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Sometimes, observing visitors at a museum is as enjoyable as observing the art. Some are in awe. Some are curious. Some are confused, and some are grumpy. Grumpy that they wasted time and money at Florida’s Dali Museum. If you asked them, is visiting one of Florida’s most expensive museum worth the cost? They would answer no. But just like Dali’s surrealist artwork, cost and worth are up for interpretation.
The Architecture
The majority of the Dali Museum’s artwork began as a private collection. At first displayed in the state of Ohio, it was later relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida. The original St. Petersburg home was a warehouse. A warehouse building easily leveled by a hurricane. Fearful that the priceless collection could be destroyed in a single storm, a new hurricane proof building was constructed.
To help decide if Florida’s Dali Museum is worth the cost, we arrive at opening. A morning start will give us ample time to explore the museum. It also allows time to wander the special exhibit space before the crowds/tour buses arrive.
If you drive to the museum, there is a fee to park in the parking lot. For those staying in downtown St. Petersburg, the free Downtown Looper Trolley stops at the Dali Museum.
The museum does not allow backpacks (including purse backpacks) or large bags. Free lockers are located just outside the entrance.
The architecture is gasp-worthy. My eyes follow the curves, the lines, and the light. I immediately have a longing to climb the swirly stairs.
After scanning our online tickets, the staff handed us wristbands and gave a brief overview of the museum’s layout.
Special Exhibit Gallery-Second Floor
My priority is the Special Exhibit Gallery. Living in the Philadelphia area gives us a deep admiration for mural art. I am ecstatic. The special exhibit during our visit was a showing of murals inspired by Dali’s art. The murals were inspiring. I especially loved the art that played with perspective and provided fun photo ops.
We wandered the exhibit several times throughout the day, always discovering something fascinating and new.
The special exhibits change around every six months. You can check online to see what special exhibit is showing during your visit. Since we love murals, the special exhibit made Florida’s Dali Museum worth the cost.
Tom & Mary James Permanent Collection Gallery-Second Floor
The museum’s main gallery is perfect for Salvador Dali fans and Dali art novices.
Even if you know nothing about Salvador Dali, you may be familiar with his most famous painting, The Persistence of Memory. It is the “Melting Clocks” painting. The painting has been referenced countless times in pop culture, including in The Looney Tunes, The Simpsons, and Futurama. The imagery symbolizes leaving reality and entering a dreamscape. Persistence of Memory is permanently housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. You can see its sequel, The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory, at Florida’s Dali Museum.
Known for being an eccentric Surrealist painter, Dali’s full collection of works span multiple art styles. One of the most interesting parts of the Permanent Collection Gallery is viewing some of Dali’s early works, including works he completed in his youth. The gallery’s layout is brilliant. There are floor-to-ceiling works that wow, and smaller paintings that require a meticulous gaze. The most popular painting in the Tom & Mary James Gallery is Lincoln in Dalivision. Up close, you note Dali’s work, Gala Contemplating The Mediterranean. If you move 20 feet away from the painting, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln is revealed. It is still exciting and impressive, even in the age of extravagant computerized special effects. It’s compelling what can be done through paint, shapes, and your eyes.
I’m unsure of my feelings. Today, there is no need to back away. The effect is easily discovered by holding up one’s camera phone. Would Salvador Dali be disappointed or delighted that his painting can be appreciated in a whole new way? When not giving tours, docents roam the gallery, poised to answer your questions.
Docent Tours
Docent Tours are included with your museum entrance fee. There is a schedule posted. Tours run throughout the day. The tours explore different subject matter from Dali’s general life to works completed during specific time periods. To get your money’s worth, take at least one tour. We took two different tours. Both of our docents were fantastic. We learned so much on each tour. In many museums, you can examine color, shape, and shadow, but the bowl of fruit is a bowl of fruit. Surrealist art is about symbolism, interpretation, and meaning. The bowl of fruit is never just a bowl of fruit. I am not an art expert.
Hearing the esoteric meaning behind individual pieces helped us gain a stronger respect for one of the most famous surrealist artists of all time.
