The Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS) in Daytona Beach is a center for education and activities in central Florida. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, MOAS houses anassemblage of more than 30,000 objects. Art collections include American, African, Cuban, Chinese, Decorative, Early American, Sculpture, and a unique Visual Storage Exhibit. These are in addition to the changing and temporary exhibitions the Museum features throughout the year. The Science collections include a planetarium, giant sloth skeleton, and the Root Family Museum, home to restored antique automobiles, railroad cars and more. In addition, MOAS is located on the 90 acre Tuscawilla Nature Preserve, incorporating the natural sciences of the native landscape into the Museum. If all this weren't enough to entertain all day, the Linda and Charles Williams Children's Museum has engaging and interactive experiences for the Museum's younger visitors.

Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach
   Museum of Arts and Sciences Art Collections
   Decorative
   Children's Museum
   Plan Your Visit

Museum of Arts and Sciences Art Collections

Museum of Arts and Sciences Art Collections

© Museum of Arts and Sciences

The art collections at the Museum of Arts and Sciences represent a wide array of cultures, mediums and subjects. With a special emphasis on Florida art, the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art houses more than 2,600 paintings in its 26,000 square feet of space. These works, dating back to the early 1800s, illustrate stories of the geography and natural history of Florida. Other art collections at MOAS take the visitor a little further from home, spanning the globe with work from Africa, Cuba, and China.

African Art

Commencing in 1979, the African art collection at MOAS has grown and evolved through the years. The pieces showcased in these galleries played integral roles in many of the tribal societies from which they originate, including uses in ceremonies, rituals or other common uses such as preparation for harvesting. The collection features an array of mediums, including an extensive collection of sculpture.

Americana

Americana at MOAS is housed at The Root Family Museum, and features one the largest collections of Coco-Cola memorabilia found anywhere in the world. Other items of particular note include more than 800 teddy bears, two mid-century train cars, photographs, and more. The gallery also highlights some insights into American history, including the lives of early American Industrialists.

Chinese Art

Housed in the Schulte Gallery, the Chinese Art collection at the Museum of Arts and Sciences includes more than one hundred objects. These items represent a variety of mediums including bronzes, porcelain, manuscripts and more. Noteworthy works include a rare 18th Century Bronze, T'ang and Wei Horses, and Han and Ming tomb figures.

Cuban Art

Featuring Cuban art ranging from the colonial era to modern times, the Cuban Foundation Museum houses one of the most significant and important collections of Cuban art found outside of Cuba. Housing more than 200 works, the galleries provide a glimpse into Cuba's rich cultural heritage spanning over 300 years of history. Artists represented in the collection include Miguel Melero, Jose Joaquin Tejada, Victor Manuel, Amelia Pelaez and many more.


Decorative

Decorative

© Museum of Arts and Sciences

Works in the Anderson C. Bouchelle Center for the Study of International Decorative Arts are not the typical paintings, sculptures, and photography. The over 600 works in this collection feature such items as stained glass windows, vases, furniture, chandeliers, clocks and many more seemingly everyday articles. With a wide range of mediums from Russian Enamel, to American Silver, and a Tiffany Inspired Stained glass door, there much to see, examine, and appreciate in this exhibit.

Early Americana

Spanning more than four thousand square feet of space, and several centuries' worth of history, the Dow Gallery of American Arts is an extensive collection. Items represented include a wide array of mediums, from American made furniture dating back to the 17th century, to decorative silver and glass. Significant works in the painting collection include items by Thomas Sully, William Jennys, George Curtis, John James Audubon, among many others.

Visible Storage

Bringing more of the Museum's collection out in the open than ever before, the Helene B. Roberson Visible Storage exhibit opened in 2011. Showcasing items not previously on exhibit, the over four thousand square foot space displays these items in huge glass enclosed spaces. Many items from the Napoleonic era and a collection of early European and American furniture can be viewed in this exhibit.

Sculpture Garden

Covering two acres, the Abraham and Dorothy Frischer Sculpture Garden is a must see during a visit to MOAS. Underground lighting showcases the works in this collection, changing the mood and presentation from day to night. The garden features works from such sculptors as Ernest Shaw, Doris Leaper, and Harriet Kittay, among others.

