You don’t need to travel to the shores of Jamaica, or Barbados when you can enjoy the island life of Siesta Key! You can enjoy everything that those islands have to offer right in Siesta Key, Florida! The incredible beaches, the warm water, the salty sea air, and the sun beating down are all big draws to our lovely little island, but we have so much more to offer as well!
While many of the above items are what usually bring in the crowds to Siesta Key, the Ringling Museum is another pretty spectacular Siesta Key attraction to take advantage of seeing while on vacation!
Whether you are interested in the fascinating history of the Ringling brothers or want to take in some incredible art that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, we highly recommend paying a visit to the Ringling Museum of Art. Because of the art museum and Ringling attractions, it stands as one of the best things to do in Siesta Key for a wide range of ages.
History
John Ringling, one of five brothers who ran the circus known as “The Greatest Show on Earth”, and his wife, Mable, purchased 20 acres of waterfront property in Sarasota in 1911. They were both very active in the community, and began purchasing more and more real estate, and ended up owning more than 25% of Sarasota’s total area.
John, having made fortunes through the circus, began collecting art, and would display all of his acquired pieces in his newly built museum, which mimicked the Florentine Uffizi Gallery. The museum, once completed, had a courtyard filled with replicas of Greek and Roman sculpture, including a bronze cast of Michelangelo’s David.
The museum of art was opened to the public in 1931, two years after the death of his wife. He wanted the museum to promote education and art appreciation.
Today
In 2000, after years of negotiating, the state passed the governance of the museum on to Florida State University. They completed immediate repairs and got the museum up and running in all its former glory.
Today the museum is open to all visitors who want to learn the history of the Ringling Brothers, and to view some of the finest art pieces in America.
However, visiting the museum of art also puts you in close proximity to the other aspects of the Ringling Brothers, including famous pieces of history from the circus, the incredible home built for John and Mable, and the beautiful Bayfront Gardens. These are some of the most incredible attractions to see in Siesta Key, and we don’t want you to miss out!
Tips for Visiting
Admission to the museum is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, and $5 for children, and we believe that the experience is worth every penny. The museum is home to many fascinating pieces of art, but also a wide collection of archived documents, and over 70,000 other items. This museum is perfect for historians, or those fascinated by history! Plus, with all the other incredible sites so close there is something for everyone to enjoy!
Plan Your Next Trip
Our Siesta Key condos are located right near the water and are also in close proximity to many of the incredible attractions that Siesta Key has to offer. What’s even better is our incredible customer service team knows the area inside and out and can help you plan some incredible things to do while you are enjoying your stay with us. So give us a call today at 888.419.1446 and let us book your next incredible Siesta Key vacation!
Where to Stay
While the attractions and beaches are amazing and help to showcase the Siesta Key life, we believe that our Siesta Key condo rentals at Crystal Sands are what truly bring a vacation together. Here at Crystal Sands on Siesta Key, we want you to have the most relaxing time while on vacation, and we have incredible Siesta Key condo rentals available to help you get to that relaxed state. Regardless of your party size, we have condos that will suit your every need.
