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Museum hours vary by season:
- Mid-May through Mid-September
- Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
Admission:
Museum Recounts History of Pinellas Barrier Islands:
Located in the National Historic District of the Pass-a-Grille community on St. Pete Beach, the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum is housed in the first church built on a Pinellas County barrier island.
Inside, visitors can explore the diverse history of Pinellas County’s barrier islands through an extensive collection of photographs, news clippings and artifacts which date from the 16th century through modern times. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the museum actively collects relevant relics and pertinent documents as it seeks to expand its archives. Members of Pass-A-Grille’s pioneer families participate in the museum’s activities.
The museum is the legacy of local preservationist Joan Haley. Learning that the building was to be razed, Haley purchased it in 1960 and spent nearly a decade restoring it to serve as her home. She willed it to Pinellas in 1989 to ensure that it would endure and serve the community. Today, it has become a labor of love for the dozens of volunteers who maintain the building and supervise the museum’s collections. The dedication of these volunteers has been recognized by the National Association of Counties with an Acts of Caring Award.
The museum frequently hosts lectures, fundraising events and children’s activities as well as special education tours for schools, churches and civic organizations. One room offers rotating exhibits and has recently presented a retrospective on the history of the Don CeSar and a colorful display of barrier island businesses of the past.
The museum is supported in part by the Friends of the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum. Annual memberships cost $10 for an individual, $15 for a family and $25 for a business. Members receive a bimonthly newsletter, invitations to special events and a 10 percent discount in the museum’s gift shop.