VISIT US
VISIT US
Florida Maritime Museum
4415 119th Street West, Cortez, Florida
Contact us:
P.O. Box 100, Cortez, FL 34215
Phone: (941) 708-6120
Hours
Tuesday-Saturday, 9 am-12 pm & 1-4 pm
Closed from 12-1pm daily for lunch.
Admission
Admission is free; donations are appreciated
Museum Rules
No food or drinks inside the museum
Shoes and shirt required inside the museum
No flash photography
No pets allowed; service animals welcome
Please note that visitors to the Florida Maritime Museum may be photographed or videotaped during their visit. These photos/videos may be used for marketing, advertising, or public relations purposes without compensation.
The Florida Maritime Museum collects, preserves, and shares traditional knowledge, cultural artifacts, and personal stores specific to Florida's fishing and maritime heritage.
The Florida Maritime Museum is a part of the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Historical Resources Department, with additional support from the Friends of the Florida Maritime Museum. Situated on the Cortez Nature Preserve, FMM grounds were purchased with funds from the Florida Communities Trust Preservation 2000 Program and the Manatee County Board of County Commission.
Plan Your Visit
Explore Florida’s rich maritime heritage.
Interact with history through our engaging hands-on activities.
Discover “authentic Florida” in our neighborhood, one of the last remaining fishing villages in the state.
ACCESSIBILITY
PARKING
Parking is free and can be found to the south of the museum, accessed from the first left off of 119th Street West.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING
Accessible parking is available for visitors with a state permit. There are two parking spaces available on the left side of the parking lot closest to the rear entry with ramp access.
ENTRANCES
The museum is located in the historic white brick schoolhouse facing 119th Street West. It is accessible from the main entrance facing 119th Street West or from the rear entrance which has ramp access.
The museum grounds are comprised of three buildings: the 1912 Cortez Rural Graded Schoolhouse, the Bratton/Burton Store, and the Pillsbury Boat Shop. The schoolhouse houses museum exhibits and is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday from 9 am-12 pm and 1-4 pm. The Bratton Store and the Pillsbury Boat Shop are only open to the public when an educational program or Folk School class deems it necessary.
RESTROOMS
All restrooms in the museum are unisex and ADA accessible. The bathroom is located to the left upon entry from the main entrance into the museum. Bratton Store bathrooms are also ADA accessible and are only open during special events.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
The Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) is making every possible effort to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) on our website, www.floridamaritimemuseum.org. While we are committed to making our website accessible to any and all users, we recognize that not all pages may be ADA compliant at this time. We welcome comments on how to improve the site’s accessibility for users with disabilities. If you use assistive technology and the format of any material on our website interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact us. To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please indicate the nature of your accessibility problem, the preferred format in which to receive the material, the website address of the requested material, and your contact information.
MUSEUM ACCESSIBILITY & SERVICES
MOBILITY DEVICES
The museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions are wheelchair accessible.
Personal walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters are also welcomed.
MUSEUM SEATING
Seating is available in several locations throughout the Florida Maritime Museum exhibit galleries. Upon entry to our permanent exhibits you will find seating in the Captain's Corner. Just beyond this room is the main auditorium which also features seating in the temporary exhibit space.
SERVICE ANIMALS
Service animals are welcomed at the museum. The ADA defines service animals as the following:
Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.
