The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Preserve | Present | Interpret
The museum presents the historic voice of this St. Petersburg, Florida community from the perspective of local, regional, and national history, culture, and community. It is another demonstration of the commitment to revitalize the Midtown St. Petersburg area.
The museum joins Mercy Hospital at the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center, the Royal Theater Boys and Girls Club, and the renovated Manhattan Casino as evidence of the renaissance of this area.
News
Carter G. Woodson Museum reopens after renovations, unveils Smithsonian exhibition and looks towards future
July 11, 2026
Fox 13 News
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – After six months of renovations, the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum is welcoming visitors back with more than just a refreshed building.
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Current Exhibit
Harriet Tubman – The Beacon of Hope
When
Permanent Offering
Where
The Legacy Garden at The Woodson
Admission
FREE
What
The monumental sculpture “Harriet Tubman: The Beacon of Hope” has arrived in Florida for the first time in its history and is being exhibited in the Legacy Garden at the Woodson African American Museum of Florida. This beautiful sculpture is rich in powerful symbolism and you’re invited to experience it in the Legacy Garden. Admission is Free.
“The Beacon of Hope” is a monument that tells Harriet Tubman’s continuing story; that amplifies her message of equality, so that all may hear it; and that chronicles her journey. It is our hope that generations of children and adults alike will find the inspiration and the courage to walk in her footsteps and draw strength from the powerful story of one of our great American heroes, finding it within themselves to become “The Beacon of Hope” for others.
The Underground Railroad Experience in the Legacy Garden
When
July 2026 - January 2027
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free Admission during hours of Tuesday-Saturday from 12-5 PM
What
The Underground Railroad Experience is an immersive, walk-through outdoor installation set within The Woodson’s Legacy Garden — a living landscape transformed into a space of profound historical – what’s next?
Take a journey through America’s original Underground Railroad and travel the road north that history has long celebrated.
Explore the little-known path south called the Saltwater Underground Railroad, from South Carolina, Georgia and Florida and across the waters to the Bahamas.
Through winding pathways, interpretive and digital presentations and historical imagery, the garden’s natural terrain becomes the terrain of that journey — honoring the courage, ingenuity, and enduring humanity of those who walked it.
The Underground Railroad Experience invites visitors to reflect, connect, and celebrate the resilience and cultural significance of the multicultural heritage and legacy of the community and region.
Many Voices, One Nation – Our Community
When
July 2026 - January 2027
Where
The Woodson African American Museum of Florida
Admission
Free Admission during hours of Tuesday-Saturday from 12-5 PM
What
Developed in collaboration with Florida Humanities, the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street, and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, this exhibition acknowledges the nation’s semiquincentennial — America 250.
The exhibit blends national Smithsonian resources with locally curated content, connecting the history of St. Petersburg and the broader Gulf Coast region to the American narrative. It ensures that our city’s story is recognized as an essential chapter in the nation’s unfolding history. This powerful experience explores our shared past, the diverse voices that shape our nation, and the collective journey of our community.
At the center of the exhibition stands a work of breathtaking scale and intention: a newly commissioned monumental mural by Najee Dorsey — acclaimed visual artist, curator, and founder of Black Art In America.
The mural is a visual narrative that bridges all four exhibition themes — from the first footprints on this continent through the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Movement, and into the present moment. It gives image to the stories of resilience, migration, resistance, and cultural contribution that have too often been omitted from traditional American history. Stand before it to reckon with the full weight and beauty of what has been survived, built, and handed down.