The St. Pete/Clearwater area is world-renowned for its museums and cultural happenings, but you may not know about the hidden-gem art and history museums in Tarpon Springs, just north of Clearwater. Tarpon Springs' story rides the ups and downs of the sponge industry and the 1920s land boom, where Greek immigrants, Victorian-era vacationers and 20th-century artists found inspiration--so you can bet there’s a collection of museums filled with unique works and artifacts.
History and culture buffs will appreciate the intimate settings of the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum, the Safford House Museum, and the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, all located in the historic district of Tarpon Springs, where you'll find exhibitions about the history of the area mixed in with theater and film performances. Just outside of the city center you'll find the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, which features a rotating exhibit of early 20th-Century Expressionist paintings, folk art and sculpture by Henry Moore.