Dreams of Dali-Virtual Reality
To determine if Florida’s Dali Museum is worth the cost, we needed to do everything included in a general admission ticket, including trying the Dreams of Dali virtual reality experience. The queue changes from long to short throughout the day. Mid-day, tour groups surge through the museum. They come and go quickly. When they were gone, we walked right up to the virtual reality area and were escorted to our seats. The staff shared instructions and adjusted our headgear. The apparatus includes headphones and large goggles. You cannot wear your glasses with the goggles.
Music plays as you virtually travel through trippy, surrealist landscapes. There is a dot that you control with your head movements. When you line up your helmet dot with a dot in the landscape, it opens a different world. It took a little trial and error, but overall it was easier than expected. Was it mind-blowing? No. Was it cool and fun? Yes. As long as the line isn’t long, I recommend giving it a try.
Photo Ops
The stunning architecture begs to be photographed. Taking selfies with the dome was a top museum activity.
Don’t forget Salvador Dali’s legendarily absurd lobster phone.
After spending significant time upstairs, we descended to the first floor.
Café Gala-First Floor
We intended to savor a caffeinated beverage with a tapa or dessert at Café Gala. By 11 am, the cafe’s queue was long. The café was consistently packed, and by the time it cleared, we didn’t want to spoil our dinner. A museum ticket is not required to eat at the café. You can get a hot chocolate and biscotti, then gawk at the museum’s first floor architecture, minus the entrance fee.
The Avant-Garden-First Floor-Outside
Stroll through the outdoor garden for a chance to sit on the melting clock bench.
You can also view sculptures, including the sculpture inspired by Dali’s moustache.
The Gift Shop-First Floor
Art museum gift shops are some of the best gift shops. Florida’s Dali Museum shop did not disappoint. There were many neat things to take home. We were excited to find a Melting Clock Christmas ornament. I also found it necessary to purchase a Dali-themed bucket hat.
Make Your Own Art-First Floor
If you are visiting the museum with youngsters, there is a room where you can make your own Salvador Dali art.
Dali 360
Just outside the main museum sits the Dali 360 dome. Inside the dome is an enormous 360-degree movie screen. The show is about an hour and promises to bring the artist’s work to life. This experience costs extra, and at an already over $30 admission price, we decided to skip the add-on.
Is Florida’s Dali Museum Worth the Cost?
Do you love Surrealism?
Surrealist art fuels my creativity. The crazy landscapes, weird images, and endless interpretations plunge me into a world of imagination. If the trippy art movement doesn’t give you the wows or feels, you may want to skip the museum.
Walt Disney and Salvador Dali were collaborators and friends. Some Disney fans may be tempted to visit Florida’s Dali Museum for some Disney/Dali art. This isn’t the museum for that. If you are interested in the Disney/Dali projects, save up those travel points and dollars and visit The Disney Family Museum in California.
Do you love museums?
Not everyone has to love everything. There are plenty of people, including travelers, who do not love visiting museums. There is often pressure to visit the well-known museums in a certain destination. If you don’t visit the museum, there is a stigma that you are uneducated, uncultured, and/or aren’t a “real” traveler. Don’t part with your hard earned dollars and precious free time for something that feels like a chore or to avoid people’s criticism. You do you.
Are you a slow or quick museum visitor?
Florida’s Dali Museum is small. There are only two exhibit galleries. It’s not The Met where you can spend days drifting through its multitude of rooms. You may be a quick museum visitor. If you don’t need to read every single plaque, examine every artwork in detail, and/or take a docent tour, it could only take you an hour or two to visit the entire museum. If you really want to get an excellent group photo with the geometric dome and bask in the Dali vibes, that’s great. Soak up those vibes. But weigh whether you want to spend over $30 for an hour or two experience.
Conclusion
With its small size and high price, I can understand why many skip this tourist attraction. We love art. We love museums. We read all of the plaques and partake of everything a museum has to offer. The stunning architecture, excellent docent tours, and inspiring art made visiting Florida’s Dali Museum worth the cost for us. I hope you can use this information to determine if a visit is right for you.
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