Showmen’s Museum Group Tours
The museum is of interest to all ages. Past visitors have included: Car Clubs, Red Hat Society Members, Mystery Tour Groups, Retirement Home Residents, and Over 55 Communities, School Groups, Volunteer Organizations, and Thousands of Florida Visitors.
Tours
Admission for Groups of 15 or more is $ 15.00 per person
Self-Guided Tours of The International Independent Showmen’s Museum
Individuals and family groups are always invited to visit the museum on their own (without a tour guide) anytime during regular museum hours. Instructive and detailed descriptions of the beautiful artifacts abound and continuous videos guide the visitor through each of the many colorful exhibits. Questions are welcomed and encouraged and any information about the exhibits or the history of the show world is always happily given to anyone wishing to learn more about a particular subject by our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Regular admission fees apply. There’s always plenty of free parking available for tour busses, private vehicles, and RV’s.
Scheduling a Tour
Guided Tours
Detailed guided tours of the hundreds of artifacts and exhibits are led by an experienced tour guide with many years in the outdoor amusement industry and are included with the tour admission. Discover a wealth of little-known facts and extensive history about America’s outdoor show business world including carnivals, circuses, wild west shows and all other types traveling shows that once brought the only form of entertainment available to the many towns across the American landscape.
Experience the colorful history of these eclectic people by spending time with a tour guide who has lived it and loves sharing the stories of outdoor traveling show business life and answering questions.
Tours require a minimum of 15 guests and are limited to a maximum of 50 individuals due to logistics and all tour dates are available on a first come basis.
All Guided Tours require a reservation at least 2 weeks prior to their visit.
No financial deposit is required but a confirmation call must be made 24 hours before the scheduled date and time or the tour will be automatically canceled.
Tour bus drivers with any group are free.
The museum is fully handicapped accessible with a modern elevator for access to and from the second floor and handicapped accessible restrooms.
There is comfortable seating placed around the area to rest in and drinking fountains on both floors.
A donation to the Museum’s Historic Preservation Fund is always welcome at the end of each tour in our gift shop. Tours must be scheduled two weeks prior to the date your group visits the museum.
The museum is still open to the general public during a Guided Tour on weekends.
To schedule a tour for your group contact us at: (813) 765-7031 or contact us by email showmenshistory@gmail. com
School Groups
Tours can be scheduled by appointment only during the school year. A minimum of 25 people is required for a docent-led tour, and tours must be arranged at least two weeks in advance. The Museum requires at least one chaperon per group of 10 students. A chaperon is not required for college students or adults. Adult tours are $10 per person. Teachers are admitted free with the scheduled group.
For Teachers:
The International Independent Showmen’s Museum provides a fun and educational experience to school groups. While visiting the Museum, students will learn about the colorful world of circuses, carnivals, wild west shows, and traveling medicine shows and the history of the people that brought entertainment and culture to the grassroots of America before and during the 20th century. This tour is best suited for students Grades 6 and above.