related things from one family's personal collection. And yes, it is a personal collection, but it is an amazing personal collection with, as mentioned earlier, official items from certain locales, which I must stress "certain locales." For example, the display featuring the winkie guard spear has items that were officially used as props in the classic movie starring Judy Garland. The ruby red slippers on display, many mistake as from that movie, too, but those are actually the ones that were displayed in the line/queue of the Great Movie Ride in Disney's Hollywood Studios while the ride was open. It should also be noted that each glass panel of the collection has a QR code for an audio tour. Ergo, each panel will have a recorded explanation and history of everything that is on display. That is why I say the price is justified. And let's face it, a museum like this, despite how quirky it is, may become "boring" for little children. Ergo, there is a children's room with the animated Oz movie playing on loop and plenty of books, puzzles, and games to keep their playful minds occupied. Finally, the Van Gogh Experience is just an "added bonus" on top of all you get in this museum. The projectors put you in the midst of an amazing animation detailing Van Gogh's life, which lasts about 20 minutes on average. Seeing his paintings come to animation life in a room that is about 75 feet by 25 feet (estimate because the room was constantly darkened for the projectors) was just relaxing, especially when Starry Starry Night appeared. There is also a projector experience going through the entirety of The Wizard of Oz, but I never got to finish it. Ultimately, the Oz Museum is a worthwhile experience to go to, but I am only giving it four-out-of-five stars because this experience, as it is now, will soon be gone, and a new experience will be available very soon with added features such as a boat ride (and possibly mini-golf). From what I got the couple of times I went here, it is definitely worth checking out. You can't go wrong with a museum that is featured as it is highly-rated among many categories on TripAdvisor, including number one for kids museums.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road... to Cape Canaveral?…read more ​The Wizard of Oz Museum is a "blink and you'll miss it" tourist attraction tucked away in Cape Canaveral, FL. If you aren't looking for it, you might cruise right past, but for fans of L. Frank Baum's universe, this unassuming spot is a literal treasure chest of Technicolor history. ​ ​Don't let the modest footprint fool you. While it isn't a sprawling theme park, the museum packs an incredible punch by focusing on the entire Oz multiverse. You'll find a wide array of memorabilia that stretches far beyond Judy Garland's iconic ruby slippers, diving deep into the original book series and the broader lore of the 14 original novels. ​The Pace: It's not a very big venue. If you're a "skimmer," you'll be back in the parking lot before your car engine has even cooled down. I think this is where most of concerns about the admission fee come into play. ​The Strategy: To get your money's worth, you have to lean in. Unless you're taking the time to read every placard or every note of each item's history, you'll be in and out in no time. The magic is in the fine print. ​ ​The biggest shock of the day had nothing to do with flying monkeys or wicked witches. As a massive Beatles fan, I was absolutely floored to see an autographed photo of Paul McCartney. ​The Backstory: The photo captures Sir Paul during a visit to the set of the 1985 cult classic Return to Oz. Seeing Macca's signature in a shrine to Emerald City was the crossover event I never knew I needed. ​Summary: It's a charming, niche experience that rewards the curious. Just remember: read the signs, or you'll miss the best parts!

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.

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!

A very big…read morebell Back in 1976 the people of Florida wanted something to celebrate the bicentennial of this country and came up with the idea of a big bell. Of course there already is a rather famous big bell in Philadelphia that goes by the name of Liberty Bell so the people thought it would be cool to make a replica of the original. So a huge one ton bell was ordered and cast and a museum built around the big bell. The bell itself is about 70% copper, 25% zinc and has some silver, gold and arsenic thrown in for good measure. It is an exact replica of the original but without the infamous crack. The museum building itself is quite interesting because it is actually an old water tower that the ingenious folks converted into a structure to hold the big bell. Not obvious, but if you look carefully the building does reveal it's unique origins. One of the cool things about the museum is that they actually let you gently bonk the bell with a rubber mallet. Makes a nice mellow tone. Besides the big bell the museum also has other displays, artifacts and exhibits. When I was there they were having some kind of dedication and people were dressed in period costumes. Not a large museum but certainly something different and interesting. There is a small gift shop and although the museum is free of charge donations are of course accepted.

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.

We spent 2 days here and still didn't see everything, but we had a great time! We watched…read moreastronaut Fred Gregory talk about his experiences in space and with NASA that was quite interesting. We took the bus explore tour and got to see a few really neat things that you don't get to see on the regular bus tour. The Apollo exhibit at the end of the bus tour is amazing. They have a real Saturn 5 rocket which you have to see to understand how massive it is, and it also has several exhibits with actual mission gear. After that we did the shuttle exhibit which has an actual shuttle, which was amazing to see. The launch experience was OK but it was a long wait for just a few minutes of fun. Overall we had tons of fun and would do it again in a heartbeat. We saw everything so feel free to message me if you have any questions, itguy822 on g mail.

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.

One stop shop for all your piratical needs! They have something for everyone clothing wise, even a…read morekids section. The Crew (staff) is always on theme and can help you pick out any article of clothing or any piratical accouterment which is all decently priced. Perfect for starting an outfit for pirate festivals or Renaissance fairs! they also have a pirates museum attached to the store for only $8 admission with a Wide selection of artifacts and historic background reading to with it. Well worth your time if Pirates peak your fancy!

Great roadside atraction for the family. Fun and kitsch. Use the eum rule and go there​read more