Planetarium

The Planetarium at the Museum of Arts and Sciences is a 94 seat, theater style venue. The dome structure is 40 feet in diameter and features a digital projector, enabling the Museum to show full dome films in High Definition. Open since August of 2014, the Planetarium features a variety of shows covering a wide array of topics. These include From the Earth to the University, exploring the night sky and our fascination with it, starting with ancient Greek astronomers, to the most technologically advanced telescopes of today. The Electropop Laser Showis a type of performance art in itself, showcasing the Museum's SkyLase laser projector combined with pop music. During The Sky Tonight Show, visitors learn about what is currently above them in the night sky, learning the basics of stargazing and astronomy. These are just a few of the many shows and films available at the MOAS Planetarium, which range from 20-40 minutes, with shows available for visitors of any age.


Children's Museum

Children's Museum

© Museum of Arts and Sciences

Spanning more than nine thousand square feet, the Charles and Linda Williams Children Museum features an abundance of exhibits to entertain and educate. With twenty different exhibits covering a wide range of topics, from I Got Rhythm! to Crime Scene Investigators, there is something to pique the interest of every child who visits. Most of the exhibits are hands-on, interactive experiences, teaching kids through doing and experimenting. These include a laser harp, video light microscope, race track building station and more. The Children's Museum also features classes for children of a wide range of ages, and includes after school, preschool and home school classes.

Changing Exhibitions

Temporary exhibitions at the MOAS keep the Museum constantly refreshed, with something new to see with every visit. Past exhibitions have includes such topics as Africa: Up Close and Personal, Images of Historic St. Augustine, Discovery of the Daytona Mastodon, Chinese Kites by the artist Sheng-li-Gao, and many more. Changing every few months, these exhibits compliment the Museum's permanent arts and sciences collections.

Tuscawilla Park and Nature Preserve

The Museum of Arts and Sciences is more than just the exhibits. Its location on a 90 acre nature preserve incorporates the native Florida landscape and habitats into the Museum. The Tuscawilla Preserve conserves virgin Florida habitat, including many endangered plant and animal species. The preserve is comprised of a specific type of wet forest known as a hydric hammock, and is a rare ecosystem found in Florida. The preserve came into existence in 1948 when two activists in the area convinced the City of Daytona to purchase the land for $38,000. The City made the area a park, preserving the land and safeguarding it from future development. The Museum of Arts and Sciences made its home there in 1971. In addition to the boardwalks and nature trails to traverse in the preserve, the Klancke Environmental Education Complex, opened in 2005, provides additional learning opportunities. The education center features a sensory garden, hands-on exhibits and educational programs.

Events

In addition to the wide range of exhibits, activities, and shows to see at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, the center also offers periodic events to engage and entice. Past events have included such occasions as Italian Wine Tasting, Passport to Rio, and the Halifax Art Festival. In addition to the one time or annual events, MOAS also offers ongoing features, such as Yoga in the Gallery,summer camps and Laser Rock Concerts.The Museum's Calendar, available online, is the best place to go to see all the events on offer from the Museum of Arts and Sciences. From the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra concerts to Natural History Festival and Fossil Show, there is always something on at MOAS.

Education

The Museum of Arts and Sciences is a mecca for learning in the Daytona area. Not only are the exhibits themselves educational, but the Museum also works with the community to provide additional educational opportunities. This includes field trips and classes designed to stir the imagination, targeting a wide range of grade levels. Additionally, the Arts and Sciences Magazine, a quarterly publication from MOAS, brings new knowledge and fascinating facts right into members' mailboxes. Audio Tours and Curator's Talks also provide another way to increase learning and make the most out of a visit to MOAS.


Plan Your Visit

Plan Your Visit

© Museum of Arts and Sciences

Just a few miles from downtown Daytona Beach, MOAS is easily accessible by bus or car, with parking available onsite. Guests are advised to check the Museum website prior to visiting in order to review hours, temporary exhibitions, or view the calendar of events. The Museum itself is expansive; visitors will want to allot a full day to explore, or perhaps several visits. A stop to the HoneyBaked Ham Café is a must see during a long visit, with soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts and more available to hungry explorers. At a stop to the Museum Store, guests can purchase souvenirs, books and prints to commemorate their visit. Visitors can enhance their experience by downloading the MOAS iphone App prior to their visit. The app provides additional features and education, from zoom capabilities on the Museum's paintings, to challenge questions and artist biographies. Users can explore the app anywhere, taking a piece of the Museum of Arts and Sciences with them wherever they go.

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352 South Nova Road, Daytona Beach, Florida, Phone: 386-255-0285, website, Map


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